With its slimmest barrel and great root grip capacity, Drybar’s The Half Shot matches the needs of short hair perfectly
Drybar The Half Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush
Model Name/ Number: 900-3425-4 Price: $155 Heat Settings: Low: 131.1 °F / High: 151.7 °F Best for: Short to medium length hair, fine to medium hair texture What We Like: Great grip by the roots and intricate curls What We Don’t Like: Doesn’t get very hot Rating: 4.3 / 5.0
Drybar The Half Shot is the third one of The Shot Collection and it’s specifically designed for short hair. It’s a truly unique tool since it has the slimmest barrel available in the market, providing perfect grip, even with the shortest styles. With only 1.5”, this barrel is the perfect fit, especially for pixie and bob cuts.
Providing a great style is not the only quality of Drybar The Half Shot. It also has high-quality material which is sturdy and durable. It’s very comfortable to hold with its slim design and is the lightest tool on our list.
The Half Shot’s biggest downside is the fact that it doesn’t get very hot, which makes it not suitable for thick hair. But it’s a high-quality tool that will last you for long years. It’s a luxury tool with a luxury price and what you pay doesn’t disappoint. Below we share our experiences with “Drybar The Half Shot”. If you’re curious about the competition, check out the article about Best Hot Air Brushes.
With a 1.5” barrel, The Half Shot is the slimmest hot air brush in the market. It’s a truly unique tool that is designed specifically for shorter hair types and it does an excellent job.
Combined with its round shape, this size makes it very easy to come close to the roots and grab the hair, creating impeccable results. The small and round shape also provides the capacity to create intricate curls if desired.
The Half Shot is the third generation of The Shot Collection which offers different-sized and shaped models according to your hair type and styling needs. While The Half Shot is perfect for short hair, The Single Shot is designed for longer hairstyles and The Double Shot is for the ones who want to boost volume.
Bristles
Similar to other The Shot Collection dryer brushes, The Half Shot has the thickest and the firmest bristles on our list. This quality provides great grip, which fits perfectly with the needs of short hairstyles, but it compromises at detangling the hair.
It has 0.75” nylon and 0.53” tufted bristles, which is longer than most hot air brushes. This also contributes to the detangling issue since they may pull and break off the strands.
But since short hair types don’t usually need detangling, the qualities of long and tough bristles are appreciated more as they’re better stylers. If you prioritize a good detangler though, we recommend Conair The Knot Dr. Oval Dryer Brush which also has a slim barrel option with great detangling qualities.
Temperature
– Heat Settings
The Half Shot is a gentler tool than most hot air brushes with 3 heat settings (high, low, and cold). It has a maximum heat of 151.7 °F and even lower on the low setting (131.1 °F). These numbers make this hot air brush not effective on thick hair and if you have unruly strands, this tool is not for you. But if you have fine to medium hair texture, it’s a perfect product and it will protect your strands while styling them. (Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step is another great option for fine or fragile hair thanks to its gentle heat capacity.)
The handle of The Half Shot gets only up to 90.1 °F and it has an acceptable temperature, even for fragile hands.
– Cool Tip Temperature
The cool tip temperature is even lower, with 88.8 °F . It’s true in all aspects that this is a very gentle tool that is safe for both hair and hands.
Performance And Durability
Drybar is a luxury brand that has high-quality material and The Half Shot is no exception. The tool is very sturdy, as well as being non-detachable which also contributes to the sturdiness. It has a long-lasting and durable material. It endured all our tests without any damage and earned our trust again and again without failing. If you are looking for a versatile tool you may consider CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 Blowout Brush.
Its wattage is 1100W which is an average number. But it’s lower than The Double Shot and The Single Shot, and you can see the difference in the maximum heat that they provide.
Ergonomics
– Weight:
The Half Shot is a very intelligently designed tool that fits your hand perfectly and it’s as ergonomic as it gets when it comes to hot air brushes. With only 12.3oz, it’s the lightest tool on our list and it won’t cause any arm fatigue even in longer sessions.
– Handle Size:
The diameter of the handle is 5” to 7”, which is the average optimal size of most hot air brushes in the market. It will fit even the smallest hands without a struggle.
– Length:
– Noise Level:
The sound of The Half Shot is 89.3 dBA on the high setting which is one of the lowest on our list. This tool truly proves itself to be the gentlest in every aspect, even for the ears.
– Cord:
It has a 9 ft swivel cord that is also contributing to the intelligence of the design. This is the longest available size in the market and helps a lot if you don’t have a plug next to your mirror.
Price And Guarantee
The Half Shot is not for every budget. We know that not everyone wants to spend 155$ on a hot air brush but if you want to give yourself this gift, it will satisfy your needs perfectly with its durable material and ergonomic design. But if you want a more affordable option, there are many others in the market that will fulfill your needs. Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 (39$) is one of the best budget options and it brings quality results, even if it isn’t as durable.
Other Models From Drybar
The Half Shot is not the only option that Drybar offers. There are two more hot air brushes in The Shot Collection and they all offer different experiences according to your hair type and length. The difference is in their barrel size and shape. While The Double Shot is oval-shaped, the Single Shot is round like The Half Shot. The Double Shot is 2.4”, The Single Shot is 2.25” and The Half Shot is 1.5”. Double shot is best for longer hair and boosting volume, while The Single Shot is for all hair lengths that want to create curls. You can find the details in Double Shot Vs. Single Shot Vs. Half Shot Blow-Dryer Brushes comparison.
Competition
Drybar The Half Shot is one of the most popular hot air brushes on the market for its durable material and ergonomic design, bringing high-quality blow out for short hair. However, it’s not the most budget-friendly option in the market and Infiniti Pro oval dryer brush is another, more budget-friendly option that also has a barrel option as slim as The Half Shot (1.5”), and for a much better price(60$+ 15$ for the extra slim barrel). It also comes with a detachable design that provides different heads for versatility. It compromises on durability but it’s a great alternative for our low-budget readers.
