Where did you get your hair brush? So many of us are guilty at some point or another of just grabbing the cheapest one we find. I, too, was once in the school of thought that a brush is a brush is a brush. I stand corrected and want to spread the wisdom.

We tend to think all brushes do the same thing… detangle your tresses and help you look presentable. It’s not like a flat iron, curling iron, or hair dryer…right? Wrong!

As it turns out, different types of hair brushes are better suited for different types of hair. Some help you command that fresh-from-the-salon blowout while others are ideal for textures.

Even when you’re using all the other right products for your hair, if you’ve got the wrong brush, you’ll never get the kind of results your stylist can pull off for you.

So, how do you pick your perfect hair brush?

It all starts with good bristles. I’ll get into different types of brushes in just a moment, but regardless of the type, steer clear from cheap bristles.

Boar bristles are esteemed among stylists because they’re the best. They’re akin to the structure of our own hair and even have the same type of keratin compound, so they create a gentle, damage-free brushing experience.

But wait, vegans! For you can get the same kind of results from synthetic materials like nylon rather than plastic. The key isn’t just in the quality of the bristles either.

It’s the spacing between them. Proper spacing ensures your hair is totally loved with every stroke of that brush.

And now on to the types of brushes you should seek out for your hair type. Read on!

Paddle brush for fine hair

Big, chunky paddle brushes are ideal for fine and weak hair. They’re very gentle because the bristles are spread further apart.

This keeps from causing too much tension when you’re detangling and won’t wreak havoc on your scalp. It’s also good for smoothing and keeping static away.

A gentle detangling brush for curly hair

Curly-haired girls are often scared of brushing because the wrong brush will give you a pile of frizz on your head. But you’ve got to detangle those curls too.

A gentle detangling brush will help and is really a huge necessity. Your hair structure keeps the natural oils from your scalp from gliding down the hair shaft on their own, so you wind up with dry hair.

Brushing with the right brush will help smooth these oils along your strands to keep it looking shiny and fresh. The key is doing so when your hair is dry. Soft bristles are best for your hair too!

Wide paddle brush for afro hair

Afro hair does best with wider versions. For combing, a wide-tooth comb is great when your hair is wet. But because your hair type needs extra love, don’t forget to use good hair oil that softens it to make it easier to comb through. You’ll also want a wide paddle brush so it can massage your scalp and boost healthy hair growth. While your hair texture can be challenging, when you’ve got the right tools in your kit, you’ll be able to take command of your hair and stun everyone with your beauty.

Vented brush for thick hair

Thick hair tends to be both a blessing and a curse. It looks gorgeous, but it can be more time-consuming to style. A vented brush that has large spacing works like a charm to detangle your hair.

Look for top-quality boar bristles (or the synthetic vegan-friendly version of it) in a medium to large size. The longer your thick hair is, the bigger the brush you’re going to need.

The key to thick hair is creating a lot of tension when you’re drying it to smooth it and seal the cuticles flat for shiny, smooth, and glossy hair right off the cover of a magazine.

Why owning the right brush can make all the difference to your hair

Your bestie may swear by her hair brush, but if her hair is of different thickness, texture, and length than yours, it’s probably not a match for you.

The bristles are of utmost importance because they polish, detangle, and help you get the style you want. The quality of your bristles – whether you choose boar or a vegan-friendly top-of-the-line synthetic – must be impeccable.

A higher-priced brush is designed to resist heat. Using something cheap you scored from the dollar bin is a huge no-no. Those brushes can cause more damage. The bristles melt in the heat and can ruin your hair.

And if you have color or chemically-treated hair, it’s time to step up your brush game. Cheap brushes will add more damage to your already taxed hair. Low-quality bristles aren’t adept at polishing your strands. This results in hair that looks blah instead of beautiful.

While it might seem excessive to spend $50 or more on a hair brush, the results will speak for themselves. And that brush will last for years to come, all the while improving the quality of your hair.

I don’t know about your mom, but mine is ALWAYS saying, “You get what you pay for.” She’s right though, and it’s especially true with hair brushes. They’re crafted with better materials, which means they have staying power. In 5 years, they’ll still look like new.

Something else you need to think about too is that these pricier hair brushes are truly best if you want to look like you just left the salon with a blowout.

Tension and a good, firm grip are essential when you choose your new hair brush. That confident grip allows you to really style your hair with complete flawlessness.

Honestly, I’ve done the cheap route on brushes before. I’m a big believer now in investing in the right quality hair brush for your hair.

Once I changed my cheap brush ways, I noticed how much more spectacular my hair started to look. It grew in thicker and healthier, and it had more shine and bounce. It was easier to style too. Trust me, this is so worth it!

So now let’s get into the best hair brushes. I’m going to talk about a few different kinds since we all have different hair and this way, one of these will be a good match for you.

Before I do though, I want to remind you that you should always take good care of your brushes and hair tools. Proper cleaning is essential in the care of your brushes.

They collect lots of buildup from the natural oils in your hair and styling products, along with hair too. By looking after your brushes, you’ll keep them in excellent condition for years to come.

Best brushes to choose from

Check it out! I’ve got the lowdown on 7 of the best hair brushes out there. I’ll give you all the information you need to decide if it’s the right one for you.

1. Mason Pearson brush

The Mason Pearson Handy Mixed Bristle Brush has been manufactured in England since 1885 and is still hand assembled today employing the same traditional, time-honored techniques established by the founder of this famous brush company.

Since each rubber cushion is cut by hand, no two brushes are exactly alike. The production of the brush is a work of art.

Mason Pearson uses hand cut rubber to give a perfect finish, with each component being crafted by hand.

The bristles are also carefully graded before sewing into the cushion pad to enable the best possible distribution of pressure as your brush strokes move through your hair.

Mason Pearson Handy Mixed Bristle Brush is a total all-rounder and will leave your hair looking fantastic.

This piece of hair heaven can be used on any type of hair, including fragile or relaxed hair. Those with fine hair can use it for daily brushing while those with thick, curly hair can use it to detangle and smooth out any knots.

The classic Mixed Bristle brush also helps stimulate the scalp, giving your hair a healthy shine.

This brush is made from the finest natural rubber that’s resilient to heat and humidity, so it can be used even by those who style their hair frequently with heated tools.

With a good, sturdy-handled brush like this, you won’t have to wash your hair as often.

Thick and long hair is often so hard to handle in the shower, and by keeping it smoothed and pampered, you’ll find it looks too good to wash every day. It’s no wonder this hair brush has been held in such high esteem for well over a century. 

With Mason Pearson you’ll see why this is the go-to brand for many hairstylists, salons and models around the world.

Stop wasting money at the salon – get yourself a Mason Pearson Handy Mixed Bristle Brush and you’ll never look back.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Superb quality with sturdy handle
• Pure boar bristles and nylon bristles of top quality
• No harming of animals during the production
• Softens and smooths hair
• Boosts hair volume and scalp health
• Decreases static and split ends

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly
• Big-budget.

2. Kent OS11 Dual Timber Club

If you travel often or you’re the kind of gal that takes her brush EVERYWHERE, you’ll want this one with you. It’s designed to fit right in the palm of your hand.

Made with pure white boar hair, it grooms gracefully. Men will also find this a superb choice, one that can also be used on your skin to prevent ingrown hairs and increase circulation.

It’s nice that you can use it for versatile reasons, though for your scalp, it also boasts the ability to gather and smooth oils through your hair and gently exfoliate to promote hair growth.

If you have a shorter ‘do, this brush will work wonders. It’s a little pricey though, and if you’re trying to get your hair into a particular style, you’ll be better suited to something else.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Pure white boar hair bristles
• Very stable yet soft to the touch
• Great for skin and hair
• Distributes oil along the hair shaft and stimulates healthy circulation in the scalp
• Ideal for short hair or for men

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly
• Not ideal for styling

3. Redecker Wild Boar Bristle Hairbrush

Now for a brush that would work for pretty much everyone. Whether you have thick or thin hair or coarse or fine hair types, the natural boar bristles will give your tresses the love and affection they deserve.

They’re soft enough to give a gentle yet effective brushing with 8 rows meant for long-term, lasting use.

Made with a handsome natural waxed beechwood and cattle horn, every brush looks slightly different from the other.

It’s really a pretty brush! The contoured handle makes it easy to get a good grip. German-engineered by Bürstenhaus Redecker since 1935, it leaves all hair types with beautiful tresses.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Unique look to each brush from cattle horn and beechwood handle
• Natural boar bristles in 8 rows
• Durable and long-lasting
• Ideal for all different hair types
• Leaves hair soft and manageable

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly

4. ACCA KAPPA extension brush

If you have hair extensions or very thick and full hair, this hair brush might suit you well. It features boar bristles plus nylon pins that are double the length to detangle even curly hair and get it to behave right from the roots, even for hair extension bonds.

Have a kid that screams when you brush her hair? You might want to get an extra one for her too. The flat and wide shape makes handling long hair a breeze, taking little effort to coax it into smooth and straight styles. If you have layered hair, the oval version will be a better option.  

The nylon pins are heat resistant, topped off with epoxy tips that provide a gentle massage for better circulation.

A natural rubber cushion holds it all in place to take on all the pressure and distribute it evenly for a superb brushing experience.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Ideal for really thick, long hair or hair with extensions
• Lengthy nylon pins for easy and smooth brushing
• Rubber cushion absorbs pressure
• For smooth and straight styles
• Heat resistant nylon pins
• Not too painful in price

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly
• Not the best option for shorter or layered hair types

5. Dyson Designed Detangling Comb and Paddle Brush

Here’s a great combo that will handle both wet and dry hair. The detangling comb, as you may have already guessed, is ideal for getting tangles out of wet hair.

What’s cool is that this wide-tooth design has flexible teeth that creates less friction on your hair, hence less breakage. And that’s not all. The rounded-off ends on the teeth are really gentle on your scalp. I hate that feeling when you accidentally scratch your scalp with a comb. Ugh!

The brush is another godsend. The handle is weighted, so you have more balance, which, in turn, makes styling and blowouts so much easier.

With air-cushion suspension to support the bristles, you get more comfort to boost circulation on your scalp while smoothing your hair beautifully every time.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Includes both a brush and comb
• Comb features wide-tooth flexible bristles for awesome detangling
• The brush has weighted handle and air-cushion suspension
• Less friction on hair
• More smoothness
• Easy on the scalp
• Great for just about every style hair
• Vegan-friendly

The Bad:

• Some may find the brush handle too heavy
• Super-thick hair may snag on the flexible comb

6. Spornette DeVille Boar Bristle Round Brush Set

If you want a perfect blowout, this trio of boar-bristled round brushes is your jam. They come in 1.5-inch, 2-inch, and 2.5-inch to tackle your favorite styles.

The fine bristles smooth hair during blowouts, add lift to roots, volumize, curl, and bring on the waves.

With the fine texture of the bristles, they’re extra adept at carrying your hair’s natural oils all the way down your strands. This will help it look healthier and shinier with each use.

Plus, no greasy gross buildup. I always love hair brushes that do this because it lengthens the time between washings for me.

Spornette itself has been around since the 1950s. While classic, they’ve improved on them to fit to today’s modern times while still keeping up with tradition.

These are ideal for fine hair and short hair too. Really long hair might have some difficulties though, as it could get wrapped around. I’d say if your hair is fine and short to medium-length or of the coarse ethnic variety, this set of boar bristle brushes will make your blowouts more beautiful.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Trio of authentic boar bristle round brushes in varying sizes
• Adds lift and volume to short, fine hair
• Great for ethnic hair too
• Lightweight handles
• Best for blowouts

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly
• Diameter not big enough to tackle long hair

7. Cortex Professional 100% Boar Bristle Brushes

Get it done for all hair types with this boar bristle brush. By stimulating your scalp and moving natural oils through, it serves as an extra measure of cleaning for your hair. All that oil gets properly distributed and leaves your hair looking shiny, moisturized, and healthy.

Boasting the ability to tackle all hair types from straight to curly and thick to fine, it’s also safe to use on extensions and wigs.

The round shape makes blowouts breezier and bouncier too. Very lightweight and ergonomic, it’s a hair brush that’s easy to use for comfortable styling.

There are several sizes to choose from and some versions that include both nylon and boar bristles. Unfortunately, there isn’t an all-nylon version that takes it off the table for vegans.

For everyone else though, it helps give curls that springy look and smooths blowouts for straight and sleek finishes. If you like wearing your hair in a variety of styles, this hair brush can help you achieve it, especially if it’s more on the fine or thin-side and medium in length.

So, in summary…

The Good:

• Made with high-quality boar bristles
• Available in differing diameters
• Available with nylon and boar bristle mix
• Ideal for fine or thinning hair
• Helps straight or curly hair gain more natural shine and health
• Lightweight, ergonomic handle
• Very affordable

The Bad:

• Not vegan-friendly
• Not ideal for really long or really thick hair

Conclusion

Some hair brushes are multi-taskers, while others are more in tune with certain hair types or lengths. But with this selection, you’re bound to find what you want. Remember, you’re not going to get gorgeous hair no matter what your style is if you keep buying cheap brushes from the dollar bin.

Quality truly matters and you’ll find it in boar bristles as well as high-quality nylon options. The nylon options I’ve provided here won’t melt or change with styling heat, so you can feel confident about using them. One last thing…the longer your hair, the wider the round brush you’re going to need. You don’t want to get it tangled in your hair when you wrap it around. Many of these brands offer bigger options, so check them out for quality that basically buys better health for your hair and lasts for years and years of styling!