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Even with the fanciest hot tool, the key to a glorious blowout starts with prep, prep, and more prep. Always start with clean, detangled, and damp hair with a bit of leave-in conditioner, advises New York City-based hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew. “Start at the root and work your way down to the ends without putting too much heat or tension on the hair,” Sturdivant-Drew explains.<\/p>\n
Volume is even easier to achieve, especially for straight or wavy textures. “Twist the dryer as you go in a circular motion to add volume if that’s what you are looking for,” says Sturdivant-Drew. If your hair is on the curly or coily side and you’re going for a sleek look, you can follow up with a flatiron or brush it out with the heat off<\/em>. “If you want it straight, you should use the blow-dryer brush and, right under it, use another brush to smooth those kinky strands all the way out,” she says.<\/p>\n To minimize the risk of heat damage, opt for a blow-dryer brush that features several temperature settings, so you can better moderate the amount of heat your hair is undergoing. Not all hair types call for the same heat level, so if you’re getting acquainted with a new blow-dryer brush, pay attention to how your hair reacts to different temperature settings as you become more familiar with the tool.<\/p>\n Another tried-and-true defense mechanism is to prep your blowout with a heat protectant. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King tells Allure,<\/em> “If you’re using heat styler or any heat products directly on hair, using a heat protectant, usually made with meadowfoam seed oil, light polymers, or even silicone, can help to minimize damage as they can form a coating on hair.” But the best way to fend off heat damage is to not overuse heat on your hair\u2014plain and simple.<\/p>\n Choosing a new hair tool is a matter of personal preference, but shoppers and professional hairstylists alike vouch for the ease of use of hair-dryer brushes. \u201cBlow-dry brushes are so incredibly user-friendly\u2014you can achieve a great blow-dry at home without needing pro-level skills. They take about half the time compared to juggling a dryer and a round brush,\u201d says Baker.<\/p>\n Additionally, if you have pain or limited mobility in your hands or arms, a hair-dryer brush is an excellent alternative to a traditional blow-dryer. \u201cBecause they\u2019re easier to maneuver, you\u2019re less likely to tire out your arms or need a second round of styling with a flat iron or curling iron,\u201d says Baker. That said, be sure to let your hair air-dry about 70%\u2014or give it a quick rough dry with a traditional blow-dryer\u2014before reaching for your brush. Starting on damp strands helps prevent breakage and ensures a smoother, frizz-free finish, as these tools aren\u2019t designed for sopping-wet hair.<\/p>\n Hair-dryer brushes come in a range of designs, so depending on the type of barrel, bristles, or shape of your tool, cleaning techniques may vary. “Every brand has different features, but if yours has a filter, remove the dust from it every week,” says Devin Toth, a New York City-based hairstylist. “If you are interested in removing hair from the bristles, use either a comb or a boar bristle brush cleaner\u2014a brush used to clean other brushes,” he suggests.<\/p>\n To remove product buildup from the bristles of your blow dryer brush, wipe it down with a damp cloth. Cherin Choi, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist, previously told Allure<\/em> that if product buildup won’t budge, she uses a small amount of rubbing alcohol to tackle residue from hairsprays, pomades, and the like.<\/p>\n Remember that cleaning your hot tool regularly is critical to peak performance. “[The product\/hair buildup] can prevent your tools from working at full capacity,” Atlanta-based hairstylist Tukia Allen told Allure<\/em>. Brian O’Connor, a Nashville-based hairstylist, agreed with Allen, adding that a hot tool with buildup can lead to the “uneven heating of the hair.”<\/p>\n We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn\u2019t want to pick up a purple shampoo that\u2019s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that\u2019s never been tested by anyone with curls\u2014 right?<\/p>\n For our review of the best hair-dryer brushes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and stylists\u2014each of whom have different hair types, experiences with hair-drying, and desired outcomes. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, versatility, ease of use, and value. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.<\/p>\n A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure<\/em> wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors\u2014in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon\u2014is essential to reaching that goal.<\/p>\n After all, can we really<\/em> say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we\u2019ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it\u2019s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now, here’s a step-by-step look at Dove Cameron’s \u201cless is more\u201d beauty routine:<\/strong><\/p>\nHow do I minimize heat damage from a hair-dryer brush?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Are hair-dryer brushes easier to use than traditional hair-dryers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How do I clean my hair-dryer brush?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Meet the experts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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How we test and review products<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Our staff and testers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n