How to Choose the Right Hair Brush

The right hair brush can dramatically affect the condition of your scalp and your strands. But with so many options, it’s hard to know what actually works for your specific hair texture and length. Use this basic guide to find your next hairsaver!

DETANGLE

Hair is structurally weaker when wet, so rough-brushing can cause snags and tears. Gently loosen your tangles with a brush that has widely spaced bristles designed to detangle wet hair.

CURL

If you want to get soft curls or waves without using a curling iron, use a round brush with a ventilated metal, thermal, or ionic barrel. These barrels efficiently trap and circulate heat when you blow-dry, reinforcing a shiny curl. The smart, ventilated design also cuts drying time in half.

SMOOTH

A flat, boar-bristled paddle brush is perfect for smoothing hair after a blow-dry. A flat paddle brush has a larger surface area designed to reach larger sections of your hair. Choose a brush with firm boar bristles to close the outer layer of the hair cuticle and more evenly distribute natural scalp oils.

STRAIGHTEN

You can blow-dry all hair lengths and textures straight with a round brush. Choose metal, synthetic, or natural bristles depending on your hair texture and condition. The longer your hair is, the larger the brush’s diameter should be.

STYLE (LONG)

A mixed-bristle brush (typically boar bristle and nylon) is best for long hair. The natural boar bristles polish the hair while the synthetic nylon ones gently grab and hold sections of your hair. Look for a brush with an air cushion, which enables the brush to glide over painful knots that could potentially break long locks.

VOLUMIZE

Vent brushes work wonders for volume. The open airflow design evenly circulates air throughout your strands when you blow-dry, resulting in a light, bouncy finish with tons of movement.

TEASE

Use a narrow brush with two or three rows of densely packed bristles to backcomb your hair and smooth out the top layers. Use the convenient rat-tail handle to section the hair when styling.
Beauty Tip: Throw out nylon brushes with broken tips. The sharp exposed edges can cause damage to your scalp.
Beauty Tip: A brush builds up dead skin cells and oily residue from your scalp, so clean it weekly. First, remove hairs caught in the brush by running another brush or comb through the bristles. Then, soak it in warm water with a few drops of shampoo. Rinse clean, remove excess moisture, and let the brush dry on a towel, cushion side down.