Beauty Revlon One-Step vs Drybar Double Shot: Blowout Battle Today
The Revlon One-Step made at-home blowouts affordable. The Drybar Double Shot brought salon polish to the category. One wins on price, the other on finish. Here is how they compare.
| Factor | Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer | Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Drying power | 1100 watts | High airflow ionic |
| Smoothness | Very good | Excellent, salon finish |
| Volume | Excellent root lift | Excellent with oval shape |
| Weight | About 1.8 lb | About 2.6 lb |
| Price | Budget | Premium |
| Best for | Fast daily blowouts | Polished salon results |
Our Verdict
Buy the Revlon One-Step for fast, affordable blowouts that satisfy most people. Buy the Drybar Double Shot if you style daily and want the smoothest, most salon-like finish. Budget buyers should start with Revlon; it punches far above its price.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Pink lovers wanting the classic One-Step.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer (Pink)
- Same One-Step tech in pink
- Oval brush design
- Ionic frizz control
- Cool tip
Pros
- Cute color option
- Same great performance
- Often on sale
Cons
- Color shows wear
- Same bulk as original
- Not for very short hair
Best for: Salon-quality results at home, daily stylers.
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
- Salon-grade blowout brush
- Ionic technology seals cuticle
- Ergonomic lightweight handle
- Three temperature settings
Pros
- Salon-smooth results
- Lighter than Revlon
- Premium build quality
Cons
- Expensive
- Smaller barrel
- Learning curve
Best for: Styling enthusiasts wanting multiple blowout options.
Drybar The Triple Shot Interchangeable Brush
- Interchangeable brush heads
- Multiple barrel sizes
- Ionic blowout technology
- Professional performance
Pros
- Versatile with head options
- Pro-level results
- Great for different styles
Cons
- Most expensive option
- Attachments to store
- Heavier base unit
Rough-Dry Then Style: The 80 Percent Rule
The professional blowout technique has a specific sequence that home users skip. Rough-dry the hair to about 80 percent dry using just the dryer or the volumizer on high airflow with no brush tension. Only then begin the styled brushing: section by section, with tension, directing airflow down the shaft. The 80 percent rule exists because styling wet hair takes twice as long and twice the heat exposure as styling mostly-dry hair.
How dry is 80 percent: the hair feels damp but not wet, no dripping, and the roots feel almost dry while the ends retain slight moisture. Starting the brush work earlier wastes time and heat; starting later, on fully dry hair, gives the brush nothing to shape. The Revlon One-Step on this page collapses these steps by design, but the principle still applies: do a quick rough pass first, then the careful styling pass. The Drybar Double Shot's smoother finish comes partly from users following this sequence properly. The Drybar Double Shot guide details the sectioning technique.
Noise Levels: The Real Data
Dryer noise matters for apartments, sleeping babies, and thin walls, and the comparisons are concrete. Typical dryers run 70 to 90 decibels; the Revlon One-Step sits in the mid-70s, noticeable but not extreme. The Drybar tools run slightly quieter due to better motor insulation. For reference, 70 decibels is shower-loud, 85 is the level where hearing protection enters the conversation for prolonged exposure.
Practical noise management: dry during reasonable hours, close the bathroom door, and use the lower speed setting, which cuts noise significantly with modest time cost. No mainstream dryer is genuinely quiet; the quietest picks reduce noise by better housing rather than weaker motors. If drying with a sleeping baby in the next room, the honest answer is timing, not product: no dryer is nap-safe. Hearing damage from daily dryer use is unlikely at these levels but the lower setting is kinder over years. The Rapido guide notes noise in the high-power dryer class.
AC vs DC Motors: What Home Buyers Get
The motor type decides lifespan and weight, and the tradeoff is clear. AC motors, found in the Drybar tools and professional dryers, last longer, often 1000-plus hours, but weigh more. DC motors, common in the Revlon One-Step and budget dryers, are lighter and cheaper but typically last a few hundred hours. For daily users, the AC motor's longevity justifies its price and weight; for occasional users, the DC motor's lightness wins.
The weight tradeoff is physical: AC dryers run heavier, which fatigues arms during long styling sessions. The Revlon's lighter DC build is genuinely easier to wield, part of its mass appeal. Neither motor type dries fundamentally better; the difference is durability and heft. A daily blowout user will kill a DC dryer in a year or two and should buy AC; a weekly user will never hit either motor's limit and should buy for weight and price. Match the motor to your frequency. The Andis guide covers the AC workhorse value proposition.
Want the Full Picture?
Small Upgrades to Your Styling Routine
Choosing between the Revlon One-Step Volumizer (Pink) and the Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush is the easy part, because the same fundamentals make either tool perform at its best.
Do I really need heat protectant every time?
Yes, because heat damage is cumulative and invisible until the breakage starts. A light protectant spray or cream takes seconds to apply and meaningfully reduces the harm from every pass of the Revlon One-Step Volumizer (Pink) or the Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush.
Why does my style fall flat within an hour?
Usually the hair was still slightly damp when you finished, or the sections were too thick for the heat to set them. Drying fully and working in smaller sections with the Revlon One-Step Volumizer (Pink) or the Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush gives the style a foundation that actually lasts.