Revlon One-Step vs Plus: Which Dryer Brush Suits You Best?

The original Revlon One-Step became a familiar shortcut to a home blowout, but the Plus adds changes that matter differently to different buyers. A detachable head is useful for storage; an extra heat setting changes the controls; a smaller styling head changes how you handle individual sections. The decision is whether those changes solve a problem in your routine, especially if you already own an original that still gives you a finish you enjoy.

Compare the US models by their actual features

This comparison uses Revlon's current US pages for the Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer and One-Step Volumizer Plus. The original page describes a non-detachable head and three heat/speed settings. Plus lists a 2.4-inch oval head, detachable construction and four heat settings.

The controls and construction are the useful buying facts. Coating and pin changes are product specifications, rather than proof that every hair type gets a better result. The most relevant upgrade is the feature you will actually use.

A smaller head changes section handling

Plus's 2.4-inch oval head is a deliberate part of its updated design. Think about the sections you find awkward with your existing brush: shorter pieces around the face, layers, and the ends you want to turn under or flip outward.

In a 2022 comparison based on using both tools, Allure contributor Symphony Barnes preferred Plus's reduced bulk and slimmer handle. That older firsthand account concerns the same design changes still listed on the current US brand page. It is relevant experience, rather than a claim that the tool was newly tested this year.

A head change is less compelling if your original already handles your normal sections comfortably. For long hair styled in generous sections, your existing routine matters more than the appeal of an upgrade label. Decide what feels awkward before paying to change it.

The medium setting gives another choice

Plus explicitly adds medium between low and high, with cool also listed. That gives you a separate control option when high feels too intense for a section but low does not suit your preferred pace. It is a reason to compare controls, rather than assume all four settings belong in every blowout.

Keep heat exposure deliberate. Prep the hair according to the tool's instructions, work through manageable sections, and stop repeating a pass once the section is finished. A new coating does not make repeated high-heat styling an automatically comfortable choice for fragile lengths.

The hairstylist advice in Barnes's review favors removing excess moisture before shaping with the brush. That reduces the amount of drying you are asking the brush to perform while the hair is held against it. Use your usual rough-drying step before the more controlled shaping stage.

Detachable does not mean interchangeable

The Plus head detaches using its lock-in release. That is useful if a fixed-head tool takes up awkward space in your bag or drawer. Let it cool before separating and storing it, and follow its own attachment instructions.

Detachment alone does not establish a multi-attachment styling system. Check what the exact kit includes and what Revlon explicitly supports. Buy Plus for its documented head and controls rather than assuming attachments from another One-Step product will fit.

Also match the market version. Revlon's original US page specifies 120-volt US outlets and says not to use a voltage converter. A tool convenient to pack still needs the correct electrical version for the place you intend to use it.

An upgrade is useful when it fixes an inconvenience

Allure's 2025 Readers' Choice winners still include the original One-Step. Its continued appeal supports keeping the original in the comparison; it is not obsolete merely because Plus has more features.

In a 2024 shopper discussion, one owner describes moving from a worn original to Plus and preferring the result. That is a useful replacement scenario, while another person's styling habit is not a substitute for the manufacturer's instructions.

The original's main downsides here are its fixed-head storage footprint and fewer heat-control choices. Plus's downsides are paying to replace a tool that may already work for you, and learning a different head-and-handle feel. Neither eliminates the time needed to section and shape a blowout.

Pick the original if

• You already own it and like the finish from your normal routine.
• A fixed head is comfortable to store where you style your hair.
• The existing heat controls meet your needs.

Pick Plus if

• You want a detachable head for easier packing.
• An explicit medium heat setting solves a control problem.
• A slimmer handle and smaller styling head address awkward handling.

Relative value favors Plus when you need a new brush and will use its extra features. For a satisfied original owner, replacing a working tool has a weaker case. Our Drybar brush-size comparison also explains how head shape affects the style you are trying to achieve.

FAQ

Does the original head detach?

The current US original page specifies a non-detachable head. Plus has a detachable lock-in design.

What are Plus's heat settings?

Revlon lists low, medium, high and cool.

Does detachable mean other heads fit?

No. Confirm an attachment's explicit compatibility before buying it for this tool.

Should I upgrade a working original?

Upgrade when handling, packing or heat controls are a recurring problem. A satisfying existing routine is a strong reason to keep your tool.

Verdict

Choose Volumizer Plus for a new purchase when its medium setting, slimmer handle and detachable head will improve your routine. Its documented changes make the clearest difference for shoppers frustrated by bulky storage or awkward section handling. The original remains a sensible tool to keep when you already enjoy its finish.

For a replacement after an old brush wears out, Plus offers a practical reason to change rather than simply repeat the purchase. For a satisfied owner, the upgrade case is narrower. Match the US version, prepare manageable sections and judge the features against the blowout you actually style at home.