13 best hair brushes to suit every hair type
Styling your hair without having one of the best hair brushes by your side would be the same as depriving an artist of their tools. Do you think Van Gogh would have done as good a job on those sunflowers without his paintbrushes? Nah, not even close. The same goes for our hair.
If we think of our locks as a work of art (which, we honestly should, they're beautiful), the hair brushes we use can help determine the aesthetic we end up with. So if you're someone who's always been gung ho about your hairbrush and reached for whatever's nearest, it's time to get a lot more tactical. Not all hair brushes are made equal and finding the right match for the style you want to create makes an enormous difference. Really.
Ask the experts and they'll tell you; different hair brushes can have completely different effects on your hair, both in terms of the visual results but also in terms of hair health. Some of the best hair brushes are more gentle to cater to thinning, brittle or fine hair, and others are better suited to coarse and curly hair. Some can help with scalp conditions such as dandruff, and other hair brushes can even stimulate hair growth by increasing circulation on the scalp. Some can add volume at the root, and some can prevent breakage at the ends.
Best hair brushes at a glance
- Best hair brush overall (our top pick): Tangle Teezer Fine & Fragile Detangling Hairbrush, WAS £13 NOW £10.40, LookFantastic
- Best hair brush to prevent breakage: Hershesons The Pro Blow Dry Brush, £35, Hershesons
- Best hair brush to prevent hair loss: Mason Pearson Pure Bristle Pocket Brush, £68, FeelUnique
- Best hair brush for frizzy hair: Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush, WAS £26 NOW £21.10, FeelUnique
To help you decide which hair brush is perfect for you, we decided to create the ultimate guide to brushes for every hair type, including the best hair brush for fine hair, frizzy hair and synthetic hair to keep your locks healthy and help you to achieve the style you desire. From the gloss bun trend for a smart, smooth style, to the big, beautiful and teased-out XXL curls we've seen loads of our hair crushes embracing, a good hair brush can put you in good stead to achieve the hairstyle you want with the greatest of ease.
Whether you're looking for a decent round brush, embracing your natural afro, trying to add some volume to your roots or trying to care for your hair extensions, keep scrolling to find the best brush for you.
Feeling inspired to upgrade your haircare routine? Check out our guides for the best hair dryers, best hairsprays, best hair straighteners, and best curling wands. We can also help you pick the best shampoo, best hair conditioner and best hair mask.
Meet your best hair brush match…
Why we love it: Made of coated tourmaline to reduce drying time and spread heat evenly without damaging your hair, this clever round brush is able to create volume while preventing split ends, minimising hair breakage and providing an effortless blow dry.
Customers are saying: Its flexible bristles are gentle on hair, providing little-to-no breakage. Gets through shoulder-length hair beautifully, though it may not be suitable for short hair.
Why we love it: An all-time favourite and one of the most reliable options out there. The Tangle Teezer features two tiers of unique soft-flex teeth that glide delicately through hair and help tease out any unwanted knots and tangles without tugging, pulling or causing the hair additional stress.
Customers are saying: Combs through knotted hair with minimal pain. Great for fine and brittle hair.
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Why we love it: The real OG of hair brushes. This boar bristle hair brush is best for fine hair, thanks to its five rings of extra stiff bristle tufts that stimulate blood flow to the hair roots. The best part is you can also create a bespoke Mason Pearson brush by choosing from three bristle types including the classic bristle tufts, which are super soft on delicate or thinning hair.
Customers are saying: Leaves hair shiny, perfect for thin hair.
Save when you shop for the best hair brushes with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Why we love it: Say goodbye to frizz once and for all. The long bristles mean this brush is able to smooth and straighten frizzy hair with the greatest of ease. Brush through as you blow dry for the best results. It's equally great for scalp treatments and detangling hair, since this professional brush features extended bristles that stimulate and massage your head.
Customers are saying: Really lightweight, detangles frizz very easily.
Save when you shop for the best hair brushes with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Why we love it: Tangle Teezer has done it again. This expert brush has 325 perfectly placed bristles that are able to comb through thick hair to tease out tangles without pulling or breakage. This makes it ideal for thick hair, especially if you're looking to detangle your hair in the shower and distribute conditioner and treatments as evenly as possible.
Customers are saying: Bristles glide gently through thick hair. Best used at an angle when detangling.
Save when you shop for the best hair brushes with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Why we love it: Backcombing addicts rejoice; this nifty little styler brush is great at adding instant volume to your roots, and for smoothing down flyaways afterwards. It's gentle on damaged hair and even has a pointed end to help section off your hair easier and neater than having to use your fingers.
Customers are saying: Great for backcombing without further damaging hair.
Enjoy up to 80% when you shop for the best hair brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Why we love it: The Wet Brush Pro Detangler features tiny, rounded balls at the end of each bristle that stimulate the scalp and help minimise painful tearing or breaking the strands. Its ergonomic rubberised handle also gives you ultimate grip that's incredibly useful for when you're tacking especially tangled hair. Safe for use on either wet or dry hair.
Customers are saying: Great for matted and knotted hair, makes detangling easy and painless.
Enjoy up to 80% when you shop for the best hair brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Why we love it: Want to become your own at-home hairstylist? Well with this, blow drying and styling mid-to-long hair has never felt easier. Perfect for achieving a smooth and sleek finish for your blowout, the bristles glide effortlessly through your hair to rid you of annoying knots and tangles. It's also both heat and static-resistant, making it ideal for pairing with your favourite hair dryer.
Customers are saying: Great quality, gets through thick hair in no time. Slightly big size, but lightweight, making it easy to use while holding a blow dryer.
Enjoy up to 80% when you shop for the best hair brushes with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Why we love it: Ever seen a boar bristle hair brush without… boar bristles? This vegan and cruelty-free alternative is great for detangling and brushing through fine hair, paving the way to a high-shine finish without damaging any strands. It also has ballpoint tips that perform a satisfying scalp massage to stimulate bloodflow and invigorate your roots. Handy.
Customers are saying: Gentle on the scalp, doesn’t snag the hair and leaves it feeling smooth and sleek.
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Why we love it: Charlotte's 26 years of expertise in styling and treating afro hair means that her specially-designed paddle brush is perfectly crafted to cater for curly and coiled hair. The brush is gentle on the scalp yet firm on tangles, leaving hair lustrous and healthy. It's also heat resistant and great for shaping and preventing split ends.
Customers are saying: Decreased split ends, feels really nice on the scalp.
Why we love it: This large styling hair brush is ideal for long, thick and curly hair, thanks to its nine rows of smooth, round-ended nylon pins. It's also incredibly hygienic and durable and has an anti-static rubber pad that provides maximum grip and control when blow drying.
Customers are saying: Absolutely gorgeous for curls. Super comfortable to use, feels strong and is of great quality.
Save up to 50% off when you shop for the best hair brushes with these Boots discount codes.
Why we love it: You've heard of the Dyson Airwrap, but have you seen this detangling comb? This is one of the best wide-tooth combs available, perfect for detangling and lengthening all hair types and combing in leave-in conditioners or other hair products, particularly when used on wet hair just before styling. It's heat-resistant up to 150˚C and is engineered with wide, polished teeth to glide easily through wet hair.
Customers are saying: Combs easily through thick, curly hair when wet. Perfect if you want to detangle wet hair and reduce drying time after swimming or a shower.
Save when you shop for the best hair brushes with these John Lewis discount codes.
Why we love it: Whether you have extensions, a wig or a weave, this brush is the best for maintaining your 'do. The looped bristles are gentle to strands and ensure zero tugging or catching. The best part? It has an ergonomically designed handle that provides a comfortable grip when styling.
Customers are saying: Works well with hair extensions and can be used for normal hair. Gently gets rid of any knots.
All the greasy hair hacks you could ever need.
Which hair brush is right for you?
Finding the right hair brush for your needs and personal preference isn't the easiest of tasks, especially considering the sheer number of options available. Ultimately, the choice comes down to the type of hair you have and how you style it.
For example, detangler brushes such as the Tangle Teezer The Original Fine and Fragile and the Wet Brush Pro Detangler are both suitable for all hair types and can generally be used on either wet and dry hair to painlessly brush out knotted hair.
Boar bristle hair brushes have a unique ability to redistribute your hair's natural oils, which can help enhance hair health and create smoother locks. There are some good vegan alternatives available too, like the Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush, which replaces the natural bristles with synthetic fibres to achieve a similar look and feel to boar bristle.
There's also more specialised hair brushes that serve specific purposes, including the ghd Narrow Dressing Brush, which is perfect for detailed dressing, finishing and backcombing as well as styling baby hair.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
