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Whatever the length, texture, or style, hair can be a hassle to manage. A good hairbrush can help. We've collected some of our favorites to help you find the right brush for your hair type and lifestyle.

Buying Guide for Hairbrushes Our Picks for the Best Hairbrushes Final Thoughts

Camryn Lang is a freelance writer and copyeditor that has produced a wide variety of content, from breaking news and memorial tributes to web content and fiction novels. While working on her bachelor's degree in English at Texas A&M University, Camryn led writers and editors at the nationally recognized university newspaper, The Battalion. During her free time, she enjoys reading thrillers and fantasy novels and eating desserts. Read more...

Madisen is a freelance creative strategist and copywriter, specializing in beauty, travel, interior design, and food and wine. Her background is in operating the back-end of Amazon Seller Central for brands and on the front-end as a reviewer. This multi-faceted skill set allows her to use her analytical, creative-minded approach to marketing and products. Read more...

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If you’ve ever had a friend recommend a hairbrush only to find that it left your hair dull, weighed down, or frizzy beyond management, you’re probably not buying the right brush for your hair type and routine. We’ve gathered some of the best hairbrushes available for various hair needs and care treatments.

Why buy a new hairbrush? 

Chances are, you’ve already got a brush rumbling around in your drawers, and maybe even more than one. But a hairbrush needs to be suited to your hair type, lifestyle, and beauty routine. Having the right brush can make all the difference, and not all brushes are made equal.

What should you consider in a hairbrush?

What is the difference between a comb and a brush? 

The main difference is in the teeth and grip. Brushes typically use nylon, soft plastic, silicone, or rubber bristles, while combs have hard plastic teeth. Combs can be great detanglers on wet hair and great for teasing hair but can’t replace the volumizing, shaping, and oil-distributing properties of the hairbrush. For years, curly-haired folks were told to only use combs, but through hairstyling wisdom, hairbrush markets now cater to natural and curly hair, so even if you’ve been told hairbrushes aren’t for you, think again.

The wide-set, staggered, nylon-rounded bristles define curls when hair is wet.

Pros: While this type of brush is typically used for blow-drying and styling, its small nylon round-ended bristles make it ideal for detangling and defining curls on wet hair. The curved brush head allows hair to be smoothed down and shaped as the bristles move down. These bristles and the natural rubber pad of the brush fight static, detangle knots, and add volume. The wide-set bristles also make it easy to clean after use. This brush’s unique design will diminish the chances of damaged hair and help you style it along the way. We love this for curly and natural textured heads of hair.

Cons: This brush has a major learning curve, so you will need to watch a few videos to get the hang of it. Additionally, the skinny shaft and top-heavy brush head can tire arms easily, making it difficult to blow-dry through thick hair.

Bottom Line: With the help of a few tutorials, this hairbrush is a must-have for curly-haired folks who want to detangle, define, and shape their manes.

This double-sided boar bristle brush handles thick, textured hair well.

Pros: Boar bristles are phenomenal at smoothing and shaping even the coarsest hair. This double-sided brush offers versatility, with each side at a different bristle hardness, depending on the texture and style needs of your hair, which can vary day to day. Diane’s double-sided hairbrush is made from natural boar hair and reinforced with nylon bristles. Boar bristle brushes are beloved for creating wavy textures and distributing oil from the scalp to the rest of your hair. This is a great buy for most men, but especially men of color with wavy or curly hair.

Cons: This product uses real boar hair, which makes it non-vegan. If this is important to you, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a nylon alternative. The medium-hard bristles aren’t suitable for fine, delicate hair and will cause breakage.

Bottom Line: We love this brush for styling curly and wavy hair of all lengths, and the natural sheen it gives strands is a huge bonus. Goodbye, oily scalp and dry ends!

Ionic ceramic technology quickly and evenly distributes heat to avoid damage.

Pros: Get the volume and bounce of a salon blowout right at home with this round barrel ceramic styling hairbrush. The ceramic barrel with honeycomb vents promotes even heat distribution and venting, which cuts down on drying time and damage to your hair. The bristles are a combination of boar and nylon to add shine, reduce frizz, and keep static down. It also comes with bonus hair clips to make sectioning off your hair easy.

Cons: This brush can be difficult to get the hang of as it is used for blowouts, and you may need some time (and some arm strength) to master holding both it and your hair dryer. You’ll only want to use this when your hair is about 80 to 90% dry, so this brush is not a one-step hair routine.

Bottom Line: If you love the bounce and shine of your salon blowout, this round brush is essential to create one at home. Just be cautious of heat damage and overuse.

Ultra-soft bristles glide through hair to remove tangles on nearly any hair type.

Pros: Specially designed to handle wet hair, this brush works to achieve the gentlest brushing experience possible. The Wet brush features IntelliFlex bristles that softly bend as the hair is brushed through to ensure that there is no pulling or breakage. The bristles’ unique x-shaped grid pattern allows more hair to pass through at a time, which is ideal for textured and thick hair. While it is named Wet Brush, it can be used on dry hair just as easily.

Cons: Because the ends of the bristles are coated in soft plastic, this is not a brush you want to hold under a hair dryer for a sustained period. The heat can warp the bristles and cause damage to both your brush and your hair. Also, the grid pattern makes it difficult to clean hair clumps out of this brush.

Bottom Line: If you or your little one suffers from knots and painful brush-outs, consider adding The Wet Brush to your post-shower routine.

This curved, vented paddle brush is perfect for achieving fast at-home blowouts.

Pros: This wide paddle brush is amazing for blow-drying your hair, thanks to its wide vents and curved brush head. The unique rounded brush head allows this brush to comfortably rest against your scalp, giving your blowout maximum volume. The wide-set prongs are also easy to clean hair from and less likely to get caught on knots. You can use it on fully wet, nearly dry, and totally dry hair. It’s also suited to all hair types, from curly to wavy to straight. Most notably, the venting helps hot air escape, which is healthier for hair and cuts down on drying time. It also doesn’t have any padding under the brush head, so moisture won’t accumulate.

Cons: Because it lacks padding and the bristles are made from harder than typical nylon, this brush is rigid. This can be a problem for those with sensitive scalps.

Bottom Line: This is an excellent buy if you’re hoping to cut down on your blow-drying time and want a brush that can detangle, shape, smooth, and style.

It can be challenging to know which brush is right for you and your daily needs, and there’s a good chance you’ll need more than one. But armed with what to look for and knowing what your hair care needs are will help you find the right hairbrush.

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