Anyone who has walked down the beauty product aisle knows that there is a staggering amount of hair brushes to choose from. Large mixed bristle brushes, extension brushes, detangling brushes—the list could go on and on. Most people choose the first brush that they see which they think will do the job, but you could be doing your hair a serious disservice by doing this.
Taking the time to understand the main types of hair brushes will help you choose the best one for your hair type, giving you healthier and better-looking hair. With the right brush, you may even find that you don’t need to use your heat products as much (if at all).
When You Want Volume
Those who are looking to increase the volume of their hair should stick to round brushes. Round brushes come in many different sizes depending on how tight you want your curls. Choose a smaller round brush for tight curls and a large round brush for enviable waves.
Get frizz-free volume with this round brush from Nexxus. The bristles are short enough so that you can achieve lift at the crown of your head, but also long enough to easily catch and hold your hair as you style it.
If you have thin or normal hair, the Spornette Prego Round Styling Brush should be your go-to for volume. This brush is not only lightweight, but it also has a ceramic barrel that quickly heats up to give you a perfect style every time.
Achieving volume is super easy with this hair brush. The boar and nylon bristles are designed in a concave pattern that give you ultimate styling control and picks up more hair than other round brushes. Designed by celebrity stylist Harry Josh, this brush is sure to give you bigger hair in no time.
For Thick or Coarse Hair
If you have thick or coarse hair, you probably know the struggle that can come with choosing the right hair brush. Thick hair types need a brush with wide-spaced bristles that will be able to work through all that hair without being too rough. For thick or coarse hair, these brushes may be your new best friends:
Paddle Brush
This hair brush contains a mixture of boar and nylon bristles that is ideal for thick hair types. It will help brush through thick hair while gently massaging the scalp. In addition, the paddle brush style is great for long hair because it works the hair’s natural oils throughout your strands.
A hair brush that contains 100 percent boar bristles can be a little pricey, but they also offer benefits that synthetic hair brushes can’t give you. This hair brush from Mason Pearson has premium grade boar bristles and is built to last. It massages the scalp with each stroke, helping to promote blood circulation for healthier locks.
These brushes are sometimes referred to as ion brushes because they are made from tourmaline, which releases negative ions. These ions can give you smooth hair that is static-free. This round brush from Solano has a gel grip for comfort while you work through your thick mane.
Styling Layers and Bangs
Styling layers and bangs can be difficult, but certain brushes can make things easier. Whether you have blunt or side-swept bangs, it is best to stay away from round brushes and stick with paddle brushes or combs instead:
This comb is ideal for styling bangs or separating hair while flat ironing. The smaller teeth of the comb are able to grab the foot better in order to create more tension.
A teasing brush is excellent for styling bangs or layers because it can separate strands easily, giving you the control that you need for small sections of hair.
Everyone needs to have a paddle brush in their arsenal because they can be used for a variety of purposes. This paddle brush can expertly style your bangs and smooth stray hairs back into place.
A Smooth Blowout
While you could go to a salon for a beautiful blowout, you can achieve similar results on your own with a certain type of hair brush. Both paddle brushes and round brushes are popular choices if your goal is to get sleek and shiny hair, although round brushes tend to give you more control over hair tension (which is helpful to getting smooth strands).
This lightweight round brush helps reduce frizz through the nanoionic technology in the barrel. The ceramic barrel heats up as you blow-dry your hair, which helps give your hair volume and creates a smooth texture from your roots to your ends.
If your hair blow-dries fairly straight on its own, a ceramic paddle brush could work well for you. The ionic bristles in this brush help repel water and speed up your drying time, while the ceramic protects hair from heat damage. The flat shape of the brush is perfect for achieving sleek and shiny hair.
Yes, this brush may be on the pricier side, but it can’t be beat when it comes to achieving a salon-worthy blowout. The first-cut boar bristles are densely packed in order to cut down on drying time, and the brush is designed to glide gently through hair without snagging your strands. Its large barrel makes it the perfect blowout brush for those with longer hair.
For Hair That Takes Forever to Dry
Do you ever wish that you could speed up your hair drying time? It turns out that the right hair brush can save you some time and may help prevent damage to your hair:
BrushLab
Cut back heat damage with this thermal round curling brush by BrushLab. Its ceramic barrel and nylon bristles reduce drying time and also help keep heat at an even level so that it doesn’t damage your hair as much.
This hair brush works for all hair types and has a ceramic barrel and ionic bristles to emit negative ions, sealing your hair’s cuticles and promoting sleek and healthy hair. These brushes also come in different sizes for a variety of hair lengths.
The Quick Dry Brush has a contoured shape designed to hug the scalp and has IntelliFlex bristles that will resist heat of up to 450 degrees. This brush also has an open vented design that allows heat to pass through and channel it to the hair for perfect styling as you blow dry.
For Extra Shine
Restore the shine in your hair by choosing hair brushes that are designed to work your hair’s natural oils throughout your hair. Natural fiber bristle brushes are the best choice for achieving ultimate shine in your hair:
The Ibiza EX5 Round Brush is ideal for those who have longer hair and want soft, shiny curls or big volume. The natural boar bristle with a unique carbon fiber heat resistant nylon will give your hair long-lasting shine.
This brush has a comfortable oval shaped cushion with 100 percent natural premium cut boar bristles that will evenly distribute your hair’s oils to give it a glossy look. It also works well as a finishing brush.
Those with very fine hair that want to give it shine should consider this brush by Bass Brushes. The brush uses 100 percent boar’s hair for the bristles, and its unique semi oval design is effective at massaging and exfoliating the scalp.
Detangling Your Hair
Whether it’s wet or dry, detangling knots can be hard on our hair. This is why it is important that you have the right hair brush so that you don’t break strands and accidentally damage them.
The Tangle Teezer uses uniquely designed teeth to untangle difficult knots without causing breakage or splitting. It can be used on all hair types, including color-treated hair or those with extensions.
This paddle brush is crafted from bamboo, making it lightweight and comfortable to hold. More importantly, it is able to detangle many different hair types, including curly, thick, long, fine, or thin hair.
For ultra-fine hair, the Michel Mercier Detangling Brush should be your go-to detangling hair brush. The unique distribution of bristles is able to detangle fine hair without resulting in hair loss or damage.
Eliminate Static
There is nothing more annoying than running a hair brush through your hair and having it stand on end. Luckily, there are some hair brushes designed to get rid of this problem:
The company worked hard to design a brush that would tackle the problem of static, and it appears to be a success. The carbon-fiber bristles are effective at reducing friction and minimizing static as you blow dry your hair. It also works well with styling products that aim to prevent flyaways and frizz.
This Spornette brush eliminates static buildup by using bristles that are ball-tipped and designed to be gentle on the scalp. It is excellent for drying hair and getting enviable volume without electrifying strands
If you want to create tight curls that are free of frizz and static, the Shine Angel Anti-Static Brush is the tool that you are looking for. The vertical ionic nylon bristles give hair a frizz-free finish, while the real boar bristles give you a glossy finish.
Eco-Friendly Brushes
More people than ever before are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint and take care of the environment. If you are in search of an eco-friendly brush that works, there are plenty of fantastic hair brushes for you to choose from:
This environmentally-smart brush uses 100 percent recycled material and soy-based links. Its natural boar bristles are sheared humanely from farm-raised animals, and the handles are made from non-endangered woods.
Go green with Spornette’s Zhu Bamboo paddle brush, and you won’t regret your decision. The paddle brush is made from bamboo and has nylon ball-tipped bristles that will help condition your scalp.
Being environmentally-friendly has never been easier with this comb from Olivia Garden. This comb is eco-friendly and made from natural bamboo, which helps restore your hair’s balance and gives it shine.
Brushes for Hair Extensions
Hair extensions and wigs can be difficult to work with, and it is important that you use a brush designed specifically to use on them. These hair brushes will help you smooth out your hair without snagging or pulling on your extensions:
This unique nylon loop bristle brush will work through your extension gently so that you don’t break bonds of hair extensions or weaves.
The Wet Brush Extension Brush was created with wigs and extensions in mind. The brush has a rubberized non-slip grip for a secure hold and has soft looped brush bristles that were designed to pass easily through hair extensions.
The EPIC extension brush has a tapered head that allows you to work between layers and get closer to your hair’s roots. The IntelliLoop bristles makes hair pass easily though tangles without snagging weaves, extensions, or wefts.
Why the Type of Hair Brush You Use Matters
Choosing the right hair brush for your hair may be more important than you think. Using a hair brush that isn’t designed with your hair type in mind could damage your hair and make it look unhealthy. Paddle brushes are great for nearly every hair type, but it is crucial that you make sure you select the right hair brush so that you have gorgeous and healthy hair.