Let’s just be honest—it isn’t always easy to achieve that just-back-from-the-salon look at home unless you have the right tools. As someone who has tried for years to perfectly replicate stylist-level sleek hair, I quickly realized that it’s all about one particular item in your routine that you might have previously overlooked. Yes, folks, it’s time to consider swapping your basic, everyday hair brush for a round brush. Round brushes are great for helping you achieve those large, loose supermodel waves or curls.
Celebrity hairstylist Jamie Wiley also loves them for this particular reason. “I like using a round brush when the end goal is volume and bounce in a blowout,” she says. “The heat from the blow-dryer will heat up a metal or ceramic round brush while also acting as a curling iron. This creates a soft roundness to the overall look.” For tips from Wiley on how to choose the right round brush and a few of her favorites, keep on reading.
Wiley has a few tips on how to select the right brush for your hair length and type. For starters, those with short hair will want to opt for a round brush with a smaller barrel so that it’s able to gather the hair and turn even at a shorter length. Medium-length hair types can opt for a larger brush with an ideal diameter between 1.7 and 2.75 inches. Longer hair types (especially if yours is also thick) can even go for a jumbo-sized brush around three to four inches in diameter.
If you have wavy or curly hair, Wiley also has a few notes on what to do before going in with a round brush. “Wavy, curly, and coily hair need different tools and techniques because the hair grows out of the scalp differently,” she says. “So as to not create frizz, rough up the cuticle, and damage the integrity of the curl, specific tools are needed. You’ll want to detangle and define when starting with wet or damp hair. Great options for wavy, curly, and coily hair are the Wet Brush Shower Detangler ($6) and the Denman Classic Styling Brush ($20). These will detangle and define the curls rather than separate and diffuse.” Wiley’s picks and a few of our own favorite round brushes are down below.
“When round-brushing short hair, I prefer the Ergo ER25 Ionic Ceramic Round Brush. It’s small enough to gather the hair and turn even at its short length. I also enjoy using the Ergo Mini Ionic Polishing Paddle Brush and creating lift and movement using the round of the head. When you want to give short hair a lived in feel, this round brush is small and able to fit into the short length of the hair.” —Wiley
This Amazon find is a little more budget-friendly and is about the same width as the above brush. It’ll work best for shorter hair types because it’s small enough to glide through and add lift.
“For longer-length hair, my go to is the Ergo ER65 Ionic Round Brush. It has an extended handle for maneuverability and control. The 3.5-inch diameter is perfect for those longer lengths and controllability.” —Wiley
Olivia Garden’s Thermal Hairbrush comes in a variety of sizes to suit any hair type. It features a vented ceramic barrel for faster and more consistent styling while the larger holes maximize air flow. Tourmaline ion technology also hydrates the hair cuticle.
The unique concave and heat-resistant bristles on this brush are designed for thick, coarse, and curly hair types. The design helps to gently detangle the hair while blow-drying and leaves strands extra shiny and smooth with reduced frizz.
The 2.1 inch ceramic barrel of this brush makes it a great option for medium-length or long-length locks. The brush is able to retain more of its heat for faster blow-drying time.
This Conair brush comes in both a large and small size with metal barrels that retain heat longer. This helps the hair dry faster, adds body, and natural-looking waves to the hair. It even helps smooth and straighten corse curly or wavy hair.
This fan-favorite one-step dryer from Revlon is a hair dryer and round brush in one. It’s a great option for finer hair types, medium- to long-length, and wavy hair. I wouldn’t recommend it for coarse, thick, curly hair types, though. Take it from someone who has that hair type and tried it. It was a no from me.
Bio Ionic’s styling brush is infused with a proprietary complex of natural minerals and graphene to deliver faster drying results and extra moisture to the hair. It’s a great option for brittle, damaged, or thinning hair since the natural minerals in the brush penetrate the hair shaft for extra conditioning.
This jumbo four-inch round brush with a tourmaline ceramic vented barrel helps to blow out thicker hair types and coarse, curly hair without causing excess damage. Nylon nano silver ionic bristles also reduce static and lock in moisture to promote healthier hair.
NanoIonic technology in the barrel and bristles of this Drybar brush reduce frizz and add extra shine to medium-length or long hair. It’s super lightweight, locks in curl and volume, and the vents on it allow air to flow freely, decreasing dry time.
Another great budget-friendly option is this ceramic-coated brush from F3. Its heat conduction plate delivers heat more evenly to the hair and the barrel size is ideal for creating bouncy curls and even works on shorter cuts.
Coated with magnesium, the ceramic barrel on this brush heats up quickly for faster drying time but also helps keep your strands healthy and damage-free. The nylon bristles also provide extra grip so it works great for longer, thicker hair types.
