It happened around 2018. Suddenly, every woman you knew was wielding this massive, humming pink-and-black wand that looked like a hairbrush on steroids. The Revlon brush blow dryer—officially the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer—didn't just go viral; it became a permanent fixture of modern grooming. You've probably seen it shoved into a suitcase or cluttering a vanity. Honestly, it’s kind of a beast. It’s loud. It’s bulky. It gets incredibly hot. Yet, despite the influx of $500 luxury competitors, this $40-ish tool refuses to die.
People love a shortcut. Most of us aren't professional stylists who can juggle a round brush in one hand and a heavy dryer in the other without getting a massive shoulder cramp. This tool basically combined them into one awkward, glorious machine. It promised the "salon blowout" at home. Does it actually deliver that? Sorta. It delivers something close enough that you can leave the house without looking like you just rolled out of bed, and for most people, that’s the entire point.
What the Revlon brush blow dryer actually does to your hair
To understand why this thing works, you have to look at the physics of a blowout. Usually, you’re using tension to stretch the hair over a barrel while applying heat to "set" the shape. The Revlon brush blow dryer uses a giant, oval-shaped barrel. This shape is key. Unlike a round brush, which just creates curls, the flat sides of the Revlon oval allow you to smooth the hair from the root, while the curved edges give you that flippy, bouncy volume at the ends.
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It’s not just a dryer. It’s a heat styler. It uses ionic technology, which basically means it releases negative ions to break down water droplets faster. This is supposed to reduce frizz. In reality, it works because the bristles—a mix of nylon pins and tufted boar bristles—grab the hair with enough tension to flatten the cuticle. When the cuticle is flat, it reflects light. When it reflects light, your hair looks shiny.
There’s a catch, though. This tool gets hot. Like, really hot. Some independent tests have clocked the airflow at the nozzle of these types of tools at over 200°F. If you aren't careful, you aren't just drying your hair; you’re essentially slow-roasting it. This is why the "Plus" version was eventually released with a medium heat setting, because the original "High" setting was basically a blowtorch for your split ends.
The Evolution: Original vs. 2.0 (The Plus)
Revlon didn't just sit on their hands. They noticed people were complaining that the original head was too big for short hair or that the motor would burn out if you didn't clean the lint out of the bottom. The Revlon brush blow dryer Plus 2.0 changed the game slightly. They made the head detachable. This was huge for travel because the original was a nightmare to pack. It also added a slimmer handle. If you have small hands, the original felt like trying to hold a baguette. The 2.0 feels more like an actual tool.
Why it beats the expensive stuff (sometimes)
Let’s be real about the Dyson Airwrap or the Shark FlexStyle. They are incredible pieces of engineering. They use the Coanda effect to wrap hair using air rather than extreme heat. But they also cost as much as a car payment. The Revlon tool is democratic. It’s the tool of the people.
- It's faster. Because it uses direct heat and high-tension bristles, you can go from damp to "done" in about 15 minutes.
- It’s intuitive. If you can brush your hair, you can use this.
- The results are consistent. You don't need a specific technique or "mapping" of your head.
However, the luxury tools win on hair health. If you use the Revlon brush blow dryer every single day on soaking wet hair, your ends will eventually look like straw. It's a trade-off. You trade long-term cuticle integrity for 20 extra minutes of sleep in the morning. Most experts, like celebrity stylist Jen Atkin, often emphasize that the best tool is the one you can actually use, but she—and almost every other pro—will tell you that heat protectant is not optional here.
Common mistakes that ruin the experience
A lot of people hate this tool because they use it wrong. First off, never use it on soaking wet hair. You’ll be there forever and you’ll sizzle your strands. You need to be at least 70% to 80% dry. Let it air dry while you do your makeup, or use a regular dryer to blast the moisture out first.
Another big one: cleaning the filter. See that mesh at the bottom? It sucks in dust, hair spray, and bathroom lint. If that gets clogged, the motor overheats. That’s why you see those one-star reviews saying "it smelled like smoke and died." Clean your filter. Use a toothbrush to scrub the gunk out every couple of weeks. It takes two minutes and saves you $40.
The Science of the "One-Step"
The bristles aren't just there for decoration. The nylon pins have comfortable ball tips for detangling, while the shorter boar-style bristles are what actually create the shine. They distribute the natural oils from your scalp down the hair shaft. This is why your hair feels softer after using the Revlon brush blow dryer than it does after a rough dry with a standard pistol-grip dryer.
There's also the ceramic coating. Ceramic is used because it distributes heat evenly. Without it, you’d have "hot spots" on the brush that would singe patches of hair while leaving others damp. It’s a simple tech, but it’s effective.
Is it okay for all hair types?
This is where the nuance comes in. If you have very fine, fragile hair, be careful. The "High" setting is likely too much for you. Use "Low" or "Cool." If you have Type 4 curly hair, this tool is a great "pre-styler." It won't get your hair bone-straight like a flat iron, but it will stretch the curls and prep the hair for a silk press much faster than a comb attachment on a blow dryer.
For those with thick, mid-back length hair, this tool is a godsend. It tackles the bulk. It gets into the dense layers at the nape of the neck that usually stay damp for hours.
Real-world longevity and what to expect
Don't expect this to be an heirloom. It’s a $40 electronic device. In my experience and based on thousands of user reports, you’ll get about two to three years of regular use out of it before the motor starts to whine or the bristles start to fray. That’s okay. At that price point, the "cost per wear" is pennies.
The bristles will eventually bend. This is inevitable because of the heat. When the bristles lose their stiffness, they lose their ability to create tension. When you lose tension, you lose the "smooth" factor. That’s usually the sign that it’s time to replace it.
Actionable Steps for the Best Results
If you just bought one or have one gathering dust, here is the sequence for the perfect DIY blowout:
- Prep is everything. Use a lightweight leave-in conditioner and a heavy-duty heat protectant. Something like the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil or a budget-friendly option like Cantu's thermal shield.
- Rough dry first. Don't touch the Revlon yet. Use a towel or a cheap dryer until your hair is just damp, not dripping.
- Sectioning is the "pro" secret. Don't just brush your hair like a normal brush. Clip it into at least four sections. Start at the bottom.
- The "Roll and Hold" technique. Position the brush at the root, wrap the hair, and pull through slowly. When you get to the ends, rotate the brush and hold it there for 3-5 seconds.
- The Cool Shot. If your model has a cool setting, hit the section with cool air before releasing. This "locks" the shape.
The Revlon brush blow dryer isn't perfect. It's loud enough to wake up your neighbors and it gets hot enough to fry an egg. But it solved a genuine problem for millions of people who just wanted to look "put together" without spending an hour in front of the mirror. It’s the ultimate "good enough" tool, and in a world of over-complicated beauty tech, there is something incredibly refreshing about that.
To keep your tool running longer, make it a habit to pull the stray hairs out of the bristles after every single use. Hair left on the barrel gets reheated over and over, creating a burnt smell and eventually coating the ceramic in a sticky residue. A clean tool is a fast tool. If you're seeing smoke, it's usually just product buildup or hair trapped in the heating element—but it's also a sign you need to deep clean the device or turn down the heat. Stick to these maintenance basics and you'll get the salon look without the salon price tag for years.