An in-depth comparison between the two most popular hot air brushes in the market
Drybar The Double Shot Vs Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus
Drybar Double Shot is our favorite hot air brush this year and Revlon is a close second.
While Drybar is a luxury tool that satisfies us on every level, it comes with a cost of $150 and it’s a big investment. We know that not all of our readers are up for spending that much on a hair tool.
Revlon offers a much more budget-friendly option with great efficiency, and they recently released their second-generation hot air brush Revlon One Step Plus Volumizer. It has the same shape and size as Drybar Double Shot yet it’s much more affordable.
We just had to compare the two. Below we share our experiences with “Drybar Double Shot and Revlon One Step Plus Volumizer”.
Model Name/ Number: 900-2225-4 Price: $150 Heat Settings: Low: 127.1°F / High: 151.2°F Best For: Medium To Long Hair, All Hair Types Pros: Durable And Sturdy Material, Ergonomic Design Cons: Overpriced
Model Name/ Number: RVDR5298N/ULT Price: $70 Heat Settings: Low: 143.6°F / Medium: 151.3°F / High: 170.9°F Best For: Medium To Long Hair, All Hair Types Pros: Affordable, 4 Heat Settings, Detachable Design Cons: Not Sturdy Or Durable
Choosing the right shaped and sized barrel is crucial before deciding on the perfect hot air brush.
Revlon and Drybar have the same shape and size when it comes to their barrels. They’re both oval-shaped and 2.4” sized barrels. Oval shape makes them superior at boosting volume but also makes it more difficult to create curls. They are gentler tools than round brushes since they create less tension in the hair.
The 2.4” barrel is quite a large size and it can cover a big area at one go, making it faster and more efficient, especially for longer hair. It also creates less risk of hair damage since there will be less need to pass through your hair over and over again.
If you have short hair though, this size is not the best. It doesn’t do a great job coming close to the roots and it doesn’t have a strong grip. Fortunately, Drybar offers smaller-sized barrels for short hair. Drybar The Half Shot is a perfect hot air brush with its 1.5” barrel even for the shortest hairstyles.
Revlon, on the other hand, doesn’t offer any slimmer barrels. As a matter of fact, this is the second generation of Revlon One-Step Volumizer which has a 4.24” barrel. If you would like to curl your hair with your hot air brush Drybar also offers a round shaped 2.25” barrel called Single Shot, which is a much better option for creating intricate curls.
Detachable Design And Attachment Options
It’s very important to mention that Revlon has a detachable head and Drybar doesn’t. In our opinion this is one of the biggest positive aspects of Revlon, making the tool much more compact and travel-friendly. After Revlon One-Step Volumizer which didn’t have a detachable design, it’s a great upgrade to offer this feature. Users have been waiting for Revlon to come up with extra attachment options but they haven’t come up with any yet. Drybar on the other hand, doesn’t have a detachable design. While in our opinion this is definitely a downside, it also makes this tool sturdier. Drybar anyways is a durable tool that has very high-quality material, and the non-detachable design certainly makes it even stronger.
Bristles
Bristles of a hot air brush is important because it can make a big difference in the tools detangling and styling capacity. Drybar has 5/8″ tufted and 3.5/” ball tip bristles and Revlon has 5/8″ and 3/8″. While their lengths are quite similar and average, their firmness is very different. Drybar has the thickest and firmest bristles on our list, and Revlon has the softest ones. Firm bristles are very efficient at providing great grip and styling the hair perfectly, while softer bristles are great detanglers since they don’t get stuck and break the strands. So, Revlon is superior at detangling the hair and Drybar has a stronger grip for more efficient styling.
Temperature
– Heat Settings
The right level of temperature is very important since it can be the reason why your hair is so smooth and frizz-free but it can also be the reason why it’s damaged. You have to find the temperature that is just right for your precious strands. While thick and unruly hair can handle high levels of temperature, and actually needs it, fine hair needs gentle smoothening. First of all, Revlon took things to next level by coming up with 4 heat settings (high, medium, low, cool). The previous version was offering only three, and so as Drybar (high, low, cool). This extra medium setting was crucial because the high setting was getting too hot for most and low setting was failing to tame the strands. Drybar doesn’t actually have the same problem since it’s a quite gentle tool even on the high setting. The maximum temperature of Drybar is 151.2°F and on the low setting its as low as 127.1°F, which is gentle enough even the most fragile strands. Revlon Plus is 170.9°F on high setting (which is an effective yet not extreme temperature), and 151.3°F on medium setting (as high as the high setting of Drybar). Revlon, even on its low setting, is 143°F which is a quite high number. As we can see clearly, Drybar is a much gentler tool than Revlon. For fine strands, Drybar will be a safer option but Revlon can tame unruly hair much better.
– Handle Temperature
Their handle temperatures are similar with 86°F for Drybar and 87.6°F for Revlon, both average and safe for hands to use.
– Cool Tip Temperature
When we look at their cool tip temperatures, Drybar stay safe and low with 96.8°F but Revlon gets hot with as high as 123.2°F, which can get uncomfortable to touch for long periods of time.
Performance And Durability
There’s a quite large difference between the quality of their material. Drybar is a very strong tool with a wattage of 1170W, which is the highest number on our list. Revlon on the other hand, is 1100W and it’s on the average side. Drybar is a luxury product with very high quality and long-lasting material. It’s very sturdy and it will last you for many years. It just feels good when you hold it. But these qualities also reflect on its price. With $150, it’s an investment that not everyone is ready to make on a hair tool. Revlon ($70) on the other hand, is very affordable, almost 1/3 of the price of Drybar. It’s not the most durable hot air brush and some users complain about its sturdiness. Its detachable design also makes it less sturdy. But it’s a great value-for-money product with its budget-friendly price and still a very effective styler.
Ergonomics
– Weight:
The design of the tool also affects your styling experience immensely. A well-designed hot air brush should be lightweight and its handle should be slim and comfortable to hold. When we look at the weights of these two tools, we notice that they’re both quite lightweight. While Drybar is 15 oz, Revlon is even less with only 14.8 oz. These numbers are both below average and provide a comfortable session without arm fatigue.
– Handle Size:
They both have slim handles. Revlon’s handle is 4.8” wide and Drybar is slightly larger with 5”. Revlon is easier to hold than Drybar. This may be important for our users with small hands.
– Length:
– Noise Level:
Hot air brushes can get really loud and frustrating for the one’s with sensitive ears. Drybar’s noise level is 91 dBA, which is below average. Revlon on the other hand, goes u to 94 dBA, which is one of the highest numbers on our list. This is something to consider if there’s a family member sleeping next door. Drybar is a quieter tool than Revlon.
– Cord:
They both have swivel cords but Drybar has a much longer cord with 8.7 ft (This is the longest size available in the market.)and Revlon is only 5.7 ft. A long cord can be a lifesaver if you don’t have a plug right next to your mirror.
Price And Guarantee
The price aspect is the most important difference between Drybar and Revlon. Drybar is a luxury tool and it has a luxury price tag. With a cost of $150, this tool Is not for every budget. It does justify its price with its high-quality material, elegant design, and effective and damage-free styling. But there are many others in the market with a much more affordable price such as Revlon. The upgraded version costs only $70 and it also provides very effective results. It’s true that the material less sturdy and durable and it’s less safe than Drybar for your strands. But it’s a perfect option for the ones that are looking for a budget-friendly alternative.
While Drybar has only 2-year guarantee, Revlon offers a good 4-year, which is ambitious and a big plus.
