Round Hair Brush - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2022
Having the right brush is the key to banishing bad hair days. With a round brush, you can lift hair at the roots, smooth sections, and create texture while you're blow-drying—meaning that if you want to add volume, body, and even waves or curls to your hair, a round brush is the right tool.
A round brush is exactly what it sounds like: instead of being shaped flat, like a paddle, the brush head is round and has bristles all around it. The design allows you to wrap your hair around the brush so you can add lift or soft curls as you blow-dry. It can also help hold your hair taut while you dry it to help straighten and soften it. Because they're extremely effective at adding volume to hair, round brushes are especially helpful if you have fine or thin hair.
There are so many round brushes on the market that finding the right one can be difficult. It means choosing the right size, deciding between natural and synthetic bristles, determining the best barrel material, and choosing what other features would provide the most benefit to your hair. Read on for our tips and recommendations.
Key Considerations
- Size
Round brushes are available with barrels in a variety of sizes. The size for your styling needs usually depends on the length of your hair. People with longer hair need a larger round brush than those with shorter hair.
- For hair that has a long or short chin, a one-inch round brush works well.
- For hair that is between chin length and shoulder length, a 1.3- to 1.7-inch round brush works best.
- For hair past your shoulder, choose a two- or three-inch round brush.
- Natural bristles vs. synthetic
Like all hair brushes, a round brush can have natural or synthetic bristles. When choosing a brush, you have to take into account the type of hair to determine what type of bristles will work.
Natural Bristles are made from animal hair. In most cases they use boar bristles, which are extremely soft and gentle on the hair. A natural bristle round brush is extremely effective at pulling your hair's natural oils to the ends from the roots, making your locks look extremely shiny and smooth. Because they are gentler on the hair, they also do not cause as much breakage. Natural bristle brushes are usually more expensive.
A round brush with natural bristles is ideal for people with straight, fine, wavy, curly, thick and damaged hair, because it reduces breakage and frizz.
Synthetic Bristles are typically made of nylon or plastic. They are extremely effective at detangling hair and typically do not produce as much static as a natural bristle brush. They are also more affordable, although they are not as gentle on hair and can cause damage.
A synthetic bristle round brush is best for thick, coarse hair that's prone to knots and requires frequent detangling. It can also help add more bounce to curly, textured hair when blow-drying.
You can find some round brushes that have a combination of natural and synthetic bristles. These models are less expensive than natural bristle brushes but more expensive than synthetic options. However, they are capable of providing soft and shiny hair like a natural bristle brush while detangling easily like a synthetic brush.
Combination natural/synthetic round brushes work with almost any hair type, but are especially effective when caring for long or fine hair.
- Barrel Material
The barrel material of a round and corsage brush plays an important role in the effectiveness of heat styling. All materials are heat resistant, but some retain heat better than others to really set your style. You can choose between several different materials:
Wooden Barrel Brushes can withstand the heat of a blow dryer, but they don't retain heat like other materials. This is why they are not as effective for adding waves or curls, although they can help add volume and body.
Metal Barrel Brushes are usually aluminum and can easily withstand heat. However, they can retain heat a little too well, so they can dry out your hair and cause other heat damage.
Ceramic Barrel Brushes are a very common choice. They retain heat well but provide a smooth, even amount that aids the styling and drying process without damaging the hair.
Tourmaline Barrel Brushes also provide gentle heat and can help reduce static when blow-drying. They are especially useful for softening and straightening hair.
Characteristic
- Ionic Technology
Like hair dryers, some round brushes have ionic technology in their barrels. That means they are capable of adding negative ions to your hair while you dry it to reduce frizz and static. As a result, your hair looks smoother and shinier—which can be particularly helpful if you have coarse, coarse, or textured hair.
Round brushes with ionic technology can also reduce drying time. This allows you to get ready faster and reduces your hair's exposure to heat (and potential damage).
- Ergonomic Handle
It's easy for your hand to get tired when blow-drying your hair with a round brush. Models with an ergonomically designed handle are easier to hold and can help prevent hand fatigue. Opt for a brush with a contoured gel handle for more comfortable handling.
- Ventilated Design
Some round brushes have a ventilated design. This means that your barrel has spaces or vents between the bristles that allow air from your dryer to pass through them. A vented brush can help reduce drying time, but it doesn't always provide the smoothest results, so it's best if you just want a hard blow.
Tips
Using a round brush can quickly tire your arm, so it's easier to use it on hair that's already partially dry.
You'll get the best results with a round brush if you work in small sections. Wrapping too much hair around the brush can cause tangles and knots, so keep sections to two inches or less.
If you use a round brush to volumize your hair, start by applying a volumizing mousse to the roots to help enhance the effect.
If you're using a round brush to add waves or curls to your hair, run the blow dryer over it for about 10 seconds before rolling your hair. Preheating the brush helps set waves or curls.
We also love the Roots Professional Round Hair Brush if you prefer a wooden brush. It uses a combination of boar hair and nylon bristles, making it effective at both detangling thick hair and giving it a smooth, shiny look.