Not What I Was Expecting, But WOW!! I purchased in-store because my friend had the Revlon version. She's got pin straight shoulder length hair though, and I really didn't trust it. I go to DryBar usually once a week, and the styles will last about 4 days with dry shampoo. I usually only wash my hair once a week, so it's something that works for me. I have hard water at home and the salon water makes my hair feel soft and refreshed.
My scalp has been increasing its dandruff production with summer though, and I've needed to wash 2x week now.
The problem is I've never been able to recreate the blowout look at home, and I can't afford 2 blowouts a week. My hair is naturally curly, and I can style it just fine for curls, but I get really hot with my curls (I work in the medical field so I'm in surgical gown, scrubs, masks, face shield, and a really hot overhead light).
I've seen curly heads prefer this one to Revlon, and a girl at DryBar even told me it's because the Revlon isn't meant for wet hair, but this brush actually is. She said for the Revlon, I'd have to blow dry, straighten, then use it.
I'm the type of person, if I'm going to spend money on something I'd rather buy "the best" than buy the knockoff and eventually end up buying the better one.
Also, this is a round circle brush compared to the Revlon oval and the DryBar oval double shot.
I've never used either, this is my 1st dryer brush.
I showered, used my DryBar liquid glass shampoo/conditioner because it smoothes my thick cuticles well. A lot of reviews/YouTubers said to not use it on dripping hair. I did what they typically do at DryBar. I wrung out my hair before twisting it in a microfiber towel. I tied the towel and my hair with a hair tie for about 10 minutes. It was damp but not dripping at all, I was honestly worried it was a little too dry. I sprayed prep rally detangle/heat protection spray and brushed it with a Tangle Teazer wet brush, sorry AND the drybar heat protection/quick dry serum. I probably could have just done the quick dry serum(2 pumps) but I didn't think about it until after the spray. With the quick dry serum and a normal blow dryer, it takes me 40 minutes to dry. Without the serum, we're looking at an hour. My hair is thick, curly, and to my mid back when straight/styled.
A lot of people said to section your hair like you're curling or straightening it.
Just WOW.
I critiqued some YouTubers for flipping their hair different ways, at DryBar they blow dry it one direction (like you would curling/straightening), and it gives a nice half curl/flip at the ends. I don't think this brush could do that with my hair specifically. It probably would give nice curls/flip for shorter or straight hair.
It would dry large sections 3-5inches across in about a minute. I HAD to use the brush both directions to dry the hair completely. I noticed my ends would dry before my roots, so I started letting it rest at the roots before dragging it down to the ends. It WILL get caught/stuck on your ends if you try to curl it too far up on the shaft. I could only flip it at the ends, and this I think is due to how the barrel is round/smaller than the double shot.
So with sections, curling it both directions, I eventually turned my head upside down and used it like a hair brush to get my slightly damp scalp dry. It did the trick!
I had my whole head straight & voluminous after just 20 minutes. It had a slight curl on the ends but not what it gave a lot of straight/shorter hair.
I sprayed DryBar hot toddy on my hair, heat protection but not a wet spray, dry like hairspray before I went over it with a 2" barrel curling iron from Kristin Ess. I notice that a 2" curling iron gives more of blowout curls than a wand. (I use a Paul Mitchell 1" flat iron, Paul Mitchell 1" wand or 1.25" Kristen Ess wand to do tighter curls depending on what type of curl I want.) I wanted more of a body wave than full curls.
Did a full blowout and everything in 40 minutes! It looks amazing! For long curly hair, I think you won't get an immediate blowout from this, and I wanted to rate it 4 stars for myself, but it just got my hair dry so fast I don't think it deserves anything less than 5 stars. My hair was smooth and glossy too!
The brush DID NOT snag my hair like a YouTuber said it did her hair. I do wonder at how to clean the hair out of it over time though. It's just a few strands, but the bristles are course and hold onto it pretty good. I definitely recommend just trying to pull out what you can after each use. I'm THRILLED with being able to get great results on my 1st use. There's usually a learning curve.
I wanted to love it….. I wanted to love it, BUT… I was sadly disappointed! I like the idea of a round blow drying brush. I thought it would give more volume at my scalp… NOPE! I have short, shoulder length hair and it did nothing that WOWed me, AT ALL. I see people talking about how shiny it made their hair, it did the total opposite for mine.. it was super dull and frizzy when I finished. The tip of the drying brush was very short and awkward. It was way too slick, it needs some sort of gripping feature if they can't/won't make it any longer. I burned my fingers numerous times because of the short, slick tip. I feel like there aren't enough bristles on this drying brush. I have thick hair and I don't feel like it reached every strand as well as my hot tools oval blow drying brush does. I still had a lot of un-smooth/frizzy pieces after multiple passes with the drying brush. You're pretty much just paying for a name when you buy this drying brush. I'll stick to my hot tools one. It's by far the best I've tried yet!
Careful! 3
2023-03-22
This blow dryer is my go to, it was an investment, but it gets the job done. The brush is nice BUT be careful! My hair has gotten caught multiple times under the cracks and it has damaged my hair. So overall, idk if I'd recommend it to a friend because of its price and it hurts when your hair gets caught.
Solid blow dry brush. 3
2023-03-21
It does its job very well. Leaves hair looking voluminous and so full! But I've used this brush the past couple years and noticed that my hair has been significantly more damaged. The heat setting is a bit too much, even the lower setting. I try to only use this for special occasions! Or when I'm in a rush.
Broke after six months 1
2023-03-10
Overpriced, broke after six months. My $40 revlon has lasted me three years!
Uhm YASS 5
2023-02-15
Wow. This is amazing. I got the one shot on sale and am not dissatisfied. I noticed that you need to play around with the settings to achieve what you want to. For instance, need high heat on my top crown area to smooth out frizz, can have the cold setting around my face when I wrap the tool around my hair to achieve curls, and any setting you want for the layers to dry when the hair is wrapped around the brush to dry it. I used the heat prep detangling spray as recommended and had no problems. I do use Living Proof setting spray or their flexible spray because my hair responds better to their micromist and i like the smell of their products better. Included is the video I took after the first time using this tool. I do feel it would be worth paying the full price if you can save up your pennies.
Love it 5
2023-02-11
Bought this on a whim and was worried I'd be disappointed. Hooked after first use. A light leave-in conditioner and sectioning hair achieves salon-like results. Next day I just touch up the side I sleep on (dry).