I’ve never considered myself to be much of a bouncy blowout girl. There’s something about a blowout that’s always felt a little too pretty and proper for my vibe, not to mention too hard to DIY. After years of bleaching, dyeing, heat styling, and pulling it back tightly for workouts, my hair has been through it. This is evident in the form of ever-present “curtain bangs” that are due at least in part to breakage. I have layers, kind of, but actually I think every single hair on my head is a slightly different length. So generally, I gravitate towards “messier” hairstyles; this means haphazardly curling pieces of my hair, throwing in some volumizing or texture spray, and seeing what happens. Beachy, edgy, and tousled are the adjectives most likely to describe my hair. Doing something more painstaking and polished always seemed out of the reach of my personal capabilities...but then I got to try the viral Wavytalk Blowout Boost Thermal Brush.
If I know one thing about TikTok, the app LOVES a big ol’ blowout. If you’ve seen a single video, you will unlock a slew of them testing out hot and velcro rollers, attempting silk hair tie hacks, and a lot of love for this Wavytalk brush. In a world where hair dryer brushes can cost upwards of $500, this one goes for around $50. Better yet, everyone who tries it out ends up showing off sleek, shiny soft bends and curls and flipping them around like they’re in a freaking ‘90s teen movie. If this method is supposed to be so simple and effective, could I turn a new leaf? Keep reading for all the details of my experience with the Wavytalk Thermal Brush.
How do you use the Wavytalk Thermal Brush?
In addition to the abundance of TikToks, there are a few tutorial videos on the brand’s website to give you an idea of how to use the brush if you’re starting from zero. But generally, using the thermal brush is just like doing the round brush motion of a blowout (without the blow dryer part). Section your hair first (it'll make it easier to reach all of your hair in manageable chunks). Section by section, glide the brush down each chunk of strands to smooth it, then catch the ends and curl them towards the scalp. Hold the hair on the heated barrel for a few seconds and then unfurl the brush from your hair. If you want, you can give your hair a little twist in the direction of the curl you’re trying to create. If you’re me, finish by curling those bang-like face-framing pieces straight up as if you’re putting them in a velcro roller for a few seconds, then release.
How hot does the Wavytalk Thermal Brush get?
The Wavytalk Blowout Boost Thermal Brush has five heat settings: 30o degrees, 330 degrees, 360 degrees, 390 degrees, and 420 degrees. I have fine and frequently dyed (read: damaged) hair so I set my temp at the middle of the heat scale.
Can you use the Wavytalk Thermal Brush on wet hair?
No. No. That’s a resounding NO. Think of this tool more like a curling iron than a blow-dry brush. The mechanism it styles your hair with is simply a heated barrel; there’s no airflow (like with a Dyson Airwrap) to help dry your hair. Be sure to blow or air dry your hair 100 percent before going in with the Wavytalk Thermal Brush.
My review of the Wavytalk Thermal Brush:
For being formerly blowout-avoidant, I’ve surprised myself with how much I enjoy using the Wavytalk thermal brush and how often I have been reaching for it in recent weeks. It can style my whole head of hair very quickly and almost mindlessly while giving a more intentional, chic look to otherwise blah, flat hair. With the power in my own hands, I like how I can customize the blowout look to my own preferences (generally less curly and voluminous) and get my bangs to look exactly how I want.
If nothing else, it’s an excellent quick fix for smoothing and shaping hair that might have gotten smushed while you sleep. It’s great for second-day hair when I’m not trying to re-curl my whole head with a curling iron. Or in the laziest of all lazy girl hair hacks, it’s great for fluffing up the pieces of hair around my face before I put the rest of my hair in a claw clip for the illusion of a style. I met my friend for lunch one afternoon after I styled my hair with the Wavytalk brush (in a rushed 10 minutes btw) and she immediately commented on how shiny, healthy-looking, and flippy my hair was.
Pros:
- You can get the look of a salon blowout at home without the pat-your-head-and-rub-your-belly difficulty of using a blow dryer and a round brush in both hands.
- Because of the gliding styling motion, it feels like the heat is on your hair for less time—potentially leading to less hair damage.
- It makes your hair super shiny and can be used to smooth flyaways and for quick touch-ups.
Cons:
- This is more of a round brush problem than specifically a thermal brush problem, but your hair will get stuck in it occasionally. Be patient and gentle.
- There’s a learning curve to figuring out which way to turn the brush and how to get enough tension to curl and flip out your hair.
- It’s less versatile for creating different styles than a curling iron.
The final verdict:
Well, I have a new hair tool in my rotation and with it, I’ve unlocked a new look for my avatar. The Wavytalk thermal brush now occupies a space in my hairstyling arsenal that I didn’t know was previously missing. I’ve never successfully given myself a true blowout before, but I have successfully gotten a similar look using this. It’s easy to see why so many people love this product, it is so easy for being so effective. A lot of styling tools claim to make your hair look glossy, but this one delivers—and if there’s a way to fool people into thinking you have it all together, it’s to have shiny healthy-looking hair. It’s good to know I can now fake it from the comfort of my own bathroom.
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Sam Neibart is a freelance writer and editor who has been covering beauty over digital and print for nearly a decade. She reports on the ever-evolving landscape of trends, tastemakers, and technology in the industry and loves nothing more than helping friends and readers discover the beauty products that are best for them. Previously, she held editorial positions at NYLON and Harper’s BAZAAR. She currently lives in Manhattan and biannually experiences the strong urge to dye her hair a new color.
Sam Neibart is a freelance writer and editor who has been covering beauty over digital and print for nearly a decade. She reports on the ever-evolving landscape of trends, tastemakers, and technology in the industry and loves nothing more than helping friends and readers discover the beauty products that are best for them. Previously, she held editorial positions at NYLON and Harper’s BAZAAR. She currently lives in Manhattan and biannually experiences the strong urge to dye her hair a new color. Follow her on Instagram.
