Best Hair Brushes of 2023
1. BEST OVERALL HAIR BRUSH
Wet Brush Original Hair Brush Detangler
PROS
- Can be used on wet or dry hair
- Gently detangles
- Soft bristles
CONS
The Wet Brush, a GH editor favorite, is designed with flexible bristles that won’t pull on strands. In our Beauty Lab review, testers found that it easily tames tangles and unknots wet hair in a breeze. It can be used on any hair type and on wet or dry hair. You can even get it in mini versions. “To detangle wet hair after a shower, choose a brush with widely-spaced, synthetic bristles for gentle brushing,” notes Chiara Butler, GH Beauty Lab Analyst.
2. BEST VALUE HAIR BRUSH
Conair Tunnel Vent Hairbrush
PROS
- Works on thick hair
- Sturdy design
- Detangles hair without breakage
CONS
- Bristles may be stiff
This rubber-gripped hair brush is ideal for daily use, withan easy-to-hold handle and ball-tipped bristles to avoid snagging your hair. For just over $3, this everyday-use brush can be used for detangling, styling and more. “I have thick long hair,” one reviewer writes. “Used to use a paddle brush but unfortunately it wouldn’t get through much. This one definitely does.”
3. BEST HAIR BRUSH TO PREVENT BREAKAGE
KareCo Tangle Buster Styler
PROS
- Works on hair extensions
- Adds shine and helps de-frizz hair
- Gentle bristles
CONS
Another GH Beauty Lab favorite, this detangling brush has both nylon and boar bristles for added smoothness and shine. With a flexible paddle and ionic bristles, the brush gently glides through tangles and knots to prevent breakage. GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral notes, “I like the soft and sturdy handle, the flexible brush head that moves and separates as needed when detangling.”
4. BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR FRIZZY HAIR
ion Professional Boar & Nylon Cushion Brush
PROS
- Adds shine
- Gently detangles hair
- Works on all hair types and textures
CONS
- Not ideal for heat styling
This cushiony brush will help beat frizz and static thanks to a combination of nylon and boar bristles, which help seal the hair’s cuticle and reduce static.Use this before or after heat styling to add shine, detangle and de-frizz. As an added bonus, it feels great on the scalp. “It is one of my favorite brushes. I’ve been a hairdresser over 45 years. I bought it for my sister and friends, great for scalp stimulation,” writes one reviewer.
5. BEST PADDLE BRUSH
ghd Paddle Brush
PROS
- Easy-to-grip handle
- Great for blowouts
CONS
- Pricey
Paddle brushes are a great staple for all hair types and lengths, but work especially well on longer hair since they can handle larger swathes of hair at once. This ghd brush has a wide paddle, ergonomic handle and nice weight, so it won’t feel like it’s going to snap no matter how thick or tangled your hair is. It’s also perfect for helping speed up a sleek blow dry. “The brush creates a beautiful blowout and has significantly cut down on the time it took me to dry my hair using a round brush,” one reviewer raves.
6. BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR THIN HAIR
Cricket Static Free Volumizer Hair Brush
PROS
- Adds volume
- Travel-friendly
- Vented
CONS
- Bristles may lose their tips
If you’re worried about thinning spots, you’ll want a brush that helps add volume to your hair. Great to use when blow-drying, this brush’s vented design means you can easily direct the airflow to get extra height and body, while also speeding up drying time. “I searched hard for a brush for thinning hair and discovered this one,” writes one reviewer. “There are not as many bristles as you find on regular hairbrushes, so when you brush, there isn’t the usual pulling on your scalp as you’re accustomed to, which is exactly what I need.”
7. BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR DAMAGED HAIR
Mason Pearson Handy Bristle Hair Brush
PROS
- Exfoliates scalp
- Distributes oil
- Adds shine and volume
CONS
- Expensive
This is the ultimate luxury hair brush. Yes, it’s an investment, but according to reviewers, it could be the only brush you buy for a decade or more. Not only does it gently detangle hair, but its genuine boar bristles are the best at working with your hair’s natural oils.As you brush from root to tip, the oils are distributed and you’re left with shiny hair (not just greasy roots). “I can feel the difference on my scalp and along most of the length of my hair,” writes one reviewer. “My hair is dyed and damaged from chlorine and heat from styling. It tends to break easily but since I started using this brush MUCH less of it has fallen out and broken.”
8. BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR THICK HAIR
The Body Shop Large Bamboo Hairbrush
PROS
- Gently detangles thick and long hair
- Eco-friendly
CONS
This hair brush is one of the GH Beauty Assistant’s go-to choices. It gently detangles and the larger size also helps it take on long, thick hair. “My husband could not live without this brush for his long full hair,” one reviewer writes.
9. BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR CURLY HAIR
TANGLE TEEZER The Original Detangling Hairbrush
PROS
- Good for sensitive scalps
- Gentle on tangles
CONS
- May experience some hair damage
Our editors recommend love the cult-fave Tangle Teaser to detangle curls in the shower. Not only is it designed to be gentle on knots for less breakage, it’s perfect for evenly-distributing conditioner too! “This is the only brush that can detangle my thick hair and dense curls,” says GH Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich. “The thin pin bristles easily slip through matted knots and make quick work of untangling curls. I won’t even travel without it.”
10. BEST SMOOTHING HAIR BRUSH
Harry Josh Pro Tools Wooden Paddle Brush
PROS
- Long bristles for easy brushing
- Lightweight
CONS
- Pricey
Harry Josh Pro Tools products always impress in our Beauty Lab evaluations, and this brush is no different. Harry Josh Pro Tools brushes are a favorite of GH Beauty Director April Franzino for their gentle yet effective detangling abilities. Reviewers agree that it’s great at smoothing hair: “this brush gives a solid rake and works well for smoothing/sleek styling,” one reviewer notes.
11. BEST ROUND BRUSH FOR FINE HAIR
Y.S Park G-Series Curl Shine Styler Round Brush
PROS
- Helps hair dry faster to avoid heat damage
- Ergonomic handle allows for more control
CONS
- Expensive
This brush is more than just stylish: The wooden vented handle gives better airflow and a more comfortable grip, making it ideal for heat styling and a hairstylist favorite. This brush helps to “smooth out my clients’ hair perfectly with a combination of boar bristle and heat resistant nylon pins,” says Taylor. “The boar bristles smooth the hair’s cuticle while the nylon pins grab and pick up sections of hair with ease.”
12. BEST ROUND BRUSH FOR LONG HAIR
Drybar Full Pint Medium Round Brush
PROS
- Ionic technology helps reduce frizz and static
- Vented ceramic barrel for easier heat styling
CONS
- Handle may not be comfortable to hold
Drybar knows blowouts and bouncy styles. That’s why we like the brand’s round brush for at-home styling. Designed with a vented ceramic barrel, it’s great for blow-drying all hair lengths, especially long hair. This brush “is the perfect size for my long, naturally straight hair,” writes one reviewer. “Good handle length and barrel grip provides the right tension when drying. Adds nice shine, too!”
