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I love having long hair but I kind of hate styling it. I also don’t have a ton of patience so anything that cuts down on the time I need to spend on my hair is a win.
I’m not a professional stylist, so I need my hair tools and accessories to be easy-to-use and fool-proof. It’s also a must that my products keep my hair looking healthy, shiny, and frizz-free.
These are all my personal favorites and time-tested recommendations. From the best hairbrushes to my go-to hair styling tools and other helpful accessories. This list has all the tools you need to get a salon look at home.
Best Hair Styling Tools: The Must-Haves You Need to Create a Badass Look at Home
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is the hair dryer. I know the price tag on this hair dryer gives many people sticker shock, but it’s really worth the investment. I’ve had mine for years and it’s been worth the splurge (it’s more costly over time to buy cheaper dryers that are more damaging to your hair and need to be replaced more often).
The Dyson hair dryer is easy to use, lightweight (so your arm doesn’t need a break halfway through), works for all hair types, and most importantly for those of us who don’t have time to waste—it significantly cuts down on drying time.
Dyson engineered this dryer to protect your hair from extreme heat damage, and gives you a variety of speeds and heat settings to make your hair as smooth and shiny as possible. (If you go to their website, Dyson goes into all of the engineering specifics and it will make sense why this dryer is worth the investment.)
Included in the price are all of the attachments you’d need: a styling concentrator, a diffuser, a gentle hair attachment, a wide-tooth comb attachment, and my personal favorite, the flyaway attachment that is used to finish your style without frizz.
Note from one of my team members, Shannon: “True story: I have really thick hair. My hair stylist used to call over a second person and they would use two dryers at once because it would take so long. But since getting a Dyson, she can dry my hair in half the time, by herself. I bought one myself after that, and I’ll never use anything else.”
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush
This is a newer addition to my hair tool collection, but it’s quickly become one I consistently reach for. After seeing this viral hot air brush on TikTok, YouTube, and the online beauty community in general, I had to test it for myself.
With close to 300,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, I now understand the hype. It really is one step. This is incredible for those of us (myself included) who are not always the best and most patient with using a round brush to get that voluminous salon blowout look. This is way faster and does the work of a hair dryer and brush for you—it does the work of two tools in one.
Revlon’s hot air brush is highly affordable, easy to use, has three heat/speed settings, and according to Revlon, its ionic technology gives you 30% less frizz (based on third party testing against leading brushes and blow dryers in the market).
It’s more than worth a try, and I definitely recommend it.
Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Curling Iron, 1 ¼“
I have had my Hot Tools curling iron for YEARS—it’s lived in multiple states, traveled to many countries, taken day-to-day beatings and falls, and it is still going strong.
As far as professional hair tools go, Hot Tools are extremely reasonably priced and they more than pay for themselves over time. With a temperature control dial that allows for variable heat settings up to 430°F and a 24-karat gold styling surface that conducts heat evenly, this curling iron will leave you with long-lasting results. It also has an extra-long cool tip and 8-foot cord for ease of use, as well as a foldaway safety stand to protect your counters while it’s hot.
I personally use the 1 ¼” curling iron for my hair, but it comes in a variety of sizes for whatever your styling preferences are, including ¾”, 1”, and 1 ½”.
amika The Confidante Moisture Maintenance Styler
The Confidante by amika is easily the best straightener I’ve ever used. I’ve owned and tested just about every type and brand of straightener on the market, from drugstore to high end options. I wasn’t expecting anything spectacular from this one and thought it would be similar to the many others I’ve tried. I was pleasantly surprised by how far it surpasses any other flat iron I’ve used. Plus it really does leave my hair pin-straight with one pass, and it keeps my hair feeling healthy—the moisture maintenance claims are no joke.
(It worked so well that my friend who was watching me style my hair with it immediately returned a different flat iron she had just purchased and bought this one on the spot).
Bed Head A-Wave-We-Go Adjustable Hair Waver
If beachy waves are your thing, you’ll want to check out Bed Head’s A-Wave-We-Go. What I love is that it has an adjustable barrel that lets you choose the perfect wave style for you, whether that’s a tighter and crimped wave or a looser tousled look.
The A-Wave-We-Go has multiple heat settings, and uses tourmaline and ceramic plates for less frizz and more shine.
Sndyi Silicone Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
I love this scalp scrubber. I’ve used a few in the past that have cracked or water can get inside, but not with this one! It’s a one piece design and 100% silicone which means you don’t have to worry about dropping it or anything nasty growing inside.
This particular one I use every time I shampoo my hair. It stimulates blood flow and circulation for a healthy scalp and helps you get a deep clean by making sure your shampoo really gets down to the roots and does its job. This scalp massager is very budget friendly, lightweight, easy to grip, and comes in multiple colors.
HH&LL Double-Hinged Hair-Sectioning Alligator Clips
These clips are great for sectioning—they don’t slip, the grip is tight, and they are incredibly affordable. They are easy to use (and open), and stay put even if you have thick hair. So I always keep these on hand.
Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Wide Tooth Detangler Comb
The wide tooth comb is a great staple to have on hand. It’s another budget friendly buy (under $5), can be used to easily detangle wet or dry hair, and it will last forever.
Wet Brush Original Detangler Hair Brush
This is my go-to wet brush. I bought it after a hair stylist recommended it to me and I haven’t looked back. There’s a reason this has over 30,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. It prevents breakage, it’s durable, it detangles gently, and it’s budget-friendly.
Honorable Mentions: The Tangle Teezer and Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush are two great and highly-rated options for detangling your hair.
Denman D3 Original Styler 7 Row Brush
If you have naturally curly hair or thick hair (even if it’s straight), this is the #1 brush you need to own. It’s strong enough to work through thick hair, but gentle at the same time. The nylon bristles don’t have a ball at the end, so it doesn’t snag. It’s great for defining your curls. And if you don’t have curly hair (mine is wavy), it works great for wavy styles too. In addition, the handle shape is easy to hold, and it doesn’t slip out of your hand.
While we’re on the topic of Denman and brushes, this Denman Hairbrush Cleaning Brush is an incredible tool to have on hand. It quickly lifts and removes loose hair from your brushes. It’s an easy way to keep your brushes clean and in good condition.
Herstyler Straightening Comb
If you are using a flat iron, you’ll want one of these. This straightening comb gives you better control when using a flat iron and lets the flat iron glide evenly and effortlessly over the hair without snagging. This makes it easier to straighten your hair with a single pass, which also means less heat damage.
Diane Ceramic Straightening Brush with Nylon Bristles
I also use one of these double clamp brushes to help straighten when I’m blow drying. If you don’t have a flat iron, this is a way to achieve a similar straight look with a brush.
3 Pack Rat Tail Teasing Combs with Stainless Steel Pintail
With over 20,000 5-star reviews from Amazon and a price that fits any budget, you need these rat tail combs in your hair arsenal. They are incredible for sectioning, parting, back combing, and for taming and also smoothing flyaways with hairspray.
My Pro Tip: If you happen to have a flakey scalp, this comb is the best way to remove those.
Olivia Garden NanoThermic Ceramic + Ion Hair Brush – 50th Anniversary Special Edition
My mom and I both own and love this Olivia Garden brush. This ceramic brush has a combination of nylon and boar bristles with ion technology that works well for not only detangling and smoothing the hair, but preventing flyaways and static.
I have fine hair that gets greasy if I don’t wash every day and I have been trying for months to go longer between washes. This brush did the trick—my hair can look a little greasy, but the way this thing distributes the oil makes it look clean and healthy again. This was a great buy!
Olivia Garden NanoThermic Ceramic + Ion Round Thermal Hair Brush
If you blow dry your hair, a round brush is a necessity if you want a salon-quality blowout. This Olivia Garden thermal brush has a ceramic barrel that helps retain heat so you can dry your hair faster, and its ion-charged bristles help keep your hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free. It comes in a variety of barrel sizes, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Brush
When Marsha Brady iconically brushed her hair 100 times on each side, she was using this equally iconic brush. This brush has a cult-like following, and as any stylist will tell you, Mason Pearson brushes are worth it and it’s the reason this brand has been in business for over 100 years.
Each Mason Pearson hairbrush goes through 18 stages of production before it is ready to be used on your hair. According to Mason Pearson, “We only work with a handful of trusted suppliers and have sourced our boar bristles from the same companies since 1941. These bristles are hand sorted by a skilled team of technicians in our London factory. They remove those that do not reflect the colour or quality our customers expect before grading them, by their thickness and stiffness, to choose which model they would be best suited to.”
Mason Pearson brushes are timeless in form and function, as well as quality and longevity—many people have owned the same brush for decades and pass them down to their children. It’s worth every penny.
AQUIS Flip Hair-Drying Tool
If you’re not using a towel specifically made for your hair, it’s time to start. When you think technology, you don’t usually think of towels, but Aquis does. The Aquis proprietary fabric uses uniquely woven channels to wick water away fast without heat or friction, which means stronger hair and less time drying.
These towels have antimicrobial technology to keep your towel mold free and smelling clean in humid bathrooms. The Flip is also made with recycled bottles, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for eco-conscious options.
VOLO Hero Microfiber Hair Towel
Another great hair towel option is the VOLO Hero Hair Towel that cuts your drying time in half! This has won The Best of Beauty Award from Allure for the last two years (in both 2021 and 2022).
And if you have longer hair or significantly thicker hair that is difficult to dry, I highly recommend the Super Hero XL Hair Towel.
Honorable Mentions
Spa Headband Hair Wrap
I do my makeup before I style my hair and these are the best way to make sure I don’t get anything in my hair. It also helps to keep your hair out of your serums and moisturizers when you’re applying them. These headbands are also incredibly handy when I’m washing my face or taking off any makeup so I don’t get my hair wet.
Slip Silk Queen Pillowcase
I highly recommend having a silk pillowcase. Slip Silk pillowcases reduce friction, which helps prevent tangles and frizz during the night. And also helps keep your skin wrinkle-free.
Honorable Mention: Another great and budget-friendly option is this 22 Momme Natural Silk Pillowcase by J Jimoo.
Hair Shears
You might not know when you’re going to need it, but having a trusty pair of hair shears on hand will end up being valuable. (Do NOT use kitchen or office scissors!) You might want to cut off a few dry, split ends or trim a random piece that was somehow missed. You can even use them to cut or trim your bangs if you’re comfortable doing it yourself. In fact, I use mine to “dust” my own ends from time to time. Here are two great options.
Equinox Professional Series Hair-Cutting Scissors
ULG Japanese Stainless Steel Hair-Cutting Scissors
