Shark SmoothStyle Hot Brush Review: One-Step Smoothing for Frizz-Prone Hair

If you have hair that swells, poofs, or sprouts flyaways as soon as the weather changes, a hot brush can be a morning lifesaver. The Shark SmoothStyle Hot Brush aims to simplify your routine by smoothing and shaping in one go, so you are not juggling a round brush, a dryer, and a flat iron. After extensive testing on fine, medium, and thick frizz-prone hair in both dry and humid conditions, here is how it performs and who should consider it.

Overview

The Shark SmoothStyle Hot Brush is a heated brush designed to smooth, lightly straighten, and add polish to hair without the harshness of clamp-style irons. It is built for speed and consistency: you brush slowly through sections while the heated core and bristles apply tension and uniform heat. The result is a sleeker, more controlled finish with fewer flyaways than you would get from air-drying or a quick blowout alone.

Design-wise, the head is sized to cover a useful amount of hair per pass without feeling bulky at the hairline. The mixed bristle pattern grips well enough to create tension, yet glides without snagging, which is key for reducing frizz. Heat is even across the surface, so you do not get the hot spots that can crease or over-dry a single patch of hair. The handle is balanced and insulated to stay comfortable during longer sessions, and the swivel cord cooperates when you flip directions at the crown and around the face.

Unlike a flat iron that can leave hair pin-straight and flattened, the SmoothStyle tends to produce a smooth, blowout-like finish with a soft bend at the ends. You can aim for sleeker by using smaller sections and slower passes, or keep volume by working quickly and lifting at the roots. This flexibility is one of the reasons it appeals to frizz-prone hair that still wants movement.

Who it’s for

The SmoothStyle suits a wide range of frizz-prone hair types, but it is not one-size-fits-all. Here is a quick breakdown based on our tests and stylist-informed technique:

• Fine to medium, wavy or straight hair that expands in humidity: Excellent fit. It smooths quickly without collapsing all volume when you keep sections light and the brush moving.
• Medium to thick hair with moderate curl or frizz: Strong fit. Use smaller sections and deliberate tension for a sleek finish with a soft curve at the ends.
• Curly and coily textures seeking stretched, smooth styles: Good as a stretching and smoothing tool if you work in small, taut sections. Expect a blowout-level smooth, not a glass-flat press. For bone-straight, you may still want a quick pass with a flat iron afterward.
• Short hairstyles or very layered cuts above the jaw: Usable, but a smaller head would be easier to maneuver. You may struggle to reach the roots cleanly.
• Highly damaged or very porous hair: Start on a lower heat setting and focus on fewer, cleaner passes with solid tension to avoid over-drying any one area.

If your priority is a polished, frizz-reduced finish that still looks like your hair, just smoother and more controlled, this tool aligns well with that goal. If you need pin-straight, ultra-pressed ends every time, a flat iron will still be your quickest route after a fast smoothing pass with the brush.

How it feels and performs

Ergonomics and feel: The brush feels secure in the hand, with a grippy handle that lets you vary angles without wrist strain. The head has enough surface area to speed things up, but it still fits near the scalp when you want to tame roots. The bristles are firm enough to create tension yet flex to avoid scratching the scalp. Even on higher heat, the housing stays touch-safe around the edges so you can support the brush with your opposite hand when beveling ends.

Heat-up and consistency: The brush heats quickly and stays stable as you move through a full head, which helps reduce repeated passes. Even heat shows up in the results: fewer stubborn, puffy spots and a more uniform sheen from roots to ends. On fine hair, the lower setting was sufficient to smooth frizz while preserving body. On thicker, coarser hair, a higher setting paired with clean tension made the most difference in reducing halo frizz.

Smoothing power: The SmoothStyle excels at calming cuticle lift, especially along the top layer and around the face where frizz is most visible. On medium-length, wavy hair that tends to swell at the crown, we saw flyaways drop significantly after a single slow pass per section. Edges stayed neater through the afternoon than with air-dry plus a brush, and the finish looked more polished than a typical hot air brush that relies mostly on airflow rather than direct, even heat.

Volume and shape: You can keep movement by lifting at the root for your first pass, then flatten only the areas that need it. If you want sleeker ends, give the brush a gentle inward roll as you finish the mid-lengths. For those who prefer straight ends, pass straight through and let the hair cool while held taut. The brush is forgiving, which is nice when you are touching up bedhead or hat hair in the morning.

Speed: On shoulder-length, medium-density hair, we consistently finished a full smooth in about 12 to 15 minutes from air-dry, and closer to 7 to 10 minutes for day-two touch-ups. Thicker hair needed more sectioning but improved per-pass results meant fewer repeats than with non-ceramic heated brushes.

Humidity test: In damp weather, roots and the crown stayed controlled longer than with a basic blowout alone. The perimeter and baby hairs eventually showed a little lift, but a 60-second touch-up brought everything back without stacking heat. A light finishing spray or a pea-sized anti-frizz cream helped lock in the smoother cuticle.

Hair health: The tool works best when you use tension and patience rather than cranking heat to maximum. We saw less dryness at the ends compared with repeated flat iron passes, and less snagging than with stiff-bristled straightening brushes. As always, a heat protectant is essential for any hot tool routine.

How to use for best results

Small technique tweaks matter more than you might think. Try this step-by-step approach based on your starting point:

If starting from damp hair:

1. Towel-blot thoroughly and let hair air-dry until it is at least 70 to 80 percent dry. The less water in the hair, the faster and smoother your finish.
2. Mist on a heat protectant with frizz control. Comb through for even coverage.
3. Section into four to six zones. Clip the top and sides up, start at the nape.
4. Place the brush under a 1 to 2 inch section at the root. Add gentle tension and slowly glide to the ends. Keep the brush moving at a steady pace to avoid over-heating any spot.
5. For a smoother finish, use slightly smaller sections and slow your pass by a beat. For more volume, lift at the roots and keep your passes lighter and quicker.
6. Repeat around the head, finishing with the hairline and bangs. Allow hair to cool in the shape you want before touching it.

If refreshing dry or day-two hair:

1. Brush out tangles and apply a light heat protectant or leave-in that does not add slip at the roots.
2. Target only the puffy zones. Hold hair taut and make one deliberate pass from root to end. Resist the urge to keep going over the same section.
3. Polish the face frame by placing the brush on top of the section and gliding downward while curving slightly inward for a soft bevel.

Texture-specific tips:

• Fine hair: Use a lower heat setting and larger sections to keep natural fullness. Avoid lingering at the roots.
• Thick or coarse hair: Take smaller sections and maintain firm, steady tension. Two slow passes are better than four quick ones.
• Curly and coily hair: Stretch the section with your free hand as you brush. Work from roots to ends in narrow sections for the most uniform smooth. Finish with a humidity-resistant serum, mid-lengths down.

Care and maintenance: After each use, let the brush cool, then remove shed hair from the bristles. Wipe the surface with a slightly damp cloth to lift product residue. Keeping buildup off the bristles maintains consistent glide and even heat.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Reliable one-step smoothing for frizz-prone hair without needing a separate flat iron.
• Pros: Even heat and effective bristle tension reduce the number of passes and help protect ends.
• Pros: Produces a polished, blowout-like finish with controlled movement rather than stiff, pressed-flat hair.
• Pros: Useful for fast day-two refreshes at the crown, hairline, and face frame.
• Cons: Not ideal for very short or heavily layered cuts where a smaller head would be easier near the roots.
• Cons: Will not replace a flat iron if you want glass-straight, pin-flat ends every time.
• Cons: Results depend on section size and tension, so there is a short learning curve.
• Cons: The brush body has some weight, which may tire the wrist during longer sessions on very dense hair.

Final verdict

The Shark SmoothStyle Hot Brush delivers what many frizz-prone shoppers actually want: a quick, consistent way to switch the hair cuticle from puffy and lifted to smooth and controlled, without sacrificing all movement. It is less aggressive than a flat iron, faster than a round brush blowout once you learn good tension, and far more polished than air-dry plus a pass with a basic hot brush.

If you love a salon blowout look but do not want a multi-tool routine, this is a strong buy. Those with fine hair will appreciate that it can smooth without squashing volume when used on lower heat and larger sections. Those with thick or textured hair will get the best results with smaller, taut sections and a deliberate pace. If your goal is ultra-straight, glassy ends, you may still want to finish with a quick single pass of a flat iron on the lowest effective heat, but for everyday smoothing and frizz control, the SmoothStyle stands out for its balance of speed, shine, and hair-friendliness.

See also

If frizz control starts for you in the shower, pairing a smoothing brush with the right wash routine can make a visible difference. Our guide to taming wash days begins with choosing a formula that calms puff without heaviness in the best shampoos for frizzy hair, and if you still crave pin-straight looks on special days, you will find gentle, glide-happy picks in our roundup of the best hair straighteners. Curious how the SmoothStyle stacks up to the classic challenger? We tested that too in our detailed Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus review.

Fine hair can be frizz-prone and flat at once, which calls for smart tools and formulas. For quicker dry times with less collapse at the roots, see our tested picks in the best hair dryers for fine hair, and for lift that does not feel sticky or crunchy, bookmark our edit of the best volumizing products for fine hair.

FAQ

Can the Shark SmoothStyle Hot Brush replace my flat iron?

For many people with frizz-prone hair, yes for everyday styling. It produces a smooth, blowout-like finish with fewer flyaways and a soft bend at the ends. If your goal is glass-straight, pin-flat hair, a flat iron still wins on that very specific look. A common routine is using the SmoothStyle for the full style, then one quick low-heat flat iron pass only on stubborn sections when needed.

Does it work on very curly or coily hair?

It can smooth and stretch curls well when you use smaller sections and steady tension. Expect a sleek blowout rather than a silk press. If you want a straighter result, finish selected sections with a flat iron on the lowest effective heat. Always prep with a heat protectant and let each section cool in place before touching to preserve the smooth.

How long do results last on frizz-prone hair?

On average, the smooth finish lasted through a full day for our testers and held into day two with a quick touch-up at the crown and hairline. Humidity, porosity, and products will affect longevity. Sealing the mid-lengths and ends with a small amount of anti-frizz cream or light serum helps extend results, especially in damp weather.

Can I use the SmoothStyle on damp hair, or should hair be completely dry?

You will get the best finish when hair is at least 70 to 80 percent dry. Starting too wet forces extra passes and can rough up the cuticle. If you are refreshing on day two, begin on dry hair. In both cases, apply a heat protectant and work in sections with light to moderate tension.

What is the best way to clean and maintain the brush?

Unplug and let the brush cool fully, then remove shed hair from the bristles after each use. Wipe the bristles and heated surface with a slightly damp cloth to remove product residue. Avoid harsh cleaners, and do not submerge the tool. Keeping the surface clean preserves smooth glide and even heat distribution.

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