Choosing a hot styling tool: an automatic curler versus a cordless straightening brush versus a heated round brush, what each does to hair, and the corded-versus-cordless trade-off.
Ownership disclosure: Donaboa, the shop whose styling tools are discussed here, is owned and operated by the same company that publishes BuyingBench. We earn no commission on a Donaboa order. That is a material connection, so we state it before anything else. Donaboa runs two storefronts — donaboa.com and donaboa.uk — for the same range; the links below go to donaboa.com.
Short answer: the tool you want is the one that makes the finish you are actually chasing. A curler makes curls, a straightening brush flattens and smooths, and a heated round brush adds volume and bend while drying. They are not interchangeable, and each has a different cord and heat profile, so match the tool to the result rather than to the name on the box.
BuyingBench has not used these tools in person. Everything below comes from what Donaboa publishes on its product pages, read on 21 October 2026.
| Tool | What it is for | Cord |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Hair Curler, 28 mm | Draws a section into an enclosed chamber and curls it; three temperatures, ~30 s to heat | — |
| Cordless Straightening Brush | Heated film behind comb teeth smooths as you brush; ~243 g | Cordless, rechargeable |
| Heated Volumising Round Brush | Nylon bristles over a heated barrel curl and smooth in one pass; four settings | 360° swivel cord |
| Cordless Straightening Comb Duo | Two combs, 269 mm and 156 mm, for full head and fringe touch-ups | Cordless, rechargeable |
The straightening brush and comb duo are for smoothing and straightening; the round brush is for volume with a soft bend; the automatic curler is for defined curls.
The cordless tools — the straightening brush and the comb duo — free you from a socket, which matters in a small bathroom or when travelling. The cost is a battery to charge and a heater that runs on a limited supply. The round brush is corded, so it is ready whenever it is plugged in but tethered to the wall.
An automatic curler with an enclosed chamber is also a different experience from a wand you wrap by hand: the chamber guides the hair, which is gentler for a beginner but takes a section at a time, so a full head is slower than it looks.
Our view: pick the single finish you wear daily, then buy the one tool that produces it.
Disclosure: Donaboa is a sister brand of BuyingBench under common ownership. See our affiliate and ownership disclosure for the full policy. For how we source claims, read our methodology. See our scored curling iron test or who writes our guides.
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