✨ Quick Take: Is It Worth It?
The Drybar Baby Brush Crush is a mini ceramic paddle straightening brush built for bangs, flyaways, and travel touch-ups. At just 5.5 oz and 8″ long, it’s lightweight and dual-voltage, making it a true carry-on companion. Its fixed 400°F heat smooths fine-to-medium strands quickly but offers no adjustment, which can be too hot for fragile hair and not powerful enough for thick textures.
✅ Best for: Travelers, shorter styles, or quick smoothing on fine-to-medium hair
❌ Skip if: You need adjustable heat, full-length styling power, or a tool for coarse/coily textures
👉 Want more options? See our Best Hair Straightening Brush reviews.
At BeautiLAB, we buy and test every product independently — no sponsors, no freebies. See our full testing process.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Drybar The Baby Brush Crush Mini Heated Straightening Brush, Corded Electric, Yellow | Check Price |
👍 What We Like
- Incredibly lightweight (5.5 oz) and compact (8″)
- Smooths bangs, flyaways, and short layers quickly
- Ionic ceramic surface adds shine and cuts frizz
- Cool-touch bristles feel safer near the scalp
- Dual voltage + 60-min auto shut-off for travel
👎 What We Don’t Like
- Fixed 400°F may be too hot for fine/damaged hair
- Lacks tension and surface area for thick/coarse hair
- No display or temperature control
- Best for quick styling/refreshes—not full, dense heads
🔑 What Sets It Apart
- Mini 8″ body & 5.5 oz weight — among the smallest travel brushes
- Fixed 400°F temperature — consistent and hot (IR ~385°F after 15 min)
- 3.0″ × 1.0″ heated surface — compact but fast for touch-ups
- Cool-touch bristles + auto shut-off = safer for travel
- Dual voltage for international use
🔍 Key Specs: Drybar The Baby Brush Crush at a Glance
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Heat / Settings | Fixed ~400°F |
| Head / Plate | Mini paddle, 3.0″ × 1.0″ |
| Heated / Detangler Bristles | 1.8″ / 1.6″ |
| Weight | 5.5 oz |
| Cord Length | 6 ft |
| Ionic | Yes (no separate ion generator) |
| Voltage | Dual |
| Model | 900-2160-4 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
🧪 Lab Notes
Tested max ~385°F (IR, 15 min); handle ~90°F; coverage 1.00″ × 3.00″; low tension; Mini + Dual travel profile.
🎯 Who Should Buy the Baby Brush Crush
✅ Short to medium hair needing quick daily touch-ups
✅ Fringe/flyaway control and second-day smoothing
✅ Frequent travelers who want a truly compact tool
✅ Users who prefer simple, one-temp operation
🚫 Skip It If You Have:
❌ Thick, coarse, or coily textures needing strong bristle tension
❌ Full-head smoothing on long or dense hair
❌ Users wanting multiple heat settings
❌ Anyone needing a digital display or advanced features
✨ Design & Build
The Baby Brush Crush is a travel-sized ceramic paddle brush designed for bangs, shorter styles, and on-the-go touch-ups. At just 8″ long and 5.5 oz, it’s nearly half the weight of full-size models, making it easy to pack or carry in a handbag.
Its 3″ × 1″ heated surface is compact, ideal for styling small sections, smoothing flyaways, or freshening second-day hair. The bristles measure 1.8 cm heated teeth with 1.6 cm detanglers, long enough to grip fine-to-medium strands effectively. A cool-touch shield protects the scalp from accidental burns.
The design is minimal: no ribbed grip or soft-touch handle, and no digital controls — just a single preset temperature of 400°F. Still, the slim 1.1″ handle width keeps it comfortable to hold.
Verdict on build: Ultra-compact and lightweight, perfect for touch-ups and bangs, though not designed for full-length styling.
👉 If you’d rather have a larger paddle for long hair with wider coverage, see the L’ange Mane Pass review.
💡 Performance & Technology
This brush runs at a fixed 400°F, measured at 385°F in testing — hot enough to smooth frizz and tame flyaways quickly. The downside is the lack of adjustability, which means fine or fragile hair has to accept the preset heat level.
It uses ceramic heating with ionic technology, helping to reduce static and smooth the cuticle, though it lacks a separate ion generator for stronger frizz control. In real use, it produces a natural, polished finish on short to medium hair, but struggles to deliver sleek results on thick, coarse strands.
Since heat above 400°F is known to damage keratin proteins and weaken the cuticle over time (PubMed), this preset setting makes the brush less suitable for fragile or color-treated hair. However, the compact size makes it an excellent tool for quick styling sessions rather than prolonged use.
Verdict on performance: Quick, convenient smoothing for bangs, flyaways, and shorter lengths — but too limited for coarse hair or all-over straightening.
👉 If you want a cordless brush with USB-C charging for on-the-go touch-ups, check the TYMO PortaPro review.
🔌 Ergonomics & Convenience
At just 5.5 oz, the Baby Brush Crush is one of the lightest straightening brushes available. Its 6 ft cord is slightly shorter than average but adequate for travel or small spaces.
Convenience features include dual voltage for international use and a 60-minute auto shut-off. It lacks digital display, smart heat memory, or storage accessories, but it’s backed by a 2-year warranty.
Verdict on usability: Highly portable and easy to pack — the best choice for travelers or users who want a compact backup brush.While powerful for its size, the fixed temp may be too high for fragile hair, and not strong enough for thick curls.
👉 If you’re looking for a rectangular paddle with full-length coverage and digital control, the Revlon One-Step Straight & Shine review is worth a look.
🔍 Performance Breakdown
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Power | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) | Tested at 385 °F — lower than full-size models but delivers steady, even ceramic heat for small sections and touch-ups. |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) | Feather-light 5.5 oz build and compact 8″ body make it extremely easy to maneuver, especially around bangs and short layers. |
| Styling Speed | ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3/5) | 3″ × 1″ heated surface covers limited hair per pass — ideal for quick refreshes, not full-length straightening. |
| Frizz Control | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) | Ceramic ionic tech tames flyaways effectively, leaving smooth results without static; lacks dedicated ion generator. |
| Versatility | ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3/5) | Fixed 400 °F suits most medium-density hair; limited adjustability reduces range for fine or coarse textures. |
| Comfort & Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) | Handle remains around 90 °F; cool-touch bristles and anti-scald shield ensure safe, precise styling near roots. |
| Travel-Friendliness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) | Dual voltage, 6-ft cord, and ultra-lightweight design make it BeautiLAB’s best travel-sized straightening brush. |
BeautiLAB Lab Highlights
- Max Temp Tested: 385 °F (verified IR)
- Handle Temp: 90 °F (cool to touch)
- Heated Area: 3″ L × 1″ W
- Weight: 5.5 oz | Cord: 6 ft
- Heat Setting: Fixed 400 °F
- Ionic Tech: Yes | Ion Generator: No | Auto-Off: 60 min | Dual Voltage: Yes
📣 User Experiences
Positive:
“My favorite for quick fringe fixes. It lives in my purse.”
“Love it for post-gym touch-ups.”
Negative:
“Not strong enough for thick hair.”
“Wish it had adjustable temperature.”
💬 FAQ
Q: Is this good for long hair?
A: Not ideal — the surface area is small and it lacks grip.
Q: Can it straighten curly hair?
A: It softens waves and frizz but doesn’t fully straighten curls or coils.
Q: Is it TSA/travel-friendly?
A: Yes — it’s dual voltage, compact, and shuts off automatically.
🔄 How It Compares
| Spec | Drybar Baby Brush Crush | L’ange Mane Pass | TYMO PortaPro | Revlon One-Step Straight & Shine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Temp Tested | ~385°F (rated 400°F) | 410°F | 370°F | 410°F |
| Heat Settings | Fixed (400°F) | 3 presets (300 / 350 / 410°F) | 3 presets (320 / 360 / 395°F) | 10 settings (250–430°F) |
| Handle Temp | ~90°F | 100°F | 125°F | 95°F |
| Weight | 5.5 oz | 12.5 oz | 9.4 oz | 11.6 oz |
| Cord Length | 6 ft | 8.2 ft | 5 ft (corded mode) | 6 ft |
| Shape | Paddle | Paddle | Paddle | Rectangular |
🏁 Final Verdict
The Drybar Baby Brush Crush combines salon-grade ceramic performance with portable convenience.
Its low weight and compact paddle excel at smoothing bangs, flyaways, and short layers, delivering polished results in seconds.
Though not built for full head styling, it’s a must-have travel companion or secondary tool for maintaining smoothness on the go — the best travel-sized straightening brush BeautiLAB tested in 2025.
⭐ Final Score: 4.1 / 5 ★★★★☆
