Finding one of the best hair brushes for your specific needs may seem easy, but with so many different options available for fine, thick, and coily hair, locking down a tried-and-true favorite can quickly turn into a beauty challenge. When it comes to looking for the right hair brush—whether that's to detangle knots or smooth through a sleek blowout—there are a number of factors to keep in mind.
"A good-quality hair brush can help you achieve the look you want or address a specific concern," Anna Kimble, director of events and education at Drybar, tells BAZAAR.com. "To achieve a bouncy blowout, look for a round brush with a ceramic barrel, and for detangling, a brush with flexible yet sturdy nylon bristles that can easily glide through hair is usually best."
Although it may be tempting to whip through tangles or keep your hair as neat as possible, professionals say there is such a thing as over-brushing it. "Brushing your hair offers great stimulation for your scalp, which leads to more hair growth," hairstylist and Ouidad brand ambassador Irinel de León explains. "However, over-brushing can cause damage as it can lift the cuticle and eventually cause dullness in the hair's appearance," she adds. "Only brush enough so your hair is untangled and smooth."
To provide the right haircare tools to get you through wash day and beyond, we’ve rounded up the very best hair brushes that come expert-approved to help keep your hair tangle free.
Pro Detangler, $30.16, Wet Brush
A favorite of stylists, editors, and hair obsessives everywhere, this Wet Brush detangler is gentle on wet and dry hair, no matter the texture. It can also be used on wigs and extensions.
Pros:
On sale
Ergonomic design
Customer review:
"Love it! Makes me want to brush my hair all the time. Works better than anything on my little granddaughter’s hair! She has very fine, very thick, and very curly hair. Mine is fine, straight, and thin. Works like magic for us both!" —Laurel S.
Boar Bristle Hair Brush, $50.55, Beauty by Earth "I always recommend a natural bristle brush for straight hair types," he adds. "The Boar Bristle Hair Brush seamlessly detangles most hair types, and its bristles help evenly distribute the scalp's natural oils through the length of your hair." Pros: Eco-friendly
Bamboo Paddle Hair Brush, $27.12, BFWood
Aloxxi stylist Rocco loves using this brush on himself, since it features a bamboo handle and bristles that help stimulate the scalp and encourage blood flow.
Pros:
On sale
Durable
Customer review:
"I’m so glad I tried this brush! I’ll never go back to any other kind. The wooden pin bristles glide so much easier through my hair. It hardly gets caught up on anything. My hair is waist long, wavy, fine strands, breaks easily, but I have a lot of hair. It’s super thick. I love the straight bristles on this brush. I use dry shampoo and that can cause buildup that is super hard to clean off the bristles with the ball on the end. This is a breeze. So worth it! And my hair even feels smoother, less frizzy." —Adrienne T.
Original Styler 7-Row Brush, $88.76, Denman The Denman brush is another essential for many professional hairstylists, and this one contains seven rows of round-ended pins that are helpful for separating wet hair or defining curls. "My personal go-to is usually a Denman seven-row brush," Corney says. "Denman brushes are among the best detangling brushes for a majority of hair types and textures. They have many styles and sizes to choose from to suit just about anyone's needs." Pros: Anti-static
Handy Bristle Hair Brush for Medium Length Hair, $423.70 Mason Pearson
This culty brush is on the pricey side, but it's still a frequent pick for hairstylists because of its patented cushioning—which conforms to the contours of the scalp—and combination nylon and boar bristles. "If you're willing to splurge a little on a hair brush, I'd say get one from Mason Pearson," Candace Witherspoon, hairstylist and owner of Candace Witherspoon Salon in New York City, says.
"It's a favorite among many professionals, myself included." Celebrity hairstylist Gabrielle Corney agrees, adding, "The best luxe hair brushes available are made by Mason Pearson, hands down."
Pros: Has cushioning that conforms to scalp contours
Cons: Not Vegan
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9-Row Professional Styling Brush, $12.81, Diane
For a more affordable brush option, Corney counts Diane by Fromm's nine-row hair brush as one of her most consistent go-tos to use on clients.
Pros:
On sale
Under $10
Customer review:
"I love this brush, it's so affordable and works really well to detangle my 3A hair. I wouldn't bother spending an arm and leg on the brand name tools when this works just as well. It's also easy to clean and of really great quality, in my opinion." —Naila
The Brush No. 001, Crown Affair
This popular dual-bristle brush from Crown Affair is made by hand in Italy and uses a combination of long and short bristles to deliver natural oils evenly through your hair.
Pros: Contains alternating bristle lengths
Customer review:
"I didn’t think a hair brush would make any difference in my hair, until now! Mine is super thin, oily, and bleached; I wake up with it looking flat and dull. [Crown Affair's] brush brings it back to life—it makes my hair so soft and voluminous. I just love it!! It also feels really nice on my scalp." —Kelly
Shower Brush, $29.49, Pattern Beauty
This shower-ready brush from Pattern Beauty is a wash day detangling staple for curly and textured hair types (including this writer's). It features flexible silicone bristles that work with your hair to loosen knots with minimal snags and has a removable middle pad that makes cleaning it a breeze.
Pros: Easy to clean
Naturally Curly Detangling Brush, $24.72, Tangle Teezer
To help smooth her curls in the shower, de Léon personally uses this Tangle Teezer hair brush, since, she says, it's soft enough to detangle them without compromising the hair's integrity or contributing to breakage.
Pros: Gentle on wet hair
Customer review:
"I finally decided to get a Tangle Teezer and I wish I had sooner. I use it on my daughter's hair. It not only does it detangle quickly, but it also smooths her hair without any pain. Best wet brush I've ever used hands down. Better than the Denman Brush." —Ty
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Professional Medium Round Hair Brush, $12.08, Conair
Here's a best-selling brush from Conair (one of Rocco's preferred hair brush brands) that's ideal for blow-drying and contains ball-tipped bristles that won't snag as you work it through. As an added bonus, you can snag a three-pack of this coveted brush on sale right now.
Pros: Adds body and fullness to hair
Customer review:
"I’ve been having a hard time finding a hair brush that doesn’t dig into my scalp and hurt me. This one is perfect! No scalp pain and no tangled hair. Very happy with it." —M.R. M.
3-in-1 Detail Brush, Ouidad "Ouidad's 3-in-1 Detail Brush is a great multifunctional tool that lets you add extra details and finishing touches while laying down unruly edges and baby hairs," de Léon adds. Pros: Features three options for hairstyling
Agave Bristle Brush, around $104, Prose Prose offers a customizable approach to its beauty offerings, basing product suggestions on the results of a short quiz. This Agave Bristle Brush is the best option for detangling fine hair and mimics the feel of a classic boar brush using a blend of agave fiber and nylon bristles. Pros: Vegan
Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hair Brush, $77.02, Olivia Garden
When creating straight styles with heat, Rocco suggests using a round ceramic ion or tourmaline ion option like this ventilated Ulta shopper favorite.
Pros: Ergonomic
Customer review:
"This brush glided through my wet hair like butter, and gave me the fastest, softest self blow dry ever. Completely helped tame my frizz; it looked like it had almost been flat ironed. I'm actually looking forward to using my blow dryer now." —Lisa
Edge Tool, $22.31, Pattern Beauty
And speaking of Pattern Beauty, this slender, dual-sided tool from the brand features a comb and stiff-bristle brush to help sculpt your baby hair. "The Edge Tool by Pattern Beauty is amazing," Witherspoon says. "It's an excellent two-in-one tool: great for slicking down edges and baby hair with its brush end, but its rattail comb side also comes in handy when executing a clean part."
Pros: Features a dual-brush design
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Petite Brush, Yves Durif Here's a handbag-ready brush featuring a glue-free design that's ideal for midday hair touch-ups, and even comes with its own velour pouch. Pros: Works on wet or dry hair
The Professional Detangler, around $86, Behairful
And to brush and smooth out dry hair—including tighter curls and coils—in just a few strokes, Witherspoon loves using indie beauty brand Behairful's Professional Detangler.
Pros: Smoothes tight coils and curls
Customer review:
"I love this brush! It has truly made my curls find their happy place! I only started on my curly journey about four months ago and have bought six different brushes—this one wins!" —Adina N.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for when choosing a hair brush?
When choosing a hair brush, look for one that meets the needs of your hair type, like detangling, shine-boosting, or volume-enhancing. Brushes should be durable and easy to clean , so you don't have to replace them often.
What are some of the most popular kinds of hair brushes, and how are they used when styling?
Round brushes: typically used with a blow dryer to volumize and lift hair at the roots.
Paddle brushes: ideal for smoothing through fine to medium, straight, or straightened hair with minimal snags.
Detail brushes: typically used to smooth edges and shape baby hair.
Detangling brushes: often made of flexible material that's ideal for smoothing knots and tangles in and out of the shower.
What are some benefits of brushing your hair daily?
In addition to keeping tangles at bay, daily hair brushing evenly distributes oil from the scalp to the length of your hair for increased hydration and shine. The process is also a great way to keep your scalp healthy and your hair follicles stimulated.
This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.