Research checked October 17, 2026. Research-based, not hands-on tested. Linked product reviews contain affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure and image credits.
Quick answer
If the job begins with damp hair that needs drying, compare an airflow-equipped hair-dryer brush. If your hair is already fully dry and you want to reshape it, compare a thermal brush. The word “blowout” does not tell you which job a tool performs.
These are different stages of a routine, not two interchangeable ways to dry hair. A thermal brush can leave you needing a separate drying step. Buying both only makes sense if you actually want both jobs covered.
Look for airflow, not a similar round shape
Wavytalk identifies the pictured Blowout Express as a 1.5-inch thermal brush with no airflow. Its heated barrel shapes dry hair; it is not a hair dryer. The exact Express has two published temperature settings, 350°F and 410°F. Do not transfer features from another Wavytalk brush with a similar name.
The REVLON One-Step Volumizer Plus is a dryer-and-styler format. Revlon lists a 2.4-inch oval head and low, medium, high and cool settings. Those settings are not a directly comparable temperature scale to the thermal brush’s numbers. They describe two different products, not a laboratory ranking.
Choose around the moment you will use it
For wash day, ask what happens immediately before styling. Revlon’s instructions begin with towel drying and detangling damp hair. That is not permission to start with dripping-wet hair or skip the preparation in the supplied instructions.
For a refresh after hair is already dry, a thermal brush may fit the task without adding a drying function you do not need. Wavytalk’s category guidance specifies fully dry hair for thermal brushes and damp or partly dried hair for airflow brushes. Use the exact tool’s directions if the product name or category wording is unclear.
Write down your present routine before replacing anything: drying, sectioning, shaping and putting the tool away. A new styling tool is not necessarily a shorter routine if it leaves the separate drying stage unchanged.
Head size and handling are practical questions
The published 1.5-inch round barrel and 2.4-inch oval head give you a more useful starting point than a shared “volume” promise. Consider whether you can position the head where you want it and manage the sections you normally use. Product dimensions alone do not establish comfort, reach or suitability for your hair.
Check the controls and the exact version in the offer. A video featuring a different barrel, a steam setting or a newer model is not a demonstration of the pictured two-setting Express. Likewise, the Revlon Plus is not interchangeable with every One-Step model.
Neither format is automatically damage-free
We have not compared heat exposure or hair damage. Do not assume that no airflow means no heat, or that a cool setting makes the entire appliance immediately cool to touch. Follow the supplied precautions, avoid hot surfaces and allow the tool to cool before storage. Revlon also instructs users to keep its airflow openings clear.
If your question is overseas use, check electrical compatibility separately. A brush that suits your styling routine can still be unsuitable for the destination supply. Our travel adapter versus voltage converter guide explains why changing plug shape does not solve that problem.
Before you buy
- Decide whether you need drying, dry-hair shaping, or both.
- Match the exact model, head format and controls to its instructions.
- Keep a working tool if it already covers the job you actually do.
- Check the return terms rather than assuming handling will suit you.
For the two examples discussed here, see our Wavytalk Blowout Express review and REVLON One-Step Volumizer Plus review.
Common buying questions
Can a thermal brush dry wet hair?
Not the Wavytalk Blowout Express described here: it has no airflow and is intended for fully dry hair. Use a tool and preparation method approved for drying instead.
Do I need both kinds of brush?
Not necessarily. Buy for a gap in your routine. If your existing dryer and styling tool already do the jobs you want, this comparison is not a reason to replace them.
Does a removable head make a brush travel-compatible?
No. Storage convenience does not establish electrical compatibility. Check the exact appliance label, destination supply and manufacturer restrictions separately.
Sources and research limits
This comparison uses manufacturer product descriptions and operating guidance, not our own styling sessions. We have not measured drying speed, temperature accuracy, noise, shine, hair damage or durability. Styling-result and time-saving advertising are not treated as independently established outcomes.
Sources: Wavytalk: exact Blowout Express thermal brush; Wavytalk: hot-air brush versus thermal brush guidance; REVLON: One-Step Volumizer Plus; REVLON: operating and safety instructions.