Are Hot Brushes Good for Your Hair? Pros & Cons Explained
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Are Hot Brushes Worth the Hype?
Hot brushes — they’re all over TikTok and sitting on every beauty shelf. But do they really give you salon worthy hair? and more importantly, are they safe for your hair health?
As a hairdresser with 20+ years behind the chair, I’ve had clients come in swearing by their hot brush… and others asking me to fix the damage it caused. So let’s break it down.
What is a Hot Brush?
A hot brush is a styling tool that combines a blow-dryer and a round brush in one. Instead of juggling your hairdryer and brush, you simply glide the heated barrel through your hair to smooth, straighten, or add volume.
Think of it as a blowout shortcut — especially handy if you struggle to coordinate tools in both hands.
✅ Benefits of Using a Hot Brush
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Time Saver: Styles hair in one hand, one motion.
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Easy to Use: Especially for people who find round-brushing tricky.
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Volume Boost: The round barrel can add lift at the roots.
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Smoother Finish: Great for frizz-prone or wavy hair.
⚠️ The Downsides
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Heat Damage Risk: Because the heat is in direct contact with the hair (like a straightener), it can cause dryness and split ends if used too often.
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Less Control: A blow-dryer with a round brush still gives more control for polished finishes.
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Not Ideal for Very Thick/Curly Hair: It can take too long or get stuck in dense sections.
My Professional Advice
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Always use a heat protector spray before styling. (Our Serene Hair Heat Protector is lightweight, protective, and won’t weigh your hair down.)
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Don’t use it daily — treat it like a “special occasion” or mid-week tool.
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For fine or medium hair → a hot brush is a great option.
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For coarse, curly, or damaged hair → you’ll get better results (and less risk) with a traditional blow-dry plus heat protector.
- Never, ever, ever, use it on bone dry hair. this is #1 - if you want to hear my new favourie analogy on this to eplain a little deeper, you can watch my youtube video 'Worst hot brush mistake' on my youtube channel, "The Serena Edit'
Final Thoughts
A hot brush can absolutely be part of your styling kit — just don’t rely on it as your everyday tool. Balance it with a good haircare routine: nourishing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, and heat protection. That way, you get the styling perks without the long-term damage. Lastly, never use it on dry hair. Not even once.
Free Guide
Want to learn the best way to protect your hair from heat damage? Download my free 90-Day Hair Growth Challenge eBook — it’s packed with pro tips and routines to keep your hair growing healthy and strong. Grab it here.