A straightening brush instead of a flat iron: what you gain in speed and volume, and what you give up in sleekness

This page contains affiliate links. MoreThanMy earns a commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Researched. We have not used this one long enough to give you a verdict, and we would rather say so than invent one. What follows is how it works, who it suits, and what it will not do. When we have used it properly, this page carries the verdict and the date.

TYMO Hair Straightener Brush

Searches for straightening combs and brushes are rising this week, TYMO's among them. A heated brush is a different tool from a flat iron, and it is better at some things and worse at others.

How a straightening brush works

A flat iron clamps a section of hair between two hot plates and pulls it straight. A straightening brush has heated teeth that comb through the hair, pressing it straight as they pass — the listing describes them as working like many small irons at once. Because you are brushing rather than clamping, it covers more hair per pass and keeps more of the hair's natural volume.

Brush or flat iron?

A brush is better for speed, for a softer, more natural straight with some body, for frizz on hair that is already fairly straight, and for anyone nervous about clamping hot plates near their face.

A flat iron is better for a very sleek, glassy finish, for very curly or coily hair that needs firm tension, and for precise work around the face.

What the listing describes

Heats to 350°F in about twenty seconds, with five temperature settings; a ceramic coating; densely spaced teeth for one-pass straightening; a frame designed to keep the hot parts away from your skin; and automatic shut-off after thirty minutes. It comes with a detangling brush, a heatproof glove, two clips and a bag.

The listing also says the coating "deeply repairs damaged hair". A hot tool cannot repair hair; a smooth coating can only reduce the extra damage of a rough or uneven surface. Treat that line as a description of a smooth plate, not a treatment.

How to use it

Only on completely dry hair — never damp; steam from wet hair under a hot tool is especially damaging. Detangle first. Put a heat protectant on before you start; we explain what those do in what the temperature on a heat protectant actually means. Start at the lowest setting that works for your hair, take small sections, and brush slowly from root to end, keeping tension with the brush. One slow pass beats three fast ones.

Choosing a temperature

Fine, bleached or damaged hair: start at the bottom of the range. Medium hair: the middle. Only very thick, coarse hair needs the top setting. If you see steam or smell burning, turn it down.

What it will not do

It will not give the glassy, poker-straight finish of a flat iron. It will not straighten very tight curls as effectively as plates with firm tension. And it will not repair hair, whatever the coating is made of.

The product

A heated straightening brush with five temperatures, fast heat-up and a safety frame, plus a full kit of accessories. Sold by TYMO's own store when we checked.

The one people are searching for is the TYMO Hair Straightener Brush.

TYMO Hair Straightener Brush

We do not print prices here, because a price we typed last month is a price that is wrong today.

Written by CatieH, who covers nails and hair here.