A stylist is only as good as their tools – and choosing the right hairbrush can make all the difference when crafting those curls, volumising limp roots and shaping a smooth do.
And top-quality brushes aren’t just for professionals. With the right weapons in your styling arsenal, you can get salon-quality hair at home. With cult classics and innovative new designs to choose from, though, it can be tricky to find the right hairbrush for your needs and hair type.
Fear not: here’s our handy buying guide, along with bite-sized reviews of the best hairbrushes on the market.
How to buy the best hairbrush for you
Why is brushing so important?
Brushing is important for the look and health of your hair. It’s not just about detangling and promoting shine: regularly brushing clears out impurities that naturally build up in your hair and scalp. It also spreads sebum to make your hair stronger (sounds disgusting, we know). For longer, healthier hair, you can also massage your scalp with your hairbrush – this will increase circulation and stimulate the hair follicles to promote growth.
How often should I brush my hair?
Ignore the old wives’ tale: brushing a hundred times is pointless. In reality, how often you need to brush will depend on your hair type and texture. Fine hair gets knotted quickly, so will benefit from regular brushing. With thick, curly textures, however, too much brushing can lead to major frizz, and that’s never a good look.
What type of hairbrush should I use?
When you’ve spent time choosing the perfect colour and style for your hair, you’ll want the right brush, too. Different brush designs suit different hair types, and can create different looks. For example, round hairbrushes are perfect for creating that bouncy blow dry, while paddle brushes can smooth your hair into a poker-straight style.
Here’s our selection of the best hairbrushes, of various types and for all hair textures; read on to find the perfect brush for your style.
The best hairbrushes you can buy
1. The Wet Brush Classic: Best budget hairbrush
Price:£12 | Buy now from Cult Beauty
If you don’t want to splash out on a whole collection of styling tools, pick a hairbrush that can do it all. Designed to detangle wet hair with its non-slip handle and clever Intelliflex bristles, the Wet Brush glides through knots without tugging on the root. It’s impressively pain-free, which means it’s also perfect for dealing with little ones’ hair.
The Wet Brush is much more than a detangler, though. Like a paddle brush, it’s great for smoothing your locks with a hair dryer; it can tame flyaways; and it’s gentle enough to care for wigs, extensions and weaves too. Its lightweight design makes it perfect for keeping in your handbag when you’re on the go, too – so if you’re treating yourself to just one hairbrush, the Wet Brush deserves to be top of your list.
2. Tangle Teezer The Original: Best hairbrush for detangling
Price: £14 | Buy now from Look Fantastic
A staple in every hairdresser’s kit, Tangle Teezer has revolutionised the way we detangle our hair. With its short teeth and innovative two-tiered system, this award-winning brush effortlessly glides through wet and dry hair, of any type or texture. There’s no need to worry about hair breakage: just start brushing from the ends and work your way up the length. And the non-slip design fits in the palm of your hand, so even if you’re dealing with the toughest of knots, you’ll easily keep a handle on this brush.
Available in a range of sizes and colours, as well as a compact variant, the Tangle Teezer is perfect for chucking in your bag; indeed, it’s the best detangling brush you’ll get your hands on.
Tangle Teezer The Original, Wet or Dry Detangling Hairbrush for All Hair Types - Plum Delicious
3. Mason Pearson: Best luxury hairbrush
Price: £80 | Buy now from Amazon
English brand Mason Pearson hasn’t changed its cult-classic Boar and Nylon Bristle brush since 1895 – a testament to its superb design. Mixing the finest premium grade boar-bristle with nylon, the brush is exceptionally gentle on the hair and scalp, so it’s perfect for fine, delicate textures that are easily damaged.
The boar-bristles also spread natural oils through the hair to restore moisture in dry, lacklustre locks, and massage your scalp to promote circulation in hair follicles (the pneumatic cushion is specially designed to hug the contours of your head). Yes, £80 for a hairbrush is a lot, but you’re paying for a high-quality styling tool that’s guaranteed to give you healthier, shinier hair. It even comes with its own nylon cleaning brush to keep it in tip-top condition.
4. Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush: Best paddle brush for smoothing hair
Price: £22 | Buy now from Feel Unique
Need to get ready quickly? A high-quality paddle brush gets the job done fast, and Aveda’s Wooden number is the best of the bunch. It’s lightweight, and made from sustainable and cruelty-free materials, so you can smooth your locks knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment.
It’s a clever design, too. The ultra-wide width helps pass plenty of heat through the bristles – and your hair – to reduce the time it takes to dry and style, so it’s ideal for long, thick manes. And the extended bristles detangle knots without tugging, so it’s also perfect for weaves, extensions and afro-textures. For a spot of relaxation, Aveda suggests massaging your scalp with the brush and the company’s own Beautifying Composition Oil, to promote circulation and stimulate the follicles.
5. Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Ion Round brush: Best round hairbrush for a blow-dry
Price: £17 | Buy now from Feel Unique
When it comes to shaping a bouncy blow-dry, a round brush can’t be beaten. It might take some time to master the skill of balancing a hair dryer and brush, but the bouncy, voluminous curls you’ll get are worth it. And for the authentic catwalk look, the Paul Mitchell Pro Tool Ion Round brush is the weapon of choice for stylists worldwide.
It’s a versatile tool, capable of creating defined curls or a smooth do, depending on how you wield it. The aluminum barrel heats up like a curling iron, allowing you to shape your locks and reduce drying time, and with the Express Ion complex moulded into the bristles you can enjoy a static-free finish. The low weight of the brush makes it easy to handle, and it comes in a range of sizes: for tighter curls go for the medium size, or pick the larger model for a smooth blowout.
