The Dafni was designed by an engineer dad and his curly-headed daughter, and the thought that went into the design is noticeable. The brush head bristles distribute heat evenly, which makes for faster styling on larger sections of hair. Most brushes can handle one-inch sections of hair, but I found this brush worked well with two-inch sections -- good news for those with thick piles of hair.

There's minimal chance of burning yourself with this brush, thanks to cooling technology that keeps the back of the brush from heating up. Even the power button location is thoughtful: It's close to the bristles on the brush-head neck, well away from your grip.

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The Luma is very similar to the Dafni -- the designs are almost identical. Like the Dafni, the Luma's chunky solid inner bristles with small nibs on a broader shaft are surrounded by a ring of narrower bristles with no nibs. This bristle combination achieves satisfying results, gripping hair tightly to the heated base for a smooth glide from root to tip for sleek, no-bump locks.

Because it's so similar in outcome and design, but slightly more affordable, the Luna gives the Dafni a run for its money.

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Jose Eber's high-end styling products are known for delivering amazing results. My expectations were high for this brush, and I wasn't disappointed. My fine, coarse volume of hair always requires the hottest setting on any styling tool, and this brush heats up almost instantly to 450 degrees. The rounded, bulbous bristles grab wide sections of hair, which reduced styling time significantly.

The matte plastic material feels firm in your hand for no-grip-slip styling. And, a huge bonus? The power and temperature controls are underneath the handle -- no accidental power-off moments. If you can palette the higher price tag, this brush is totally worth the investment.

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I confess, my expectations for this As-Seen-on-TV straightening brush, available at a drugstore near you, were not high. I'm humbled to be wrong. Conair continues to reign in the styling products arena.

This square-headed brush and patented Diamond Brilliance Shine System lived up to its promises, leaving my hair with incredible shine. Of all the brushes, this one got closest to the scalp, reducing frizz and volume at the root. The brush's flexible bristles and detangling comb section translated to zero pulling on my hair. Its ionic technology banished all frizz. It heated very quickly on each setting -- low, medium and high.

It was this brush that truly convinced me I need both a flat iron and a straightening brush in my hair styling arsenal. I finally understood what Gibson was saying about each providing two totally different looks -- the flat iron for pin-straight hair, and this hair straightening brush for soft, shiny, lustrous hair with just a touch of body. Consider me a hair straightening brush convert.

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A few things to look for when you're shopping for a hair straightening brush:

-Seamless bristle nibs that are not a separate piece from the bristle shaft. If the nibs are separate, they're likely to fall off, leaving a plastic spike behind that isn't going to feel great on your scalp.
-Always opt for a ceramic coating. Iron and plastic are more damaging to your hair.
-Try holding the brush in your hand before you buy it. You might be surprised how a little thing like power button placement can be a deal breaker.

How to handle styling:

-With all models, I found that separating my hair into three sections from top to bottom made straightening easiest.
-For best results, do one sweep with the hair straightening brush on the top of the section, followed by one sweep down from underneath -- or vice versa depending if you want a slight flip. -Straightening brushes are not the best for finishing off short bangs or side slants. I still recommend having your narrow flat iron on hands for touch up, especially if you have baby hairs.