Revlon One-Step Improved Motor Vs Mint, Full Comparison

By Jessica Chen Hair Care Specialist Published December 13, 2025

The improved motor black model and the mint variant are both original One-Step tools. The black has the updated longer-life motor. The mint is the beloved color classic. Here is the comparison.

The 80 Percent Rule for One-Step Styling

The One-Step's biggest failure mode is starting on soaking hair, and the 80 percent rule is the fix nobody times. Rough-dry first: blast the hair with a regular dryer, or run the One-Step on high heat with fast rough passes and no sectioning, until the hair is about 80 percent dry. Damp but not dripping, no water spraying when you shake your head. Only then begin the slow, sectioned styling passes that create the blowout.

Starting the styling passes on wet hair triples the session time and bakes the hair: the brush holds sustained heat against each section, and wet hair under sustained heat suffers more damage than damp hair under the same heat. The style also falls faster, because soaking hair never gets the tension-plus-heat combination that sets shape. The two-phase method, rough-dry then style, is the difference between a twenty-minute blowout that lasts and a forty-minute session that drops by noon. Our One-Step technique guide demonstrates the sectioning and timing in detail.

Filter and Brush Maintenance: The Lint Problem

The One-Step's air intake sits where hair and lint collect, and a clogged intake is why older units dry slower and smell hot. The maintenance routine: after every few uses, pull the trapped hair from the brush bristles, a cleaning claw or an old comb works. Monthly, check the intake vent at the handle base and clear lint with a dry soft brush. Never run water through the intake, and never poke sharp tools into the vent mesh.

The burning smell diagnostic applies here with a One-Step twist: the brush head accumulates hair product residue that scorches on the hot bristles, producing a burning smell that is residue, not motor failure. A thorough bristle cleaning usually resolves it. If the smell persists after cleaning, or the motor sounds strained, that is the improved-motor model's longer life being tested, and it may be service or replacement time. The black model's improved longer-life motor specifically addresses the original's most common failure point, which is why it commands the same price as the beloved mint classic.

Short Hair and Pixies: Making the Oval Brush Work

The 2.8-inch oval brush is designed for medium to long hair, and short hair needs technique adjustments. On bobs, work in smaller sections and use the brush more like a round brush, rolling the ends under for shape rather than trying to run full lengths. On pixies, the full oval is often too large: use just the edge of the brush on the longer top sections and leave the cropped sides to air-dry or a small dryer.

Scalp burn is the short-hair risk: with less hair buffering the heat, the hot bristles sit closer to the scalp. Keep the brush moving, never park it in one spot, and use the medium heat setting rather than high on short styles. The cool setting finishes each section and sets the shape. Bangs work well with the One-Step's edge: roll the fringe under in one smooth pass rather than multiple short ones, which creates kinks.

Motor Lifespan: Improved vs Original

The motor difference is the substantive upgrade on this page. The original mint model's standard motor earned its 483,280 ratings and 4.5 stars, but heavy users reported motor burnout as the eventual failure, typically after one to two years of frequent use. The black model's improved longer-life motor addresses exactly that, with better heat management and more durable components.

The buying logic: if you use the tool twice a week, either motor lasts years and the choice is color preference. If you use it near-daily, the improved motor's longer life is worth choosing black over mint, because replacing the whole tool annually costs more than any color preference. The 483,280 ratings on the original remain meaningful social proof of the design's effectiveness; the improved motor keeps that design and fixes its weakest part. Our One-Step model hub compares the full range including the Plus and 2.0 versions.

More Top Picks in This Category

Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.

Best for: Best deal color when on sale.

REVLON One Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush, Turquoise

Verified pick

• 2.8 inch oval brush
• Ionic technology
• 3 heat plus cool

Pros

• Often the cheapest color
• Same one-step blowout
• Ionic frizz control

Cons

• Color stock varies
• Same 120V limitation

Check Price on Amazon

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