Affordable Smoothing for Fine Hair — But Can It Handle Texture?
✨ Quick Take: Is It Worth It?
The Revlon SmoothStay is a budget-friendly ceramic straightening brush with 10 digital heat settings (250–430°F) and a wide 4.5″ × 1.6″ paddle. It delivers gentle, everyday smoothing for fine to medium hair and shorter to medium lengths, with travel-friendly dual voltage. Tension is modest, so very textured hair will need extra passes.
✅ Best for: Fine–medium hair, straight–wavy textures (1A–2C), beginners, short–medium lengths, budget buyers who want digital control
❌ Skip if: you want wider coverage with extra-long bristles for faster passes (choose Revlon One-Step Straight & Shine) or prefer grippier near-root control on straight–wavy hair (choose Bed Head Smooth Operator).
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
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REVLON SmoothStay XL Hair Straightener - Heated Straightening Brush for Silky & Straight... | Check Price |
👍 What We Like
- 10 digital settings (250–430°F) at this price
- Wide 4.5″ × 1.6″ paddle speeds up passes
- Dual voltage + 60-min auto-off for travel
- Smart heat memory remembers last setting
- Good everyday smoothing on fine, frizz-prone strands
👎 What We Don’t Like
- Low–moderate tension → multiple passes on thick/coarse hair
- Short heated teeth (~1.2″) struggle near roots/short layers
- Faint memory indicator; display could be clearer
- A bit bulky to maneuver right at the scalp
🔑 What Sets It Apart
- Budget + digital: 10 temps (250–430°F) with memory recall
- Rectangular ceramic head for wide-surface smoothing
- Soft-touch handle + ribbed housing for grip
- 4-year warranty—strong for this price tier
🔍 Key Specs: Revlon SmoothStay at a Glance
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Heat / Settings | 10 settings: 250–430°F (~20°F steps) |
| Head / Plate | Rectangular, 4.5″ × 1.6″ |
| Heated / Detangler Bristles | 1.2″ / 1.5″ |
| Weight | 11.3 oz |
| Cord Length | 6 ft |
| Ionic | Yes (no separate ion generator) |
| Voltage | Dual |
| Model | RVST2218 |
| Auto-Off | 60 min |
| Warranty | 4 years |
🧪 Lab Notes
Tested max ~415°F (IR, 15 min); handle ~90°F; coverage 4.5″ × 1.6″; low–medium tension; dual-voltage profile.
🎯 Who Should Buy the Revlon SmoothStay
✅ Fine to medium hair needing gentle daily smoothing
✅ Straight–wavy (1A–2C) textures
✅ Beginners who want simple, safe controls
✅ Short–medium lengths
✅ Travel users (dual voltage + auto-off)
🚫 Skip It If You Have:
❌ Coarse/dense or 3B–4C textures needing high tension
❌ Expect flat-iron-level straightness
❌ Need tight root access or precision on short layers
❌ Prefer a lighter/less bulky head near the scalp
🧩 Design and Build
The Revlon SmoothStay uses a rectangular paddle brush head, measuring 4.5″ long by 1.6″ wide—larger than average, allowing you to cover more hair in one pass. The overall build is 11″ long, with a 1.4″ soft-touch handle that feels grippy and ergonomic in hand.
Weighing 11.3 oz, it’s close to average but feels slightly bulky due to the wide rectangular frame. It includes a digital LED display and simple up/down buttons, plus a smart heat memory function—though the indicator is faint and hard to read.
🪮 Bristle Technology
- 1.2″ heated ceramic teeth provide moderate smoothing power
- 1.5″ detanglers surround the hot core for scalp protection
- Cool-touch outer shield reduces burn risk during root passes
- Bristle spacing is too wide to create tension for thick hair
The brush glides easily on fine strands but fails to grip dense textures. You’ll need multiple passes on thicker or wavier hair.
🔥 Heat and Ionic Technology
- 10 heat settings from 250°F to 430°F, in 20°F increments
- Max tested temp: 415°F — suitable for smoothing but not full straightening on curls
- Ionic ceramic surface helps reduce frizz (but no ion generator)
- Auto shut-off after 60 minutes for safety
- Smart heat memory resumes the last temp used
- Handle temp: ~90°F — warm, but never uncomfortable
- Dual voltage for global use
While the surface heats quickly and evenly, bristle heat isn’t high or deep enough to flatten thick or textured strands in one pass.
💇♀️ Styling Performance
- Works well on fine, straight, or wavy hair (Types 1A to 2C)
- Requires multiple passes on thick or curly textures
- Struggles with roots, short layers, and precision areas due to paddle bulk
- Creates a natural, brushed-straight finish, not flat-ironed sleekness
- Best used on dry, detangled hair with a heat protectant
One user shared:
“Even at 430°F, I had to go over each section multiple times. It’s not for thick, wavy hair.”
🛡️ Comfort and Safety
- Soft-touch handle with ribbed grip improves control
- Cool-touch bristles allow safer use at roots
- Handle temp: ~90°F during extended use
- Auto shut-off after 60 minutes
- 6-ft cord — shorter than average
- No heat lock feature, but digital buttons don’t get in the way
Overall comfort is solid, though bulkiness and cord length could affect ease of use for longer sessions.
🔍 Performance Breakdown
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Power | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) | Max temp 415°F; decent for a budget tool |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3/5) | Bulky shape + dim memory light |
| Styling Speed | ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3/5) | Wide paddle helps, but low grip slows results |
| Frizz Control | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) | Ionic ceramic helps with flyaways |
| Versatility | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5) | Limited root access and tension |
| Travel-Friendly | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) | Dual voltage, but short cord and size may limit portability |
📣 User Experiences
Users with fine or straight hair appreciate the smooth results and simplicity:
“Tamed my frizz with no burning—love the soft handle.”
“Great for my short bob. It’s quick and safe to use.”
“The price is amazing for how many features it has.”
But many users with thicker hair types report challenges:
“It didn’t straighten my thick waves, even on high heat.”
“Hard to get close to the roots. Better for longer, flat areas.”
“Needs multiple passes. Not for 3B hair like mine.”
💬 FAQ
Q: Is it good for curly or thick hair?
A: Not really. It works best for fine, straight, or gently wavy hair.
Q: Can it be used on wet hair?
A: No—always use it on dry, detangled hair for best results.
Q: Does it shut off automatically?
A: Yes, it turns off after 60 minutes.
Q: Is it safe for travel?
A: Yes—it’s dual voltage, though the cord is only 6 ft.
🔄 How It Compares
| Feature | Revlon SmoothStay | Revlon One-Step Straight & Shine | Bed Head Smooth Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temp Settings | 10 (250–430°F) | 10 (250–430°F) | 10 (250–400°F) |
| Max Temp (Tested) | 415°F | 410°F | ~390°F |
| Heated Surface | 4.5″ × 1.6″ | 4.55″ × 1.6″ | ~3.75″ × 1.6″ (est.) |
| Ionic Tech | ✅ Ceramic ionic | ✅ Ceramic ionic | ✅ Ionic coating |
| ION Generator | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Bristle Design | 1.2″ hot / 1.5″ cool | 2.2″ hot / 2″ cool | ~1.5″ hot / 1.8″ cool (est.) |
| Auto Shut-Off | ✅ 60 mins | ✅ 60 mins | ✅ 60 mins |
| Display & Controls | ✅ Digital + memory | ✅ Digital + memory | ✅ Basic digital |
| Travel-Friendly | ✅ Dual voltage | ✅ Dual voltage | ❌ No |
| Weight | 11.3 oz | 11.6 oz | ~11 oz |
| Handle Width | 1.4″ | 1.4″ | ~1.3″ (est.) |
| Warranty | 4 years | 4 years | 2 years |
| Price | $38 | $40 | ~$50 |
Summary:
- Revlon SmoothStay is the most affordable and compact, ideal for fine to medium hair.
- Revlon One-Step Straight & Shine has the longest bristles and wider coverage, slightly more effective on longer hair.
- Bed Head Smooth Operator has a simpler interface and good smoothing power, but lacks dual voltage and higher temp range.
🏁 Final Verdict
The Revlon SmoothStay Straightening Brush is a well-rounded option for users with fine to medium hair looking for an affordable, safe, and simple tool. While it won’t perform miracles on dense or textured strands, it delivers consistent smoothing for daily use—and includes travel-ready features you’d expect in a higher-end brush.
Buy if: You want a budget-friendly brush with good features for fine or wavy hair.
Skip if: You have thick, curly, or coily textures that need more grip and heat tension.
Final Score: ★★★☆☆ (3.7 / 5)
A great entry-level tool for fine hair—but not built for high-volume texture.
Looking for more? See our full guide to the Best Hair Straightening Brushes of 2025.
Want to know how we test? Read our full methodology here.
