Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush Review: Smooth, Frizz-Free Volume?
Drybar The Double Shot is an oval blow-dryer brush: a hair dryer and a large round brush combined in one tool. It was designed to help people create a salon-style blow-out at home with one hand instead of juggling a dryer and a brush, and it quickly became one of the best-known tools of its kind.
The Drybar Double Shot is a good choice if you want smooth, bouncy blow-outs with body at the roots and you have medium to long hair that you can dry in sections. Its oval barrel helps smooth the lengths and lift the roots at the same time, and it is widely listed with mixed bristles, ionic technology to help reduce frizz and several heat settings including a cool option. It is less suited to very short hair, very fine or damaged hair that dislikes heat, or anyone wanting tight curls or poker-straight results. As with any hot tool, frequent high-heat use can damage hair.
In short: a convenient all-in-one tool for smooth, voluminous blow-outs, best used on lower heat settings.
The American Academy of Dermatology advises letting hair air dry when possible and using the lowest heat setting when you do use a blow dryer, because heat styling can damage hair.
This review covers how the Double Shot works, who it suits and who should skip it, pros and cons, how to use it for smooth results, heat safety, care and alternatives. It is based on published product information and general hair-care guidance, not on our own hands-on testing.
Where to Buy the Drybar Double Shot and Similar Options on Amazon
In This Guide
- What the Drybar Double Shot Is
- Key Features in Plain Terms
- Who the Double Shot Suits and Who Should Skip It
- Pros and Cons
- How to Use the Double Shot for a Smooth, Voluminous Blow-Out
- Heat Damage: What Dermatologists Advise
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Blow-Dryer Brush vs Other Styling Tools
- Dos and Don’ts
- Honest Limits
- When to See a Dermatologist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Takeaway
At a Glance
- The Double Shot combines a dryer and an oval brush in one tool.
- It is designed for smooth blow-outs with volume at the roots.
- It is widely listed with mixed bristles, ionic technology and several heat settings.
- It works best on medium to long hair dried in sections.
- Very short, fine or damaged hair may not suit it.
- Lower heat, a heat protectant and less frequent use protect hair.
- Clean the bristles and air vents regularly for safe use.
What the Drybar Double Shot Is
A traditional blow-out needs a hand-held dryer in one hand and a round brush in the other. The Double Shot puts the airflow inside the brush. Air comes out through vents in the barrel while the bristles grip and smooth the hair, so you can dry and style at the same time.
The oval shape is the key design choice. A round brush makes curls and bends; a flat paddle brush makes hair straight and sleek. An oval barrel sits in between: its flatter sides smooth the lengths, while its curved edges add bend and lift at the roots and ends. That is why it is often described as giving a smooth yet voluminous finish.
Drybar has also released related versions, including larger and smaller barrel sizes, so you may see names such as Double Shot Jumbo or Half Shot alongside the original. Each size suits a slightly different hair length.
Check which Double Shot version and plug type a listing shows before buying. Barrel size, voltage and accessories can differ between versions and regions, and a tool built for one voltage may not be safe to use in another country.
Key Features in Plain Terms
The table below explains the Double Shot’s widely published features and what they mean in practice. Exact wattage and temperature figures are not listed here; check the box or maker’s page if you need them.
| Feature | What is commonly listed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Oval shape | Smooth lengths with lift at roots |
| Bristles | Mixed bristles | Grip for smoothing, gentle on scalp |
| Frizz control | Ionic technology | Marketed to help reduce frizz and static |
| Heat settings | Several settings plus cool | Lets you lower the heat on fragile hair |
| Use | One-step drying and styling | Fewer tools to hold |
Ionic technology is a common feature of modern dryers. The idea is that negatively charged ions help break up water droplets and reduce static, which may help hair dry faster and look less frizzy. Results vary by hair type, and ionic claims are best treated as a helpful extra rather than a guarantee.
The cool setting is more important than it sounds. Finishing each section with cool air helps set the shape, and using lower heat overall reduces the risk of damage. If you have fine, bleached or damaged hair, a lower setting is usually the better starting point.
Many people also ask whether the Double Shot replaces a hair dryer entirely. For most medium-length hair it can, as long as you are happy to work section by section. For very long or very thick hair, some people prefer to rough-dry with a regular dryer and use the brush only for the final smoothing and volume, which also cuts down the time the hair spends under direct heat.
Who the Double Shot Suits and Who Should Skip It
| Hair type or goal | Good fit? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medium to long hair wanting volume | Yes | Oval barrel suits a smooth, bouncy finish |
| Thick or frizzy hair | Usually | Work in small sections and be patient |
| Fine or thin hair | Maybe | Use lower heat and do not over-brush |
| Very short hair | Often not | Barrel may be too large to grip |
| Bleached or damaged hair | Caution | Limit use and heat |
| Tight curls or pin-straight looks | Not ideal | Use a curling iron or flat iron instead |
If you are weighing a blow-dryer brush against a standard hair dryer, our guide to the best hair dryers covers regular dryers with nozzles and diffusers, which give more control for some hair types.
Hair texture matters as much as length. Coarse, dense hair can take a long time to dry with any brush-style tool, so it helps to rough-dry most of the moisture out first with a regular dryer or let it air dry partway. Very fine hair, by contrast, dries quickly and can be over-heated if you keep brushing the same section.
Pros and Cons
- Pro: dries and styles in one step, freeing a hand.
- Pro: oval barrel gives smoothness with root lift.
- Pro: ionic feature marketed to reduce frizz and static.
- Pro: several heat settings, including cool.
- Con: large barrel can be awkward on short hair.
- Con: heavier than a standard round brush, which can tire the arm.
- Con: slower on very thick hair than a powerful dryer plus brush.
- Con: frequent hot styling can damage hair over time.
Buyer feedback for oval blow-dryer brushes in general often praises how easy they make a salon-like blow-out and how much volume they give. The most common complaints are weight, hair tangling around the bristles if sections are too large, and heat on fragile hair. These are broad patterns rather than measured results.
Weight deserves a little thought before buying. Any blow-dryer brush puts the motor in the handle, so it is heavier than an ordinary brush. If you style long hair, you might hold it up for fifteen minutes or more, and short breaks between sections can make that easier on the arm and shoulder.
How to Use the Double Shot for a Smooth, Voluminous Blow-Out
Technique makes the biggest difference to both results and hair health. Follow these steps.
Towel-dry gently
Blot excess water with a soft towel or cotton T-shirt; do not rub.
Apply heat protection
Spray or smooth a heat protectant through the lengths.
Rough-dry first
Let hair air-dry or rough-dry until it is about 70 to 80 percent dry.
Section the hair
Clip hair into sections no wider than the barrel.
Lift at the roots
Place the brush under a section at the root, hold for a few seconds, then glide slowly to the ends.
Use the lowest effective heat
Choose a lower setting on fine or damaged hair and move steadily.
Finish with cool air
Go over each section on the cool setting to set the shape.
Never twist the brush round and round in one spot. Keep sections small and glide from root to tip; rolling the brush can wrap long hair around the bristles and cause tangles.
Heat Damage: What Dermatologists Advise
Heat styling is one of the most common causes of damaged, dry and breaking hair. The American Academy of Dermatology’s list of hair care habits that can damage your hair advises letting hair air dry when possible, using the lowest heat setting, and limiting hot tools to about once a week or even less often.
That does not mean you can never use a blow-dryer brush. It means frequency, heat level and technique matter. Using the tool on already partly dry hair, keeping it moving and finishing on cool all reduce exposure. So does not brushing the same section over and over.
Do not use the tool near water, on a wet cord or with damaged wiring. Keep it away from the scalp and skin to avoid burns, unplug it after use and let it cool fully before storing. Supervise use around children.
Cleaning and Maintenance
- Unplug and cool the tool before cleaning.
- Remove hair caught in the bristles after each use.
- Wipe the barrel with a dry or slightly damp cloth, never submerging it.
- Clean any air intake vents or filters as the instructions describe, since blocked vents can cause overheating.
- Store it loosely coiled, without wrapping the cord tightly around the handle.
- Stop using it if it smells of burning, sparks or cuts out repeatedly.
Regular vent cleaning is easy to forget but matters for safety and performance. A clogged intake makes the motor work harder, reduces airflow and can make the tool run hotter than intended.
If you travel, check whether the version you own is single or dual voltage before packing it. Using a plug adapter alone does not change the voltage, and running a hot tool on the wrong supply can damage it or create a safety risk.
Blow-Dryer Brush vs Other Styling Tools
This comparison is by tool type, not specific models, to help you choose the right style.
| Tool type | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Oval blow-dryer brush | Smooth, voluminous blow-outs | Heavier, less ideal for short hair |
| Smaller round hot air brush | Short hair, bangs, tighter bends | Slower on long hair |
| Hair dryer plus round brush | Maximum control | Needs two hands and practice |
| Hair dryer with diffuser | Curly and wavy hair | Does not smooth |
| Flat iron | Very straight, sleek finish | Direct high heat on hair |
If a sleek, straight finish is your main goal, our guide to the best hair straighteners explains the options and how to limit heat damage with them.
Dos and Don’ts
Try This
- Use a heat protectant
- Rough-dry hair first
- Work in small sections
- Choose lower heat on fine hair
- Finish with cool air
Avoid This
- Use it on soaking wet hair
- Twist the brush in one spot
- Use high heat every day
- Hold it against the scalp
- Let hair and lint block the vents
Honest Limits
This review is based on widely published product information and general hair-care guidance, not hands-on testing. Drying time, smoothness and volume depend heavily on your hair length, thickness, texture and technique.
A blow-dryer brush cannot repair damaged hair, and ionic technology cannot stop frizz in very humid weather on its own. People with fragile, bleached or chemically treated hair may find any regular hot styling causes breakage. In that case, fewer heat sessions and more air drying will help more than switching tools.
The tool is also relatively heavy compared with a normal brush. If you have wrist, shoulder or grip problems, consider how long you would need to hold it for your hair length.
When to See a Dermatologist
- Your hair is breaking, thinning or falling out more than usual.
- You notice bald patches or a receding hairline.
- Your scalp is burned, blistered, itchy or flaking.
- Hair damage continues even after you cut back on heat.
This article is general information and not medical or electrical safety advice. Product details can change, so read the manufacturer’s instructions and check the current listing. See a board-certified dermatologist for hair loss, breakage or scalp problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Drybar Double Shot?
An oval blow-dryer brush that dries and styles at once.
Does it reduce frizz?
It uses ionic technology marketed to reduce frizz; results vary.
Is it good for short hair?
The barrel may be too large for very short hair.
Can I use it on wet hair?
Rough-dry hair first; do not use it on soaking wet hair.
Does it damage hair?
Frequent high heat can; use lower settings and a protectant.
Does it have a cool setting?
Yes, it is listed with a cool option.
Is it good for thick hair?
Yes, but it may be slow; use small sections.
Can it make hair straight?
It makes hair smooth with bend, not pin-straight.
How do I clean it?
Remove hair from bristles and clear the vents after unplugging.
Is it safe in other countries?
Only if the voltage matches; check the label.
The Takeaway
Drybar The Double Shot is a convenient oval blow-dryer brush that makes smooth, voluminous blow-outs easier for medium to long hair.
Rough-dry first, use a heat protectant and the lowest effective heat, finish on cool and keep hot styling occasional to protect your hair.
