Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush Review
4.3 / 5
Overall Rating
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush – Hair Dryer Straightener for Smooth
Heated straightening brushes promise blowout-style smoothing in one step. Drybar's Brush Crush is the salon-grade version that actually delivers.
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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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