Beauty experts and editors tested dozens of hairbrushes -These 11 came out on top
A hair brush is like the trusty old hair straightener you’ve had since college. You’re never really on the hunt for a new one unless your old one breaks, and then, you never know you needed a new one until you get one. But, news flash—like hair masks or anti-humidity hair products, they have a way bigger impact on your hair than you might have thought, and there’s a different brush for every hair type and texture. From boar bristle brushes to paddle brushes, there's something out there for every hair type ranging from thick to thin and coily to stick straight
Best Hair Brushes
How to find the right brush for your needs and preferences, you may ask? Don't worry, we took that into our own hands. The editors at Women's Health, along with three different hair experts, have tested and used more hairbrushes than we can even count. So, we got together and compiled a list of our 20 favorite brushes and got to re-testing all of them. After months of using all the brushes, we compiled a list of the absolute best 11 for all hair types. Keep reading to learn how we tested them, what to consider when shopping, and, of course, to discover our final list of favorites.
What to consider
Hair type/ bristle type
Yes, different hair types need specific brushes tailored to their unique preferences. Some brushes are perfect for styling, while others are great at defining curls or creating a salon-quality blowout at home. “Each brush has a different purpose,” says Krysta Swangnete, hairstylist and owner of The Green Room in Tampa. “Take into account your natural hair texture, what end goal you’re trying to achieve, and the integrity of your hair when using specific brushes on wet or dry hair.”
Let’s break down the best brush options for each hair type. If you have thin or fine hair, a boar bristle brush is ideal—it’s gentle and detangles without pulling. For thick, long, or frizzy hair, a paddle brush is your go-to. Its larger surface area makes detangling more efficient. Aiming for a voluminous, sleek blowout at home? A round brush is your best bet; you'll find options like boar, nylon, and ceramic round brushes detailed below. Curly hair benefits from a nylon bristle brush, which separates curls without adding frizz. Finally, if you struggle with tangles, a detangling brush is essential to prevent damage, whether your hair is wet or dry.
Wet or dry
And, speaking of wet or dry, you want to make sure that you're using the appropriate brush depending on how damp your hair is. If you have wet hair, you might want to try something that easily glides through your hair, like a brush with nylon bristles (hi, Wet Brush). Unless you're slicking back your hair and want that super sleek look, we don't recommend using a boar bristle brush on wet hair, as the bristles are very dense and don't separate the strands. These types of brushes can also cause irritation to the scalp when wet.
How we chose
Women’s Health editors, including associate fashion and commerce editor Lily Wohlner, assistant love and life editor Addison Aloian, senior beauty editor Danielle Jackson, and beauty director Brian Underwood tested 20 different hair brushes to solidify a list of the absolute best 11 options. They also sought the opinions of three hair care experts, who helped narrow down the list and specify what to look for when shopping for a brush. They tested these brushes for detangling, smoothing, use on wet or dry hair, and gentleness on the scalp. They also made sure to keep all hair textures and types in mind during testing. After a few months of putting the brushes to the test, the team narrowed down their favorite picks, all which suit a wide range of hair care needs and preferences.
Ahead, check out the most highly-recommended hair brushes to prevent damage and promote hair health and growth in every hair type, according to stylists and WH editors.
Original Detangler
We tested 20 hair brushes, and out of every one we tried, the classic Wet Brush Original Detangler came out on top as our best overall pick. Why? It works on all (yes, all) hair types and textures to detangle and smooth the hair, either wet or dry.
This brush is loved by Jennifer Korab, New Jersey-based celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon & Spa and Revival Barber Shop. "I love that I can use it on any hair type and textures," she says. "The silicone bristles are flexible enough to get through tough knots." She prefers using this brush on wet hair, although it can be used on dry hair without pulling or snagging.
WH beauty director Brian Underwood adds that this is also his all-time favorite hair brush. "As the father of an eight-year-old girl with shoulder-length curly hair, I know a thing or two about detangling brushes—I've tried them all," he says. "I can honestly say that this one is probably the best one I've ever used." Why? He says the bristles are firm but flexible so they don't pull or tug, and he rarely breaks his daughter's hair when he's using this one. Plus, the grip of the handle gives you lots of control, too, which makes everything so much easier. He also tells me that he appreciates the tiny balls at the end of each bristle, which gently massage the scalp to make the experience all the more comfortable. Underwood typically detangles when his daughter's hair is wet, but the tiny balls make it possible to do it dry as well, which is a huge help when he's in a bit of a rush and doesn't feel like spritzing her hair down, detangling, and then waiting for it to dry.
"But aside from detangling, I also find this to be a great general styling brush," he says, adding that whenever he brushes her hair up into a ponytail or bun, the bristles capture most hairs for a sleek, clean look.
Our one note on this brush? It's not the most durable option on this list. We found that the bristles have a higher tendency to break or crack off than other options.
Read More: Best Hair Brushes For Fine Hair
Detangler Wet Hair Brush
Similar to the Wet Brush, the Tangle Teezer (it's one of Swangnete's faves) detangles and can be used on either wet or dry hair. However, we prefer it for post-shower use as it gets knots out in an instant. Where it differs from the wet brush, though, is with its bristles. "They're a little rougher than a standard round brush or Wet Brush," says Swangnete. But, this can be a good thing, as rougher bristles get out knots super quickly and actually clean and exfoliate the scalp.
Our tester, WH senior beauty editor Danielle Jackson, has very thick, kinky hair, so detangling can be a real struggle for her if she's lacking a good tool to do it with. "This brush is so easy on my hair—the bristles are soft enough to move with my hair as I pass it through my strands, so I never feel like I’m breaking my hair or being too rough when I detangle," she says. Jackson tells me that it also gets the job done better than most of the other brushes she's used, so it’s regularly in her rotation.
Pro tip: I keep this brush in my shower, as I like to use it to brush my shampoo and conditioner through my hair. It's my little secret for the smoothest strands ever.
We found that this brush doesn't have much grip power on thinner, finer hair, so be aware of that before buying. If you want something suitable for less hair, we like the Dyson Paddle Brush as it picks up every strand. Another thing to note: This brush is made out of plastic, so make sure to keep it away from heat.
D3 Original Styler 7 Row
Editorial hairstylist Jamie Wiley says the Denman brush works great for curly and coily hair, especially if it's wet. "I also love using a Denman brush at the root to create volume," adds Korab. For a silky smooth finish, people love this brush. It's easy to use and detangles hair seamlessly.
So, why is this brush suitable for coily hair? It has seven rows of sculpted, round-ended nylon pins, which give the hair a softer, denser, feel. These bristles also increase movement throughout the hair, defining your curls. After testing the brush, we also love that said pins reduce dragging on the hair, so you never have to worry about pulling.
For perfectly defined curls, we suggest using this brush with a gentle twist of the wrist to create spiral-like curls. The brand's website also recommends using the brush like you would scissors on a ribbon. But, if you just want a good brush-out, you can use it like a normal brush, too.
One note: We found that the handle of this brush is super short, which makes it hard to hold and twist if you have longer hair.
Hair Brush
Okay, so, yes—this one's a bit pricey. But, it's totally worth the $$$, according to Swangnete. "It gently detangles and helps to evenly distribute one’s natural oils from the scalp to the end of the hair shaft," She says. This process can help with hair growth on all different types of scalps.
We love that this brush combines boar bristles with nylon tufts. The nylon tufts are slightly longer and firmer, allowing them to penetrate the hair for gentle detangling, while the boar bristles smooth the hair cuticle, enhancing its natural shine. And let me tell you: Running this brush through your hair feels like pure luxury.
And, for the price, you best bet that this brush is durable. We found that the bristles are super strong and hair is super easy to clean out and discard. In our experience, we never noticed any buildup or deterioration after months of use. And that's because this brush comes with a mini cleaning brush, which clears the debris off your tool and keeps it super clean. It also comes with in-depth cleaning instructions to care for your tool.
Ceramic Round Brush
In our humble opinion, everyone needs a ceramic round brush in their lives. What's the difference between a ceramic or a bristle brush, you may ask? Well, it holds heat faster and longer, so it offers more hold to your look. If you're going for max texture, bounce, or curl, a ceramic option is for you. Ceramic also enhances drying time, boosts shine, and encourages even heat distribution.
This brush is also one of the most lightweight options on this list, which makes holding it above your head for extended periods of time so much easier. During testing we also noticed that the bristles grip onto the hair very easily, making it easy to hold the hair during your at-home blowout. Pro tip: After a few passes with your blow dryer, leave the brush curled in your hair like shown in the picture. When you remove it, you'll be left with the bounciest blowout ever—trust!
Our only concern? The bristles can tug on the hair a bit during a blowout, which might cause some breakage. To avoid this, apply a generous amount of styling cream and heat protectant beforehand to help the brush glide through the hair.
Edge Tool
"My baby hairs are pretty thin, so I’m picky about the types of brushes I use on them," says Jackson. But, the Pattern Edge Tool absolutely wowed her, and she's never gone back. "I was pretty at ease about using this one because the bristles are pretty soft, so I didn’t have to worry about it being too rough on my scalp or hair," she says. Another pro? She likes the fact that it has a pointed tail (but it’s not too sharp!) that makes it easy to part her hair in sections when needed.
The brush end of this tool can be used in many ways, as it's double-sided. You can use the head to comb, brush, or swirl your baby hairs into the style you love, lay your edges down, and tame flyaways.
Some testers notice that this brush isn't the most durable of the bunch, as the bristles tend to fall out pretty easily. This knocked it down a few points on our list.
UNbrush
The Fhi Unbrush is a cult-favorite for a reason—that reason being it extracts knots and tangles from even the most unruly hair without any pain. And DW, it doesn't pull or tug at the hair, reducing breakage with each use. Whether you're fresh out of the shower or going on third-day hair, you can use this brush whenever you need to work out some kinks.
Our tester, Jackson, also loves that this brush is totally travel-friendly as it can fit in your carry-on or even a makeup pouch. Plus, it's easy to clean thanks to the vented cushion, which lets you remove hair from behind the brush instead of digging through the bristles. And get this: "The backless design is actually meant to reduce styling time by allowing more airflow," she says. Yup, it can be used with any of your favorite hair tools, too.
At first glance, the lightweight, airy design of this brush might make you question its quality, but trust us when we tell you that the performance of this brush is top-notch. However, because it's plastic, there's always room for the bristles breaking if you pull too hard on the hair.
Read More: Our In-Depth FHI Brush Review
Medium Round Hairbrush
We talked about a ceramic round brush earlier, but this boar round brush option serves a totally different purpose. Unlike ceramic, boar never nags or tugs on the hair, so if you have sensitive strands, this is the brush for you. Because it's so dense, it also distributes oil from the scalp through the rest of the hair shaft, which results in a very shiny 'do. After testing this brush, we found that we had very little frizz (yay!).
We love that the handle has ridges for easier hold on the brush. And, the handle is also super long, making it easy for us to hold during long styling sessions.
Our one drawback with this brush is that, unlike the Moroccanoil option, it doesn’t hold our hairstyle as long since it doesn’t get as hot as ceramic.
Paddle Brush
Paddle brushes are excellent for creating straight styles with a blow dryer and are also great for quick comb-throughs on wet or dry hair. This Dyson option works well for all of the above. It features a weighted handle for balance, air-cushion suspension for scalp comfort (that soft, smooth feel behind the bristles), and an anodized finish for durability.
While this brush isn’t specifically designed for tangled hair, we tested it on knots after a bike ride, and it detangled them with ease. Plus, like many brushes on this list, it's super lightweight and easy to hold, making it less of a chore to use (!!).
We also paired this brush with our Dyson Blowdryer, as it's heat-resistant up to 302 degrees. Although it didn’t feel entirely natural using a paddle brush with a hair dryer at first, after a few tries, we got the hang of it and achieved a sleek, straight look.
Double-Sided Bristle Brush
Introducing the invention you never knew you needed: The Pattern Beauty Double-Sided Bristle Brush. It has stiff nylon bristles on one side that polish flyaways and stiff boar bristles on the other that are great for using with gel to slick tighter styles. You would think a double-sided brush like this one would be on the heavier side, but after testing we actually felt that it was super lightweight and easy to use.
Unlike many of the other brushes on this list, this tool is not meant to detangle or comb through the hair. Rather, it's meant to lock and smooth hairstyles in place like a slicked back bun or even a low ponytail.
After trying this brush, we found that it reaches deep to the root of our hair, effectively slicking back the entire strand. Unlike other styling brushes that only glide over the surface and require multiple strokes to get to the scalp, this one works perfectly in a single pass. However, because this brush is so dense and strong, it can hurt our strands a bit when used with a lot of pressure.
Read More: Best Anti-Humidity Hair Products
Velvet Touch Large V Bristle Nylon Round Brush
One of the most affordable brushes on this list comes from one of our favorite hair care brands: Conair. We actually tested a bunch of brushes from the brand, and decided that this one is our favorite. Let me tell you why: Unlike the other round brushes on this list, the brush has V-shaped bristles, which offers better air circulation from the tool to the hair, resulting in less frizz. We also appreciate the ball tips, which prevent snagging or pulling during use.
Like the other brushes, the round barrel offers a voluminous look that lasts. But what this brush has that other round options don't is nylon bristles. This material is great because it glides right through tangles. However, since nylon is made from plastic, you should use extra caution when applying direct heat.
Meet the experts
Krysta Swangnete is a hairstylist and owner of The Green Room in Tampa.
Jennifer Korab is a New Jersey-based celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon & Spa and Revival Barber Shop.
Jamie Wiley is an editorial hairstylist.
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