Hairbrush that dries your hair... Does it really work?

[GrotchCoblin]

I've just seen a Facebook ad for a hairbrush that is also a blow dryer... Apparently this is a thing... I'm blown away! (Sorry, couldn't resist)

I'm seriously considering getting one. Has anyone used one of these and do they actually work?!

I usually look like a rats nest so I quite like the idea of looking a bit more polished without having to spend hours (and skill that I don't have).

Yes, they do work! I haven't seen the advert but I'm guessing not quite as well as that. I've got thick frizzy hair and I've got a flat and roundbrush version, both dry hair fairly straight although you may have to go over with a straightener if you like it really sleek. It's far easier than using a hairdryer and separate brush.

I recently bought one of the rotating brushes with a built in dryer. I don't love it to be honest. My hair is thick and waist length so I need to use a normal hairdryer until it's 90% dry then use the brush dryer in tiny sections. It does give a beautiful result but it's a lot of faff and isn't a quick alternative. It's just nowhere near powerful enough.

Maybe there are other types of brushes which work better but it maybe also depends on your style.

I'd rather get a decent, powerful hairdryer and a quality brush.

The question is which one? Is Big hair the market leader? Which is the best?

@Autumnleaves15 my hair is shoulder length and usually dries pretty fast so I suspect it wouldn't be as much of a faff for me.

@sometimesalwaysnever I hadn't even thought about brands! The one I saw was only around $40AUD so I wonder if this is a case where you pay for what you get...

Watching this thread as I'd love to try one but don't want to waste ££s.

I've got thick frizzy hair and have the Lidl version of a rotating brush drier (about £18). I've found the best results when I partially dry it with a normal drier and then go over sections with the rotating brush.
I can't get it straight but can get it smooth and 'swishy'. Its a little bit cumbersome, being so big but much easier than using a separate brush and drier.

I don’t think it’s the same thing - but I love my Babyliss big hair. I dry it to about 80% with the hair dryer, then swop over and finish off with the brush. Makes me look like I’ve had a professional blow dry.

Another Babyliss Big Hair lover.
Now, I'm normally the most sceptical ever, but I was swayed by doesmybumlook40 many years ago and bought one.
I'm on to my 3rd one at this stage.

I have thick, wavy, not-wavy-enough-to-be-curly-but-a-nightmare-in-humidity hair.

Hair that starts flat on my head and falls out into a wedge, regardless of the skill/panache of my haircut.

Spent my whole life envying people who had shaped and groomed hair- the only time mine looked groomed was after hairdresser.

I still can't do as well as a professional blow dry but if I 80% dry hair with normal dryer and spend 15minutes with BBH, I can look professional and polished at last.

I have replaced my BBH the day it died.

Babyliss Big Hair?? Hmmmm I think I've heard of this on MN before but didn't know what it was. Off to research...

From my experience the BBH is more of a finishing tool whereas some are better to dry your from fairly (but not soaking wet). The Revlon round brush is pretty good for adding volume shape but I also got a cheap flat hairbrush from Argos which works well just to smooth out the kinks and most frizz.

Very jealous of the Big Hair success stories I hated mine and was gutted after all the hype, biggest faff ever and so clunky. I sold it on Ebay after a week. It would take forever to dry your hair if you started from wet, especially if like me, you have long hair. As others have said it seems like more of a finishing tool, I certainly didn't find the results justified the time it took to do it vs just blasting with a decent high end hairdryer making sure to add volume by hanging my head upside down and shaping with my GHD's at the ends, which took 1/3 of the time.

I have my eye on the new GHD glide though, because I never learn

Yes I want the GHD glide too!!!! I also never learn.. I hardly ever use my BBH - too much faff.

I really like it. I've got curly hair, thats why I should make it straight again every morning and it was hell with hairdrier and brush. Then I saw review on www.bestadvisers.co.uk/hot-air-brush and decided that I need one. I bought Nicky Clarke and never regretted.

I want one of these! Everytime I dry my hair (not often) I think how much easier it would be if the hot air came out of the brush.
My hair is straight and flat, would it give me some root volume?

I've tried two different styles, the babyliss big hair and one that was hair brush shaped. I didn't like either of them as it took ages. I can dry my hair and have it styled from wet in under 8 minutes.

Stealth the babyliss big hair gives huge volume, but it sort of makes it sleek too. You still need to dry your hair first, I do mine so it’s about 80% done and then finish off with the brush. It’s honestly amazing, i always get compliments when I’ve done it.

JML do a cheapo version (1/10th of the price) of the GHD hot brush. I haven't tried it but a friend bought it and was impressed by the results.

www.bmstores.co.uk/products/jml-simply-straight-heated-ceramic-brush-329849

I'm a Babyliss Big Hair devotee myself.

I love my BBH too, but I do think they work better on shorter hair. I never found mine great when I had long hair, but I've got a chin length bob now and it is amazing for that length. I don't use it all the time as I do think it damages my hair (sort of pulls hair out?), but when I do use it, I can easily get very close to a salon blow dry. I dry my hair to about 90% and then use my BBH in sections.

@PinkieTuscadero do you have a link to the JML brush? I can't find it online

Haven’t RTFT but if you mean the rotating brush styles that dry your hair then YES

I have long very curly hair and swear by mine such that many of my friends have got one too. I can get a smooth, straight (is wavy) and voluminous salon style blow dry they I couldn’t achieve with a brush and hair dryer

Mine is the Remington volume and protect or something but am old model you might not be able to get now. I’d assume they’real similar

I should say I wait til my hair is nearly dry and then use it so it’s more for style than drying but I just do something else and let my hair dry to about 80% dry

I'm In Australia, too.

I've got the Babyliss Big Hair one which is sold here in Australia under the brand of Vidal Sassoon - I'm positive they're identical, and are both identical to the US Connair one. I have hand issues from arthritis and still find it easy enough to use. I have a bob about 3 cms below my ears and it gives me curve and some movement, and lasts a couple of days. However, your hair should be about 70% dry. They say 90%, I think, but because I have baby fine hair 70% seems to work.

There is no way nowadays that I could manipulate a brush and a dryer simultaneously.

I bought mine at Priceline during a sale and it was 60% off, so keep your eyes open or do an online search for really discounted prices at various local outlets, which I find nearly always works for hair things.

@GrotchCoblin Sorry for repeating myself, but I should have tagged you in my earlier post. I'm in Australia ,and I'm positive they are marketed here under the brand Vidal Sassoon, not Babyliss.

@summerplace thanks! I will have a look at priceline. I'm not actually sure if the BBH is the same as the thing I originally saw. Now that I'm doing some research I see there are hairbrushes that blow hot air, then there are curling irons that blow hot air too, all sorts of options really...i think I must have been under a rock not to know all this existed!

@trendingorange it's this one, available on Amazon.