A hair dryer brush is a hybrid of a blow-dryer and traditional brushes that can create waves, curls, or a smooth, straight blowout in one easy step. They’ve catapulted to popularity thanks to TikTok stars demonstrating how they can go from damp to done in mere minutes (and with little effort, no less). We talked to the experts—celebrity hair stylists and trichologists, as well as Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab chemists—and put 12 top-rated, expert-approved options to the test.

A favorite of Brown’s, this dryer brush gets top marks for achieving a smooth, glossy finish without frizz. It has mixed pattern bristles—the longer plastic ones detangle your strands while the smaller tufts smooth your locks into a sheet—and three heat settings for the right level of heat. Plus, it’s one of the lightest-weight dryer brushes we tested.

It’s worth noting that like all hot tools, a hair dryer brush can cause damage when used incorrectly. To avoid this, always make sure your hair is approx. 80 percent dry before styling with it, and always spritz your strands with a heat protectant spray, like Tresemme’s Heat Shield Spray, before using it.

If you’re still in the dark about how to use a hair dryer brush, check out this video by celebrity hair stylist and trichologist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor. She explains how to towel/air dry your hair, which helps mitigate damage, and how to maneuver the bristles for gorgeous salon-worthy results. It takes practice, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be a pro in no time! hair dryer brush