Hair Dryer Brush vs Straightener: The Ultimate 5-Way Hair Styler Comparison (Revlon, TYMO, BaByliss, Remington)
Stop the Search: Finding Your Perfect Styling Tool.
The choice between a hot air brush for bouncy volume and a straightener for sleek shine can be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to cut down on drying time or achieve professional salon results at home, the right technology makes all the difference.
We’ve compiled an in-depth comparison of five of the UK’s most popular styling tools to help you identify which one belongs in your routine.
The 5 Contenders: At-a-Glance Overview
These five stylers represent three distinct styling categories: The Volumising Hot Air Brush, The Sleek Straightener, and The Speed Straightening Brush.
Category 1: The Volumising Powerhouses (Dry & Style)
These tools combine drying and styling into one step, ideal for achieving a polished, bouncy blow-dry look faster.
- Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumiser with Sectioning Comb:
- Core Function: Dries and smooths while creating significant volume and root lift.
- Technology: Oval brush design delivers volume, while Ionic and Ceramic Technology work together to reduce heat damage, frizz, and static.
- Ideal User: Those with mid to long hair who prioritise maximum volume and speed over pin-straight results.
- BaByliss Big Hair Rotating Hair Dryer Brush (50mm Barrel):
- Core Function: Mimics a professional salon blow-dry by automatically rotating the ceramic barrel to grip, spin, and dry hair simultaneously.
- Technology: Features Ionic Frizz-Control to smooth the cuticle layer and add high shine. The 50mm barrel is perfect for creating soft, full curls or waves.
- Ideal User: Those seeking a controlled, less-frizzy finish with excellent bounce and who value the rotating mechanism for ease of styling.
Category 2: The Sleek & Speedy Straighteners
These dedicated flat irons use heat and pressure to deliver a smooth, high-shine finish.
- Remington Shine Therapy Wide (45mm) Floating Plate Hair Straightener:
- Core Function: Provides rapid, highly efficient straightening for very long or thick hair.
- Technology: 45mm wide floating plates ensure maximum hair contact per pass. The plates are coated with Advanced Ceramic infused with Moroccan Argan Oil to lock in moisture and enhance shine.
- Ideal User: Individuals with very thick, long, or coarse hair who need to straighten large sections quickly and efficiently.
- Remington Hair Straightener (Advanced Ceramic, 110mm Plates):
- Core Function: Versatile, high-performance straightening with a focus on speed and even heat.
- Technology: Features extra-long 110mm floating plates for fast coverage on medium-to-long hair, a digital display, and a rapid 15-second heat-up time. Heat range up to 230∘C.
- Ideal User: The general straightener user who needs fast heat-up and a reliable tool for both sleek straightening and creating waves/curls.
Category 3: The Efficiency Hybrid
This tool combines the ease of a brush with the performance of a flat iron.
- TYMO Hair Straightener Brush UK (2-in-1):
- Core Function: Effortless straightening that preserves natural hair volume. It simultaneously brushes and heats the hair.
- Technology: A 2-in-1 flat iron and brush design with anti-scald features for safety. It uses wider comb teeth for even distribution and has 5 temperature settings (130∘C−210∘C).
- Ideal User: Those who want straight hair without the volume loss or flat look often associated with traditional straighteners, and who value simplicity and safety.
Comparison Summary: Which Styler Wins for Your Goal?
| Feature | Best for Volume & Bounce | Best for Speed & Efficiency | Best for Pin-Straight Sleekness |
| Tool Recommendation | Revlon One-Step or BaByliss Big Hair | Remington Shine Therapy Wide | Remington Standard Straightener |
| Dries Hair? | Yes (Primary function) | No (Requires dry hair) | No (Requires dry hair) |
| Max Temperature | Varies by setting (lower than irons) | 230∘C | 230∘C |
| Frizz Control | Excellent (Ionic tech) | Good (Ceramic/Argan Oil) | Good (Ceramic) |
| Application | Root to tip (wet or towel-dried hair) | Clamp & Glide (dry hair only) | Brush & Glide (dry hair only) |
Deep Dive: Selecting by Priority
If Your Priority is Maximum Volume and Body
The fight here is between the Revlon Volumiser and the BaByliss Big Hair.
- Choose Revlon if: Your main goal is speed and significant, all-over root lift. Its large, static oval barrel provides incredible tension and air flow, giving hair that “fresh blow-dry” volume very quickly.
- Choose BaByliss if: You want a more controlled, polished, and shiny finish. The rotating barrel is excellent for adding smooth movement to the ends and eliminating awkward wrist movements, giving a genuinely salon-styled look.
If Your Priority is Speed and Hair Thickness
If you have a lot of hair to process, you need a large surface area.
- The Remington Shine Therapy Wide Straightener is the definitive winner. Its 45mm wide plates cover significantly more ground than a standard straightener or brush, drastically reducing the number of passes needed. This is key for protecting very thick hair from excessive heat exposure.
If Your Priority is Straightening Quality vs. Volume Preservation
This is the classic debate between a flat iron and a straightener brush.
- Choose the Remington Straighteners if: You demand pin-straight, smooth, and sleek hair. The clamping action of the flat iron is unmatched for achieving a perfectly flat cuticle layer and the highest level of straightness, especially with the Argan Oil-infused plates.
- Choose the TYMO Straightener Brush if: You want natural-looking straight hair that retains body and movement. It avoids the flattening effect of a traditional iron, offering rapid smoothing without sacrificing your hair’s inherent volume. It’s also an excellent choice for a quick touch-up tool.
The Final Verdict: Recommended Styler for Every Need
| Your Goal | Recommended Styler | Why? |
| Quick Blowout & Lift | Revlon Salon One-Step | Fastest way to dry and volumise mid-to-long hair. |
| Sleek Finish on Thick Hair | Remington Shine Therapy Wide | Maximum plate width cuts styling time in half for dense hair. |
| Polished Salon Look | BaByliss Big Hair Rotating | The automatic rotation delivers professional bounce and shine. |
| Volume-Retaining Straightness | TYMO Hair Straightener Brush | Straightens effectively without compressing the hair flat. |
| Versatile Straightening | Remington Hair Straightener (110mm) | Reliable 230∘C heat and long plates for sleekness and styling flexibility. |
When making your final decision, consider your hair type and length, as well as the primary finish you are aiming for. Investing in the right tool will transform your styling routine.