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If your hair is pretty easy to maintain, go forth with whichever brush lets you achieve all your hair goals. Catharine Malzahn, the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention, works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of hair products, including professional hair treatments, tools, shampoos, conditioners, styling products and more. For this article, she worked with Chiara Butler, a Health and Beauty Reviews Analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She formerly worked as a formulation chemist at a haircare brand, where she learned about the structure and properties of hair.
The 32 Best Hair Brushes for Every Hair Type
You probably already choose your favorite hair products based on the hair you have (and the hair you want), whether it's products designed to add volume to thin hair or anti-frizz products. That's because the right products help take the stress out of styling — and hair brushes are no different. By picking the best hair brush for your hair type and hair goals, you're one step closer to a great hair routine. The right hair brush "should maximize results with minimal effort on any hair," says Jeremy Taylor, L’Oréal Professionnel National Educator and stylist at TReSs Apothecary and Salon in Newport Beach, California.
Best Hair Brush to Prevent Breakage
This one from TGIN lightly smooths flyaways and bumps, thanks to its tightly packed natural boar bristles that help move your scalp oils down your strands for added shine. And, because this brush is on the narrow side, it’s ideal for detail work around your neck or ears. Yes, it’s an investment, but according to reviewers, it could be the only brush you buy for a decade or more. Not only does it gently detangle hair, but its genuine boar bristles are the best at working with your hair's natural oils.
Denman Curly Hair Brush D4
She’s an authority in all hair categories but is an expert when it comes to curly hair brushes through many interviews with experts and hairstylists. When you’re shopping for a brush, it’s important to consider the bristles. Boar bristles tend to be soft, so it’s gentle on all hair types, according to Taylor. Nylon bristles, meanwhile, are stiffer, so they offer more tension (meaning they help keep hair taut). That makes them great for detangling, according to San Francisco-based hair stylist Brendnetta Ashley, since they can better work through knots. For example, when it comes to smoothing curls, you’ll need a tightly compacted bristle placement to achieve an ultra-sleek look, according to Hill.
Oribe Flat Brush
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For instance, round brushes with a ceramic barrel “can help reduce frizz and static, leaving it shiny and smooth without any flyaways,” says Ford; that’s because ceramic can distribute heat evenly. Meanwhile, plastic or wooden brushes can be more lightweight, which is helpful if you’re brushing hair while blow-drying. “Wooden combs can be gentler, metal combs can be more durable and plastic is more common,” says Ford. For an in-shower brush, Taylor loves this massage-focused option.
When using a brush or a comb, start from the ends and work your way up to the roots — not from the roots down, which can lead to breakage, according to our experts. A flat brush, meanwhile, can help with smoothing, since they force hair into a single direction. They’re also better for detangling, since you can repeatedly brush through a section to work out knots. This comb “has wide teeth allowing for easy detangling, as well as having a smooth, bamboo finish,” says Ford, noting that the finish allows hair to glide through the teeth without getting snared in them. It comes in a variety of colors and the paddle is backless, which is meant to reduce styling time by allowing more airflow. The brush also feels super lightweight in your hands, and its design makes cleaning the brush so easy.
It gently detangles and the larger size also helps it take on long, thick hair. "My husband could not live without this brush for his long full hair," one reviewer writes. They’re often better off with a wide-tooth comb “to keep as much shape as possible and to avoid breaking the hair and frizz,” says O’Connor. Its unique, flexible bristles tackle tangles without tugging, making detangling a breeze. Say goodbye to breakage and hello to smoother, healthier-looking hair with every stroke.
Meet the Experts
For curly-haired ladies who don't brush their hair outside of the shower, wide-tooth combs (with larger spaces between each tooth) are great options, because they detangle without breaking up the natural curl pattern. If you have fine hair, combs with less space between each tooth works well. Combs with a spike on one end and very little space between each tooth are great for running alongside a flat-iron for super-sleek hair, or for sectioning hair before a blowout. Our editors recommend love the cult-fave Tangle Teaser to detangle curls in the shower. Not only is it designed to be gentle on knots for less breakage, it’s perfect for evenly-distributing conditioner too! "This is the only brush that can detangle my thick hair and dense curls," says GH Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich.
Again, the brush glided right through from the roots to the ends without tugging, even when there were tiny knots at my ends. How you work combs through your hair is equally as important as what type of comb you use, according to our experts. For instance, “it's more effective to work with smaller sections, which allows you to maintain better control, preventing tangles and the need for excessive force when using the comb,” says Trygstad. Caring for your hair properly is just as important as the brush you choose, says Ashley.
After shampooing, I apply a deep conditioner (see the best deep conditioners for natural hair here) to my hair and detangle it in sections with the UNbrush. It literally smoothes out all of my tangles in one brush stroke and has cut down detangling into a fraction of the time. My curls are more separated and defined after using the brush, and I have less hair fall-out while detangling.
While Mason Pearson is best known for its brushes, Komori also points to its comb, which you can use on wet or dry hair, as a great option for coarser hair types. “The comb is extra-wide toothed, and designed to easily comb through thick or curly hair,” she says. The teeth have rounded tips, and the cellulose plastic offers durability, according to the brand. The brush’s lightweight design and non-slip handle also make it easy to grasp while blow-drying, even if your hands are covered in slippery product residue.
Go for a wide-tooth comb, which can help clump your curls while lightly detangling them. Trying to work through tangles quickly before braiding, twisting, or showering? This paddle brush is the ultimate MVP when it comes to creating sleek styles on curly hair, whether you’re smoothing your hair back into a high ponytail or blowing it straight before a protective hairstyle. The Wet Brush, a GH editor favorite, is designed with flexible bristles that won't pull on strands. In our Beauty Lab review, testers found that it easily tames tangles and unknots wet hair in a breeze. "To detangle wet hair after a shower, choose a brush with widely-spaced, synthetic bristles for gentle brushing," notes Chiara Butler, GH Beauty Lab Analyst.
