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Paddle brushes, barrel brushes, and detanglers—oh my! The best brushes all serve unique purposes depending on your hair type, texture, and styling goals. “Every person deserves the right brush that fits their needs. Choosing the right hair brush for your hair texture, and needs, is very important. One size does not fit all,” La Bonne Brosse co-founders Flore des Robert and Pauline Laurent tell Vogue.
Vogue’s Favorite Hair Brushes
- Best Boar Bristle: La Bonne Brosse N.01 The Universal Brush, $168
- Best Shower Brush: Pattern Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross Shower Brush, $17
- Best Splurge: Mason Pearson Hairbrush, $325
- Best Vegan Bristle: Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush, $42
- Best for Edges: Baby Tress 3-in-1 Edge Styler, $12
- Best for a Blowout: DryBar Full Pint Ceramic Barrel, $12
In this story
- How To Pick the Best Brush Bristle for Your Hair Texture
- Should you use a different hair brush on wet versus dry hair?
- What are the different types of brushes that pro hair stylists use?
- Best Practices for Hair Brushing and Styling
Aside from the actual shape of the brush, the actual material of the bristles matter a great deal when picking the best brush for your hair. “Fine, straight hair benefits from soft, natural bristles (such as boar bristles) or soft, nylon bristles that gently glide to distribute oils without causing static,” professional hair styling and Pattern Beauty educator, Eboni Bomani tells Vogue. “Coarse or thick hair does better with firm, widely spaced bristles (like nylon or mixed bristles) that can penetrate denser strands. Meanwhile, curly, coily, or textured hair need a brush that respects the curl structure—flexible detangling bristles [are your] the best bet.”
Ahead, find the best brushes for every texture and style, from petite travel-friendly options to luxe, worth-it splurges.
Best Vegan Bristle: Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush
Briogeo
Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush
- Why We Love It: For those in search of a vegan alternative to a dual bristle brush—look no further than Briogeo. Soft ballpoint tip nylon bristles gently massage the scalp and detangle. Meanwhile, vegan fibers that replicate boar bristles provide the same benefits of smoothing and scalp oil distribution, for shiny hair.
- Shape: Round
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle; ball-tip nylon, vegan boar bristle
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Daily use on fine to medium hair
Best Splurge: Mason Pearson Handy Bristle & Nylon Hairbrush
Mason Pearson
Junior Mixture Nylon & Boar Bristle Hair Brush
- Why We Love It: Vogue.com editor Chloe Malle recently penned a love letter to the Mason Pearson brush she’s had since she was 12 years old—a testament to both the quality of the hair brush, and its longevity as the “only hairbrush you’ll ever need.” First made during the industrial revolution, this nylon and boar bristle remains a popular option for everyday brushing.
- Shape: Round
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle; nylon, boar bristle
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Fine to medium hair; all textures
Best for Curl Definition: Denman Curly Hair Brush D4
Denman
Curly Hair Brush D4
- Why We Love It: Denman’s D4 hair brush is ideal for curl definition and styling. The rectangular, narrow brush features nine rows of pin-style nylon bristles designed to reduce snagging and breaking hair strands while styling. As a result, the firm yet flexible pin bristles create just enough tension to define bouncy and uniform curl patterns. It also doubles as an excellent styling brush for straight blowouts, as the bristles are safe for heat styling.
- Shape: Rectangle
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Wet or Dry: Both
- Best for: Wet curl definition; long and thick hair
Best Round Brush: R+CO Vegan Boar Bristle Round Brush
R+Co
Vegan Boar Bristle Round Brush
- Why We Love It: Those in search of a barrel brush should look to R+Co for a volume-creating option that combines ball-tip nylon and vegan boar bristles for detangling and static reduction. The result? Smooth, shiny, and bouncy, blown-out hair.
- Shape: Barrel brush
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle; ball-tip nylon, vegan boar bristle
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Voluminous styling
Best for Edges: Baby Tress 3-in-1 Edge Styler
Baby Tress
3-in-1 Edge Styler
- Why We Love It: Sure, you could style your edges with a toothbrush—but why not upgrade? Woman- and BIPOC-owned Baby Tress makes high-quality edge styling products like this 3-in-1 multitasker. The dual brushes smooth and set baby hairs and flyaways, with a pointed tip to craft perfectly laid edges.
- Shape: Narrow triangle
- Bristle Material: Dual bristles; nylon, boar
- Wet or Dry: Both
- Best for: Baby hair styling, edges, flyaways
Best Shower Brush: Pattern Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross Shower Brush
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross
Shower Brush
- Why We Love It: Another woman and BIPOC owned brand, Pattern’s shower brush is ideal simplifying the detangling process of thicker, curlier textures. Its worth noting, the brush bristles align vertically straight, which is a key advantage for detangling
- Shape: Square
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Wet or Dry: Wet
- Best For: Styling, detangling, and clumping curls
Best Boar Bristle: La Bonne Brosse N.01 The Universal Brush
La Bonne Brosse
N.01 The Universal Brush
- Why We Love It: La Bonne Brosse brushes are more than just pretty decoration to leave out on your nightstand. Of the four brush options available, the No. 1 Universal is made with 100% keratin-rich boar bristles which distribute natural oils from root to end, keeping hair shiny and moisturized. Plus, you can have fun picking your favorite color, all with the brand’s signature sculptural handle.
- Shape: Round
- Bristle Material: Boar
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Daily use; shine
Best Budget-Friendly Detangler: Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler
Tangle Teezer
Ultimate Detangler Hairbrush
- Why We Love It: If you’ve stepped into a drugstore, you’ve likely encountered a Tangle Teezer. Formerly an ergonomically shaped handleless brush, the 2.0 version of the brand’s ultimate detangler is the ultimate multitasker for untangling wet or dry hair for durable brushing with flexible nylon pin bristles.
- Shape: Paddle
- Bristle Material: Patented regular-flex
- Wet or Dry: both
- Best For: Detangling
Best For A Blowout: Drybar Full Pint Ceramic Barrel
Drybar
Full Pint Ceramic Barrel
- Why We Love It: Drybar’s barrel brush works similar to a curling iron: the ceramic barrel heats up during blow drying to help define bouncy blowout curls, flips, and waves. Meanwhile, the circular vents increase air flow throughout the brush, decreasing overall drying time.
- Shape: 2.25′ barrel
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Heat styling, volumizing,
Best Paddle Brush: Moroccanoil Ceramic Paddle Brush
Moroccanoil
Ceramic Paddle Brush
- Why We Love It: Not your average paddle brush, this one by Morrocanoil has a little secret: stored inside the tip of the handle is a ball-tipped sectioning tip to make parting hair easy and even. Meanwhile, the ceramic-plated base ensures even heat distribution to amplify results, smoothing down frizz and flyaways in the process.
- Shape: Square paddle
- Bristle Material: Pin-tipped nylon
- Wet or Dry:
- Best for: Heat styling on all hair types for a straight blow out
Best Dual Bristle: Crown Affair The Brush No. 001
Crown Affair
The Brush No. 001
- Why We Love It: Featuring an ergonomic and lightweight design, this dual bristle brush is ideal for daily brushing on straight to wavy textures. Plus, there’s something unique about this dual bristle brush, which feautures both shorter and longer bristles: the longer nylon pins work to gently massage the scalp and boosts circulation while the slightly shorter boar bristles help to distribute natural oils from roots to ends.
- Shape: Round
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle; nylon pins, boar hairs
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Medium to thick hair; straight to wavy textures
Best Teasing Brush: Oribe Teasing Brush
- Why We Love It: Do you want maximum root volume? In that case, you’ll need a hair teaser. Don’t be alarmed—just because you’re teasing your roots doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a 1980s-era pouf. The combination of soft nylon pins and boar bristles is antistatic, so you won’t give yourself a tiny shock when backcombing roots, creating ideal results for special occasion hairstyles or more editorial looks.
- Shape: Narrow rectangle
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle; nylon pins, boar bristle
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Maximizing results for voluminous, lifted hair
Best for Budget-Friendly Shine: Wet Argan Oil-Infused Wood Brush
Wet Brush
Paddle Hair Brush
- Why We Love It: For a cost-efficient, budget-friendly paddle brush that boosts shine, few compare to this brush by Wet. The dual boar and flexible nylon bristles are infused with argan oil to moisturize each strand and restore softness and shine in between wash days.
- Shape: Square paddle
- Bristle Material: Boar
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best for: Smoothing frizzy hair or flyaways
Everything You Need To Know:
How To Pick the Best Brush Bristle for Your Hair Texture
Professional hair stylist and Pattern Beauty brand educator, Ebony Bomani explains how to pick the best hair brush to match your specific needs. “It’s less about one-size-fits-all and more about what your strands actually need. Hair texture isn’t just about curl pattern; it’s also about density, porosity, and strand diameter—all of which determine how much tension and friction your hair can handle,” she says.
Bomani breaks down the different type of brush bristles, and who they’re best suited for:
- Natural boar bristles: Boar bristles mimic the hair’s cuticle structure, making them excellent for distributing oils and smoothing fine to medium textures.
- Nylon bristles: Provide more grip and tension, ideal for detangling or styling thicker hair without causing static.
- Mixed bristle brushes: Dual bristle brushes offer the best of both worlds—shine-enhancing boar bristles with the targeted detangling of nylon ones.
- Silicone or flexible plastic bristles: Found most often in detangling brushes (think: the Tangle Teezer), these bristles are are gentler on coily, curly, or highly textured hair, reducing breakage.
Should you use a different hair brush on wet versus dry hair?
Des Robert and Laurent emphasize the importance of using the proper brush on wet versus dry hair—because yes, different brush bristles are suited for wet, damp, and fully dry hair. “For wet hair, entirely nylon bristle brushes are best suited, as they can be fully submerged in water. Our favorite trick is to use a nylon bristle brush to apply hair masks, and deep condition while in the shower,” Des Robert and Laurent explain. “We do not recommend using boar bristle brushes on soaking wet hair, as water can damage the natural bristles. You can, however, used a boar bristle or mixed bristle brush on damp, thoroughly towel dried hair after showering.”
As a pro tip, the co-founders recommend a good pre-showering hair brushing with boar bristles, to help remove product buildup on your scalp, distribute oil, and rid your hair of pollution through gentle exfoliation—this will result in a more thorough shampooing after.
“Wet hair is in its most fragile state—it’s more elastic, meaning it can stretch and snap easily. Using the wrong brush can cause unnecessary breakage,” adds Bomani. “For wet hair, a flexible paddle brush, detangling brush, or a wide-tooth comb work best. Flexible bristles (nylon or plastic) equate to less breakage. If you must detangle wet hair, do it with a conditioner in and start from the ends up— think about it like unraveling a delicate thread.”
What are the different types of brushes that pro hair stylists use?
“A pro stylist’s kit is like a surgical toolkit—each brush serves a specific function,” muses Bomani, explaining how unsurprisingly, a hair stylist will have more hair brush options on hand than an everyday non-professional would ever need. Of all the options available, Bomani recommends having a paddle brush, detangling brush, and a boar-bristle brush in your arsenal, for everyday usage. “Think of them as your hair’s favorite sneakers—a few essential options that are always in rotation.”
Below, experts breaks down the different hair brush types available:
- Paddle brush: Square or round in shape, these brushes are ideal for straight styles and smoothing thick hair. Bomani reaches for Pattern’s paddle brush as a multi-purpose option that is heat-resistant with flexible bristles, making it ideal for overall styling, detangling, and heat styling.
- Barrel brush: Round like a curling iron, these brushes come in small, medium, and large sizes—they’re the secret to a voluminous blowout.
- Vent brush: These speed up blow-drying by allowing air to pass through.
- Detangling brush or wide-tooth comb: Essential for fragile, curly, or wet hair.
Best Practices for Hair Brushing and Styling
Bomani reminds us that brushes aren’t just for styling—the right brush can stimulate the scalp, promote circulation, and even contribute to stronger strands over time. She shares with us her core four rules for the ultimate best practices when hair brushing:
- Treat your hair like fine fabric: Bomani recommends to always be gentle—this will avoid snagging, breakage, and mechanical damage.
- Match your brush to your hair’s needs: Remember, not all bristles are created equal. Pick the right bristle and shape to match your hair type and style goals.
- Brush with intention: It’s all in the technique—and different styling goals call for unique methods. “Want volume? Lift at the roots. Want sleek and smooth? Brush in the direction of your style,” explains Bomani.
- Clean your brushes regularly: “Dirt and product buildup will only make your hair more oily and dirty,” says Bomani, encouraging you to regularly remove hairs to avoid increasing your chances of greasy hair.
How often should you clean your hair brush?
While there are no hard and fast rules as to how often you should clean your hair brush, the pros agree that a monthly deep clean doesn’t hurt. “Cleaning frequency all depends on how quickly it gets dirty, which varies according to the products you use and the nature of your hair,” say des Robert and Laurent. As a daily hygiene practice, start by cleaning out the hair from your brush after each use.
“After each brushing session, removing the hair stuck between the tips of the brush will help avoid spreading the accumulated dirt through your hair and extend the life of your brush,” they explain. “Once a month, you can clean your hair brush more thoroughly with a damp cloth. Run the cloth between each bristle to gently clean it and remove any dust inside. You can then let your hair brush air dry naturally with the bristles facing down. Most importantly, if your hair brush is made with boar bristles, always avoid soaking your hair brush entirely in water to preserve the quality of the bristle follicles.”
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