Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush Review

TL;DR

Drybar's Brush Crush heated straightening brush is the salon-tier 2-in-1 that genuinely combines smoothing and shaping in one tool. Unlike most heated brushes that produce flat-iron-flat results, the Brush Crush leaves natural body — you finish with the slight bend and bounce of a salon blowout, not the pin-straight look of a flat iron. At $127, it's premium-tier, but for daily users replacing both a hair dryer routine and a flat iron, the math works out.

Why It Matters

Blowout-style hair (smooth, with body) traditionally requires hair dryer + round brush + flat iron — three tools, three skills, 20+ minutes. Heated straightening brushes condense this into one tool. Most cheap versions over-flatten. Drybar's tool is calibrated for the salon-blowout look, not flat-iron straight, which is the right output for daily wear.

Key Specs

• Bristle type: tourmaline ceramic, mixed lengths
• Heat range: ~300-400°F (varies by setting)
• Heat-up time: ~30 seconds
• Auto shut-off: 60 minutes
• Dual voltage: 110-240V
• Cord: 9 feet, 360° swivel
• Display: digital LED with temp readout
• Bristle layout: longer outer bristles for shaping, shorter inner for smoothing

Pros

• Genuinely produces salon-blowout result, not flat-straight
• Dual voltage works internationally
• 30-second heat-up matches premium tools
• Tourmaline ceramic bristles distribute heat evenly
• One tool replaces dryer + brush + flat iron for many users

Cons

• $127 is premium pricing — not entry-level
• Bristle layout is best for shoulder-length to long hair; very short pixie cuts struggle
• Hair must be dry before use (this is not a wet-hair tool)
• Heat damage potential at 400°F if used daily without protectant
• Battery life on portable variants is limited; this is corded

Who It's For

Daily blowout-wearers wanting one tool. Travelers needing dual voltage. Anyone who's tried cheap heated brushes and gotten flat-iron-flat results. Skip it if you have very short hair (pixie or buzz), if you have very fine hair (lower temp ceramic gentler), or if you primarily air-dry.

How to Use It

Use on dry hair only — not damp. Apply heat protectant before brushing. Section hair, brush from root to tip in one continuous motion. Don't dwell — keep the brush moving. For maximum body, brush in the direction you want curl bend at the end of each stroke. Finish with a cool-shot if your model has it.

How It Compares

Vs. Revlon One-Step Blow-Dryer Brush: Revlon is wet-to-dry hot air; Drybar is dry hair only with surface heat. Different tools. Vs. Dyson Airwrap: Airwrap is $600 with multiple attachments; Drybar is single-tool at 1/4 price. Vs. ghd Glide hot brush: ghd Glide is comparable salon-tier; Drybar is slightly more body-preserving. Vs. cheap heated brushes ($30-50): cheap brushes over-flatten and have hot spots.

Bottom Line

The right premium heated straightening brush for daily blowout wearers. Buy it as a one-tool replacement for dryer + flat iron. Skip it for very short or very fine hair.

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