Round Brush Size Chart

Round brushes are typically made with a metal or a ceramic coated barrel that heats up when used with a blow dryer. It works much like a curling wand. You can get a salon blowout at home with the right sized round brush and some practice.

Round Brush Size Chart | What Size Brush Should I Use?

The larger the diameter round brush the larger the curl or wave it will create. Short hair (ear length) a 1.5 inch or 17mm diameter round brush is perfect. Medium length hair (chin to chest) a 1.75 or 32mm diameter round brush brush is perfect. And for long hair (chest and longer) a 2 inch or 43mm diameter round hair brush is perfect.

According to Stacey, our in-house hair analyst, “Great brushes have 3 things in common. 1). Penetration, the ability to penetrate hair. Bristles must be stiff enough and long enough. 2). Tension, bristles must be able to grab and hold hair with enough tension for styling. 3). Control, the brush handle should give you a good grip to bend and style hair.“

Round Brush Sizes:

1. 17mm or 1/2 to 3/4 = very short hair, ear length
2. 23mm or 3/4 to 1 = short hair, above chin
3. 32mm or 1 to 1.5 = shoulder length (Most popular size)
4. 43mm or 1.5 to 2 = beyond shoulder

Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Round Thermal Hair Brush – Check Price

All my recommendations have these qualities and more. Visit my perfect hair article to see all my top picks to make styling easier.

Round Brushes

You can get these in different sizes so make sure you get the right size for the curl or wave you are looking for. With proper care both these brushes will last many years. These are paid links:

“A round brush is a fantastic tool to help with taming frizz and delivers the desired amount of bounce to your hair. However you should know that if you have fine or even normal hair using a round brush with a metal or ceramic barrel can cause severe heat damage if your hair already has weak ends.“, according to Meesh, our in-house hair-care product analyst.

When it comes time to style your hair you really need only 3 brush sizes. A small, medium and large. This will get you you what you need 90% of the time or more unless you are a professional stylist. Instead of buying one brush at a time, I recommend buying all 3 brushes at once. This way you have the sizes you need when you style your hair and they all have the same penetration, tension and handling.

According to Vanessa Giani Head of training in Paris, “The diameter of the brush you choose should depend on the length of your hair. The smaller diameters are for short hair, the medium-sized are for those with long hair who want a shaped style and the largest diameters are for straightening long hair.”

What you can do instead is trying something a little gentler like using a mixed bristle or a natural round boar brush.

17mm or 1/2 to 3/4 size = very short hair, ear length

23mm or 3/4 to 1 size = short hair, above chin

Short hair which is no longer than your chin can be styled with slightly larger diameter round brush. Creating enough tension is the key. A good boar brush can grab the hair and create the tension needed for styling.

32mm or 1 to 1.5 size = shoulder length

Shoulder length hair can be styled with a larger brush. The size of the round brush is now dependent on your style and how large or small your curl or wave. nice tight curls need a smaller diameter round brush and looser larger curls need a larger diameter round brush.

43mm or 1.5 to 2 size = beyond shoulder

Beyond shoulder length hair will need even a larger brush however it’s dependent on your style and the same rule applies regarding the size of the curl or wave. The larger the curl or wave the larger diameter round brush you will need.

How To Choose The Right Hair Brush Size

There are there tons of bristle options and sizes when it comes to round brushes. The most asked question is what size is going to work best for me. There are two main points to consider when choosing the size of your round brush. First is the length of your hair and second is the size of the curl or wave you want.

Round Brush Size For Short Hair

For creating that extra volume and body in your hair round brushes are ideal. A round brush is what you want when blow drying your hair. The smaller the brush size the tighter the curl it creates. If your hair is about chin length or shorter then a small brush like a 17mm to 23mm size will work. This is also a great size for styling bangs.

Round Brush Size For Long Hair

Larger brushes with bigger barrels are great for straightening and creating waves. For hair that is shoulder length a 32mm brush is an ideal size. You can also use a 43mm. Some prefer a slightly larger brush. It just depends on your personal preference. If you are in doubt go up in size because using a brush that is too small in size causes your hair to get stuck in the bristles. The one exception is when you are styling bangs. This is case where a small brush is going to be ideal.

There are brushes that are larger than 43mm and if you have hair that is longer than shoulder length a brush with a 43mm or larger can be your go to tool for creating beautiful voluminous hair.

There are a few hair brushes that come with an extra long barrel. These brushes are advantageous because they can dry your hair up to 25% faster. The longer barrel lets you work more efficiently thus covering more hair with each brush. The one brush that comes to mind is the Olivia Garden ceramic + ion extra long barrel speed XL.

Use our round brush sizing image charts above to help you choose the right size brush for your style of hair. There are many more sizes than mentioned in this article. Sizes mentioned here are to be used as a general guide and is not a hard and fast rule. Using the right size brush is very important due to you will become more efficient and will spend less time in front of the mirror.

Round Brush Size Tips

If you have frizzy hair then you may want to consider using a round boar brush. Boar is excellent at gripping your hair and getting more tension thus creating a sleeker style. Plus boar is great at spreading your natural hair oil down the hair shaft to the ends where your hair most likely needs it the most.

Sometimes is best to brush your hair in sections making sure to cover each section well before moving on to the next section. This of course takes more time but in the long run you will have naturally shinny hair.

Another big consideration when shopping for a brush is to make sure you get a brush with enough bristles. If the brush does not have enough bristles then your hair can get tangled in the brush. If the tangle is too bad you might end up having to cut your hair.

Also, if you are planning to get a mixed brush, one with nylon and boar make sure the tips of the nylon are smooth or have a round ball on the ends. Otherwise it could feel jagged and unpleasant when using. In addition, it could even pull out your hair, cause split-ends and thus damage your hair.

Look for a professional round brush that is intended for use with a blow dryer. A good round boar brush with a fine bristle will smooth your hair properly if used with a blow dryer. It’s the ideal brush for creating styles that maximum volume.

Round brushes create curls and waves by wrapping up your hair around the brush and then when heat from the blow dryer is applied and then your hair cools down the curl or wave is created. When straightening hair the bristles grab your hair and tension is created thus holding your hair straight because your hair is wrapped around the brush. A the same time heat is applied from your hair dryer. When your hair is allowed to cool the straightness is then set.

Finally, look for a brush with a good strong handle especially if you have long hair. The longer your hair the more tension you will likely create and thus will put more stress on the handle. A wooden handle is superb and most likely ideal. Beware that some two piece plastic handles are prone to break after heavy use.

Hair Brush Types Selection (What Is Best)

1. Round Thermal

• BEST FOR: Small to medium diameters: Curls Waves Volume Medium to large diameters: Soft curls Volume Flips
• HAIR LENGTH: Small to medium diameters: Short to medium Medium to large diameters: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: Normal to thick
• FEATURES: Boar bristles add shine to the hair, Boar bristles tame “fly aways”, Ionic bristles penetrate deep into the hair, Hair dries quickly due to open barrel, Lightweight brush with ergonomic handle.

2. Round Boar

• BEST FOR: Small to medium diameters: Volume Straightening Medium to large diameters: Straightening
• HAIR LENGTH: Small to medium diameters: Short to medium Large diameters: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: Wavy Curly Very curly
• FEATURES: Vented brush head dries hair quickly, Lightweight with ergonomic handle, Good alternative to thermal & boar brushes, Retractable sectioning pick

3. Round Ionic And Boar

• BEST FOR: Small to medium diameters: Volume Straightening Medium to large diameters: Straightening
• HAIR LENGTH: Small to medium diameters: Short to medium Large diameters: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: Wavy to curly
• FEATURES: Boar bristles add shine to the hair, Boar bristles tame “fly aways”, Ionic bristles penetrate deep into the hair, Hair dries quickly due to open barrel, Lightweight brush with ergonomic handle, Retractable sectioning pick

4. Round Vented

• BEST FOR: Styling
• HAIR LENGTH: Short to medium
• HAIR TYPE: Fine & delicate
• FEATURES:Vented brush head dries hair quickly, Lightweight with ergonomic handle, Good alternative to thermal & boar brushes, Retractable sectioning pick

5. Oval Ionic & 100% Boar

• BEST FOR: Using flat side: Straightening Using curved side: Volume Boar bristles:Straightening Ionic bristles: Brush & style
• HAIR LENGTH: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: Wavy to curly
• FEATURES: Curved-side easily grab hair section, Large flat area straightens hair, Boar bristles tame fly-aways, Boar bristles distribute hair’s natural oils resulting in shiny hair, Ionic bristles massage & stimulate scalp, Vented brush head dries hair quickly, Lightweight with ergonomic handle, Retractable sectioning pick

6. Square Thermal (No Cushion)

• BEST FOR: Small to medium diameters: Waves & flips Large diameters: Volume & smoothing
• HAIR LENGTH: Small to medium diameters: Short to medium Large diameters: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: Normal to thick
• FEATURES: Square shape for unlimited styling options, Large holes for excellent airflow, Ceramic-coated barrel dries hair faster, Ionic bristles make hair shinier & healthier, Soft-tip bristles are gentle on hair & scalp, Retractable sectioning pick

7. Styler

• BEST FOR: Styling Shaping Daily brushing Men styling
• HAIR LENGTH: Short to medium
• HAIR TYPE: Fine to normal
• FEATURES: Ball-point tips are gentle on hair & scalp, Lightweight with ergonomic handle

8. Ionic Cushion Paddle

• BEST FOR: Daily brushing Gathering hair for up-dos
• HAIR LENGTH: Medium to long
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: Ionic cushion conforms to shape of scalp for additional comfort, Ionic bristles penetrate all the way to scalp, Epoxy ball point tips are gentle on scalp, Lightweight with ergonomic handle

9. Boar Paddle

• BEST FOR: Daily brushing & care Touch-ups Styling
• HAIR LENGTH: Short to long
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds Hair extensions
• FEATURES: Boar bristles distribute hair’s natural oils resulting in smooth & shiny hair, Ionic & boar bristle combo is ideal for styling & brushing thick or curly hair, Eliminates frizz & fly-aways, Lightweight with ergonomic handle

10. Boar Oval

• BEST FOR: Smoothing Touch-ups Smooth hair for up-dos
• HAIR LENGTH: Short to long
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: 100% boar bristles, Boar bristles distribute hair’s natural oils resulting in shiny hair, Ionic soft & comfortable cushion, Boar bristles tame fly-aways

11. Massage Paddle

• BEST FOR: Detangling Scalp massage
• HAIR LENGTH: All lengths
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: Eco-friendly bamboo, Ionic soft & comfortable cushion, Scalp massage activates
  blood cell circulation, Help stimulate hair growth & reduce hair loss, Promotes healthy hair cells & healthy scalp

12. Vent Soft Tip Paddle

• BEST FOR: Blow drying Styling Daily brushing
• HAIR LENGTH: All lengths
• HAIR TYPE: All types
• FEATURES: Large flat area to straighten hair, Vented brush head dries hair quickly, Ionic bristles penetrate all the way to scalp, Ball-point tips are gentle on hair & scalp, Lightweight with ergonomic handle, Retractable sectioning pick

13.Vent Ionic Paddle

• BEST FOR: Daily brushing Touch-ups Men styling Straightening
• HAIR LENGTH: Short to medium
• HAIR TYPE: Fine to normal All kinds
• FEATURES: Boar bristles distribute hair’s natural oils resulting in smooth & shiny hair, Eliminates frizz & fly-aways, Ionic bristles massage & stimulate scalp, Retractable sectioning pick, Special curve shape hugs scalp for comfort & superior styling control

14. Detangling Paddle

• BEST FOR: Detangles wet or dry hair
• HAIR LENGTH: All lengths
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: Unibody snag-free design, Ball-point tips are gentle on hair & scalp

15. Color & Care

• BEST FOR: Fully saturates & evenly distributes hair color & treatments
• HAIR LENGTH: All lengths
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: Full saturation eliminates gaps in product application, When blending color, result is much more natural, Removes excess product & redistributes it where needed, Dual Length Bristles easily penetrate through the hair, shallow & deep layers all at once

15. Teasing

• BEST FOR: Teasing, creating volume, back brushing & texture creation
• HAIR LENGTH: All lengths
• HAIR TYPE: All kinds
• FEATURES: Conveniently folds for easy storage, Unique handle shape gives user total control, Narrow central core for sure-grip & easy handling, Tail designed for easy & precise sectioning, separating, tucking & lifting

How To Pick The Perfect Blowout Brushes

How can you select the best (right one) brushes for the perfect blowout? The first thing you need to do is to look for the right size or diameter round brush. Also you don’t want a brush that’s too hard. I always examine how the handle attaches to the brush and to the handle itself. I make sure there are no gaps in which hair can get snagged. The handle should have a good grip in order to keep the brush in place so that you can finish your blowout more easily and efficiently. Also I look for the hairbrush surface to be either metal or titanium to add brilliance to hair.

A vented brush, or vent brush, contains apertures that air can travel through and is designed to expedite blowdrying, add volume and produce texture. It’s utilized to generate root lift, boost volume, and give some direction and movement like flicking out the ends of your hair. It is a terrific brush for working out tangles on medium to thick hair, or to offer a little extra height and lift to a style.

Sizing Conclusion

I hope this article was of help. Please comment. I would be interested to know what size brush works best for you and why. I also would be interested to hear about the different brands you are using.

According to Kevin Lee Style Director At Julien Farel, “Hair brings one’s self image into focus, and has the ability of giving one more confidence. With great looking hair, confidence comes naturally.“

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References
OlivaGarden
My handy-dandy chart was created with the help of avatarmaker