Finding the right hair brush for your specific hair type is kind of like dating. It can take a lot of trial and error with exploring different types of hair brushes to find your match. If you’re lucky, you stumble upon a brush with just the right combination of features to meet your needs.
Taking the time to “date” around and consider your options can be important—using the wrong brush for your hair type can lead to breakage and damage. It might even be at the root of some of your styling mistakes. If you’re currently looking to rekindle a love affair with your hair—whether you have luscious 4C curls or super fine, straight strands—the first step is finding a hair brush with the ideal shape, size, and bristle type.
To help minimize bad dates with hair brushes that aren’t a fit, we’ve created a guide to different brush types. Keep reading to discover which type of hair brush could be your ticket to a happily ever after.
Do Different Hair Brushes Make a Difference?
The hair brush you use can make a significant difference in your style and how healthy your hair looks and feels. Different brushes are designed with different functions in mind. There are quite a few types of hair brushes, each with various features that can make certain types better suited to some hair types than others. Details like your hair brush’s unique shape (think round brush or a vented brush) and grip can affect the level of control you have over your style, especially if you plan to add heat. A soft bristle hair brush made of boar bristles has a different level of performance and intensity compared to one made of nylon or hard plastic. Even the shape of the rows within your brush can affect the outcome of your look. Brushes with straight rows, for example, are a good option if you're hoping to smooth out your strands, while more curved row patterns can help create volume. Every feature of a hair brush factors into how it will ultimately perform with your specific hair texture and length.
11 Types of Hair Brushes
Before you can determine which brush is best for your hair or how many brushes you’re gonna need to add to cart, let’s peruse the big, bold, beautiful array of hair brush choices. Each of these types of hair brushes serve a different purpose, but finding the best hair brush among them depends entirely on your natural hair texture and the hairstyles you love to create.
1. Round brush
If high-volume heat styling is your thing, then having a round brush in your lineup is mandatory. A round brush adds volume and bounce to your strands and helps deliver professional-quality blowouts. A larger barrel diameter will result in a smoother, sleeker hair with dramatic volume while a smaller barrel gives tighter curls.
Round brushes are most often found in metal or ionic barrels so that they can evenly distribute heat as you blow your hair dry. But there are some options with boar bristles (more on that later) that are well-suited to fine hair. Remember, not every round brush is the same, so you should look out for one that is going to suit the thickness, length, and texture of your hair in order to avoid potential damage.
2. Boar bristle brush
Boar bristle hair brushes are a hair industry classic. Though they’re typically made with boar’s hair (hence the name), vegan options are available as well. The beauty of a boar bristle brush is that it’s gentle on the scalp and promotes the distribution of natural hair oils as you brush your hair from the root to the tip. Using a good boar bristle brush is also kind of like getting a mini massage with each stroke. Keep one on standby if you have fine or textured hair as they are ideal for smoothing strands without pulling or snagging the roots.
3. Paddle brush
Crafted to easily glide through your hair, a paddle brush features a flat, rectangular shape and can have a wide variety of bristles. Paddle brushes de-frizz pin-straight hair and can stand up to the rigors of thick, curly locks, making them quite versatile. Look for strong, synthetic bristles made of nylon if you have particularly thick hair.
4. Edge brush
Nothing gets to work on tiny, face-framing strands quite like a dual-sided edge brush. With both a mini comb and wee little bristle brush on a single end, the edge brush is made for tackling edge control, especially for wavy, coiled, or textured “baby” hair. There’s no stopping the power of this small-but-mighty brush, especially when paired with an anti-breakage gel formulated with natural oils like Mizani Artful Edges Edge Control Gel. You can sculpt dry edge hair for a frizz-free finish (using the bristle side) or seamlessly blend natural hair and add extensions (using the mini comb).
5. Detangling brush
Hair breakage often occurs when your hair is wet. This is when your hair is most vulnerable, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), so if you’re prone to working through your kinks with whatever tool you can find…think again. Keeping a brush specifically designed to detangle wet strands without causing damage on hand is always a good idea. Detangling brushes offer more flexible bristles that work around your hair to avoid unwanted snagging. Spritz on Redken One United Lightweight Leave-In Hair Conditioner if your hair is dry, then gently brush through your strands, working your way up from the tips to your roots.
6. Vented brush
If you want to speed up your dry time during a blowout, make sure you have a vented brush. Available in a variety of shapes but often made out of plastic, all vented brushes have one thing in common: open slots in the back that allow air to easily pass through your hair as you apply hot or cold air from a blow dryer.
7. Soft bristle brush
Thinning or extra-fine hair can be tough to manage if you don’t have the right tools. A soft bristle brush will provide all of the benefits of a bristle brush—including oil distribution throughout your hair and smoothing capabilities—while still being gentle enough to glide through fine hair without breakage. That’s probably why most baby brushes are soft bristle brushes made from silky boar’s hair or delicate synthetic bristles.
8. Round boar bristle brush
Need control over freshly chopped bangs or grown-out fringe? Create some much-needed tension as you style with a round boar bristle brush to tame short, errant strands. The combination of a tight curl and firm boar bristles allow you to detangle and smooth with ease while still being gentle on your scalp.
9. Teasing brush
Even the most extensive beauty supply collections might not include a teasing brush. But this pro-approved tool will become a hairstyling MVP if your fine hair is in need of more volume and drama. Curb flyaways, style fine, face-framing hair, or make polished updos with this dense, narrow brush that normally features tightly-packed boar or synthetic bristles.
10. Cushion brush
You may recognize this hair brush type for its unique, pillowy base with scattered plastic bristles. Its trademark soft cushion lets stiff bristles contour to your head for comfort. The cushion’s flexible movement means less tugging, breakage, and damage to hair that’s prone to tangling. Wavy and curly hair types get the added benefit of sleek, frizz-free hair without unwanted static or flyaways.
11. Curved brush
Part vented brush, part detangling brush, this sparse design is all about sweeping larger sections of hair through fine bristles (some styles feature both boar and plastic bristles together) for blow drying and styling ease. The curved shape mimics your head, which means no strand is left behind as you go over each section with a hair dryer.
What Type of Hair Brush Is Right for Your Hair?
Knowing about the assorted hair brush styles is half the battle. When it comes to choosing the right hair brush, identifying your specific hair type and texture is essential. A hair brush made for fine hair might wreak havoc on thick curls. And you could’ve cut down your blowout time by half had you nabbed the right option. Keep reading for our recommendations on the best hair brush for your specific hair type, plus a few beauty product buys.
Credit: Tangle Teezer
Best brush for curly hair
Dense or long ringlets require a brush that can glide through strands without compromising the integrity of your curl pattern. The Tangle Teezer The Original Thick & Curly is our flexible and formidable recommendation. Its two-tiered structure, featuring long and short teeth, works to detangle knots and smooth strands while minimizing breakage. Add the nourishing Biolage Professional Hydra Source Detangling Solution to your wash day routine for even more control over static, frizz, and flyaways as you brush curly hair.
Best brush for fine hair
Caring for fine hair means finding a gentle brush that keeps your tresses from falling flat and detangles without causing damage. If you’re battling limp locks that become oily in minutes or thin curls that lose their shape, a soft bristle brush strikes just the right balance. The Koh-I-Noor Jaspè Oval Brush is a luxurious way to bring out shine by distributing your hair’s natural oils. This hand-crafted brush pairs well with a lightweight leave-in treatment. We love Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Strength Repairing Spray for airy heat protection when you style.
Credit: Wet Brush
Best brush for thinning hair
Your go-to hair brush for thin hair should be one that detangles with minimal pulling or tugging at the root. Try the Wet Brush Detangling Brush, which boasts flexible, plastic bristles that can glide through tangled, thinning hair with ease.
Best brush to prevent breakage
Brittle or dry hair needs the tender loving care of a customizable brush designed to meet your every need, no matter how thick or thin your strands are. To help prevent hair breakage, opt for the Curls Styling Tools Ultimate Detangler Brush. This brightly-hued buy lets you personalize the perfect bristle combination to suit your hair texture—even if you have more than one curl pattern—and care for vulnerable strands.
Credit: Goody
Best brush for 4C hair
For natural or chemically-treated 4C hair, there is nothing quite like the comfort of a sturdy, tightly-packed, boar bristle brush that pulls double duty to detangle and create sleek styles. The brush should be just rigid enough to effortlessly smooth strands but somehow gentle enough to prevent breakage.
The Goody Wood Styler Brush is a stylish twist on this classic hair brush type. It has an easy-grip handle and narrow shape to make edge styling a breeze. Apply Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner to clean or damp hair as you detangle to help condition your strands thoroughly.
Best brush for bangs
You might not realize it, but if you have bangs, you’ll want a separate brush for styling them. Something small that can get close to your scalp and works well on short strands. Our pick? PERFEHAIR Soft Boar Bristle Round Brush. This 1.3-inch soft boar bristle brush has a tight brush diameter to take on the many styling demands of fringe. With a comfortable wood handle and feathery bristles, it’s ideal for blow-drying fine, short, or side-swept bangs without the risk of creating an unnatural curl. Heat style your strands while still wet, and use this petite round brush to lay bangs evenly across your forehead or bring on face-framing dimension.
Credit: Goody
Best brush for edge control
Though it is more popular with natural and textured hair types, the edge control brush should be a staple no matter what hair type you have. The Goody Mosaic Natural Edge Control Hair Brush is great for smoothing edges along your face and the nape of your neck, but it also comes in handy for easy sectioning and styling, especially in hard-to-reach areas. The small size and narrow shape allow you to keep this multi-functional tool on standby for heat styling at home or while on the go.
Best brush for thick hair
Navigating thick, luscious hair can be both a blessing and a curse. You’re gonna need a hair tool strong enough to manage and penetrate dense strands. URTHEONE Boar Bristle Hair Brush mixes boar and nylon bristles with petite nylon balls to help distribute oils in thick hair, effectively smoothing and boosting shine from the root to the tip—without generating unwanted frizz.
Next Up: A Pro Explains How to Clean Hair Brushes and Combs—the Right Way
Header photo credit: Adobe Stock
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