10 Best Hairbrushes for Every Hair Type and Style
Fancy tools like state-of-the-art hair dryers and tourmaline flatirons may come and go, but it turns out the best styling accessory is likely the simplest (not to mention fully analog, thank you very much). We're talking, of course, about hairbrushes; specifically, the best hairbrushes you can get based on your hair length, texture, and desired style.
Fortunately, with so many options available from drugstore to high-end brands, tracking down the best hairbrush is easier than ever — especially if you know what you're looking for. Long gone are the days when brushes were designed the same, one-size-fits-all way. Now, it's about finding the one brush that will amp up your look and fit into your lifestyle.
"The right brush is everything! Not only style-wise, but the wrong brush type can rip your hair and cause major damage," says celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena. "There are three main things that you should look for when choosing a brush: comfort in the handle, size of the barrel — or paddle — and the bristle type."
Got that? Now, without further ado, here are 10 of our favorite hairbrushes, each designed with a specific purpose in mind.
Courtesy of brand1/101. Straight hair
"For straight hair, I recommend using a large-barrel, round boar-bristle brush," says celebrity hairstylist Paul Labrecque. "The larger the barrel, the straighter the hair will be after you style it." He notes that boar bristles, like this one from R+Co's new brush collection, help smooth strands and will leave your hair looking ultrashiny.
Shop Now: R+Co Round Brush 5, available September 2018
Courtesy of brand2/102. Wavy hair
If your texture falls into the "not quite curly, but not pin-straight" category, opt for a medium-barrel boar-bristle brush. A pro tip for your best-ever waves? "I use three rollers when styling clients with this type of texture," says Paul. "While two cool in the hair, I work with the third. This will result in beautiful waves."
Shop Now: Wigo Round Wooden 100% Boar Bristle Brush, $19.99, available at Ulta
Courtesy of brand3/103. Curly hair
For curly girls, the best brush option is no brush at all. "I never use a brush on those with curls!" says Paul, who prefers to use a diffuser attachment in lieu of an actual brush for styling. If you do need to detangle, use a wide-tooth comb in the shower, but avoid brushing or combing dry curls in order to minimize frizz and breakage.
Shop Now: xtava Black Orchid Large Hair Diffuser for Natural and Curly Hair, $12.99, available at Amazon
Courtesy of brand4/104. Natural hair
"If you keep your hair natural, just use a wide-tooth comb to get rid of any tangles," says Paul. This double-duty comb is designed to slip easily through your curls. "If you're pulling it straight, a nylon, firm-bristle brush like a Ming brush that you can firmly grip is a great tool to use." He also notes the importance of coating your strands with hair oil, like Moroccanoil's hair treatment or Paul Labrecque Repair Finish.
Shop Now: Ouidad Double Detangler Comb, $26, available at Sephora
Courtesy of brand5/105. Blonde hair
For color-treated blonde hair, Marc suggests a soft-bristled brush like Ibiza's B4 Blonde Extended Cork Round Brush to limit breakage on damaged or bleached strands.
Shop Now: Ibiza B4 Blonde Extended Cork Round Brush, $49, available at Nordstrom
Courtesy of brand6/106. Fine hair
For fine hair, choose a medium or small round brush with a ceramic center in order to give your 'do maximum body and lift. "Brushes with a ceramic core act like a roller to increase your hair's overall density," Paul explains. Plus, these heat up faster than other types of brushes, which can reduce the time your strands are spending underneath your blow-dryer.
Shop Now: Drybar Half Pint Small Round Brush, $36, available at Sephora
Courtesy of brand7/107. Thick hair
While shelling out $110 for a hairbrush may seem like a ton of cash at first, Marc insists that your hair is always a worthy investment. "Brushes can last you a very long time, so it’s an investment when choosing the right brush," he says. "Spending a little more money is worth it when you are saving your hair from damage — you are getting healthy, shiny, beautiful hair out of your investment." He's a big fan of Mason Pearson brushes, which work with any and every type of hair, and are especially great for those with naturally thicker manes.
Shop Now: Mason Pearson Detangler Hair Brush, $110, available at Amazon
Courtesy of brand8/108. Long hair
"It’s all about the barrel size when you’re talking about hair length," says Marc. "If you have long hair, blowing it out is much quicker and easier with a large-barrel brush, and will give you great volume. If you use a smaller brush, it will take longer and will give your hair more weight." This XL barrel from Revlon will give you exactly the bounce in your blow out that you're looking for.
Shop Now: Revlon Long-Lasting Styles Large Porcupine Round Brush, $15, available in September at Bed, Bath & Beyond
Courtesy of brand9/109. Short hair
"For short hair, a smaller barrel is more ideal because you just won’t get enough shape or movement if you use a larger brush," explains Marc. Sephora Collection's Small Round Thermal Ceramic Brush features a ceramic base that heats up in high temps, which will make your DIY blow-dry even speedier.
Shop Now: Sephora Collection Bounce: Small Round Thermal Ceramic Brush, $18, available at Sephora.com
Courtesy of brand10/1010. Wet hair
ICYMI, you shouldn't be using the same brush on your hair when it's wet as when it's dry. "I think that wet brushes are one of the best hair inventions that came out in the last few years," says Marc. "Wet brushes help to brush through hair easily and also keep hair from breaking and splitting." Tangle Teezer's version is specially formulated to pull moisture out of your hair shaft to help hair dry faster, and won't tug your strands in the process.
Shop Now: Tangle Teezer Blow Styling Tool Full Paddle, $35, available at Sephora
