However, when curling the hair, the rotating cord often got wrapped around our hands and arms. We also struggled to enhance the curls because we rarely managed to repeat a curling motion exactly how we did the first time. Either we didn’t rotate the brush at the same point in the hair, or we moved at a different speed. It’s likely that if we had longer hair this curling method would have been easier and more impactful. The more length you have to play with, the more hair you have to wrap around the brush.

During our testing period, we used the Hot Tools Volumiser to style our hair for everyday events, for meetings and for two nights out. We spent half the time using the larger barrel to create big and bouncy finishes. The other half, we created more defined curls and added more subtle volume using the smaller barrel. There is a downside to this smoothing function, however. We found that the Hot Tools created such a sleek finish that it reduced the amount of volume we could achieve. The Revlon may create a slightly more rough finish, but the volume is greater as a result.

The Beauty Bio

I’ve always had hair on the longer side and my natural texture is wavy. I’m generally pretty lazy with my hair care, which is why I don’t apply heat to it regularly. Flat irons have always been my go-to to smooth out any kinks or pesky curls around my hairline, but otherwise, I’m not big on regularly applying much effort to my strands. Activated-charcoal nylon bristles sit alongside boar-hair bristles on the barrel of each brush. The use of activated charcoal helps to cleanse the hair and scalp by removing excess sebum, in the same way, charcoal does to your skin when applied as a mask or similar. The rows of bristles sit on either side of the air vents found in each barrel, and on the top of the two attachments is a cool-touch tip that gives you better control as you move the styler through your hair.

The most success we had with the Hot Tools Volumiser was when we used it in conjunction with a standard hair dryer. In these instances, we used the normal dryer to blast the majority of water from the hair before using the Hot Tools Volumiser to add the finish touches.I’ll start by saying that this dryer is pretty loud. Okay, it’s obnoxiously loud. I’m disappointed to report that this tool was not something I could comfortably use while my toddler was taking a nap, which is generally the best time for me to prioritize any personal grooming efforts. I’ve tested quite a few hot brushes in my time, and there was one area where the 2-in-1 Volumiser didn’t perform quite as well as some competitor tools. When my hair was on the wetter side of damp, it took quite a lot of passes through each section of my hair to dry it, which significantly added to my overall drying and styling time.

On the rare occasion that I do heat style my hair for work, I rely on my GHD irons and my Dyson Supersonic. My preference is always to start with a blowout to keep my hair smooth, full of body, and easy to toss around. On the second or third day, that blow dry will serve as a great foundation for creating a tousled, curled ‘do with my GHD irons. Outside of work trips, events, etc., I don’t take the time to do anything to my hair because I don’t have a lot of time to spare as a working mother. Design: Comfortable, but clumsy Editor’s Note: We reviewed this article on September 24, 2023. As per our editorial policy, we are constantly updating our content, to make sure it reflects the best of the best when it comes to beauty, wellness, and fashion. We want to assure our readers that we still stand by our recommendations, which we do.

The smaller brush measures 6.1cm x 3.8cm /2.4 inches x 1.5 inches, takes the total weight to 345g / 0.76 lb, and is more suited to shorter and thinner hair styles. That said, using the larger barrel on short hair creates even greater volume and a bouncy blow-dry finish, while using the smaller brush on longer hair can create more defined curls. So there is more versatility than first appears.

Bristles: Most hair dryer brushes are made with either pin bristles or boar-type bristles, or a combination of both. Pin bristles do a good job at detangling hair, while boar bristles grip and smooth hair (though they can sometimes add too much tension, we found in Lab tests). If you're looking to smooth out frizz or make hair look super shiny, look for a dryer brush with boar-style bristles. If you're more focused on detangling, pin bristles are great. In expert evaluations, some testers liked bristles of varying lengths to grab every last hair. Unusually, the product description says that the smaller head suits short to medium-length hair, while the larger head suits medium to long hairstyles– which doesn't sound very versatile if you are intending it to be solely for your own use. However, the larger head is useful for drying and styling off larger sections of hair, while the smaller one allows for more precise styling and adds bounce to smaller sections. There’s also a nice velvety drawstring bag to keep all the parts together, which is also good for travel. How well does the Hot Tools Volumiser Blow Dryer Brush perform? For afro curls and chemically relaxed hair, I sought some advice from Robert – who is an expert in textured hair and also won Afro Hairdresser of the Year 2019. To give it a full, proper test, over the past few weeks I’ve been trying it in a few ways and here’s my learns. With some texturing spray on semi-dry, detangled hair: this is the nirvana combo. I am evangelical about L’Oreal Tecni.Art Pli Styling Spray for soft, flexible volume. And I’m super impressed with the new The Hair Lab By Mark Hill Working Styling Spray for a little more oompf.Hot brushes are all the rage right now, but I had yet to find one that worked well on my long hair in a way that actually minimized my styling time and efforts. Ahead, you’ll find all the ways the Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step Dryer Volumizer both impressed me and let me down. After a walk outside in the drizzle: in a mere 30 seconds you can do a very brief once-over that will dry as well as de-frizz. Cord length: The length of cord you'll need depends on where you'll be styling and if there's an outlet nearby. For ultimate flexibility, look for a professional-length cord of at least eight feet. Less expensive models tend to have shorter cords, but that may limit your ability to style freely — you may not have an outlet near a mirror! On day two, after a night in a topknot: phenomenal. I didn’t expect to see all the kinks from the tight elastic band disappear so easily. On clean wet hair (that’s been brushed through with a Wet Brush): it’s quite time-consuming, much better to start on dry-ish hair.