It's Probably Time for a New Hairbrush—We Love These 20 Picks Recommended by Hairstylists (2024)

Our Top Picks

Hair Type: Straight, wavy, curly, fine, medium | Bristle Material: Boar | Shape: Paddle | Wet or Dry: Both

Fromm's Intuition Glossar Brush checks both the boxes our experts recommend: boar bristles and a strong handle. The natural fibers are positioned in a porcupine-style formation to help distribute the oils produced by your scalp while loosening up debris. This brush also has longer pins throughout that work to massage your scalp. A cushioned base minimizes tugging while you pull it through your hair, and the wide paddle gives you more coverage with each stroke.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Plastic | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Both

For those on a budget, we recommend Conair's Velvet Touch Brush. This lightweight brush received nothing but praise from our home tester, who said it gets knots out without unnecessary tugging. It doesn't pick up a lot of strands, which one might think is a bad thing, however, given that this brush is smaller, we think it's a good choice for anyone who wants to give different areas of their hair individualized attention (which can be important when trying to untangle knots). Also nice: Due to its plastic construction, it works on both wet and dry hair.

Hair Type: Straight, wavy, fine, thick | Bristle Material: Boar | Shape: Flat oval | Wet or Dry: Dry

"For brushing dry hair and advancing natural oils down the hair strand, I like a flat brush like the Leonor Greyl Natural Boar Bristle Brush," says Savano. Because of how well it distributes oils, it leaves hair super shiny. It's got boar bristles (so it should only be used on dry hair) and it's ideal for folks with straight, wavy, fine, or thick hair. Oh, and it looks luxe on any vanity.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Paddle | Wet or Dry: Both

Designed to work with all hair types, T3's take on the paddle brush has a broad base, a cushioned body, and heat-resistant bristles that gently detangle and smooth wet or dry hair. The soft, nonslip handle also provides a nice grip. It's worth noting that because it has such a large body, it might be too big for those with short hair.

Hair Type: Straight, wavy, curly | Bristle Material: Nylon, boar | Shape: Round | Wet or Dry: Wet

This brush comes in five different sizes and has aerating holes at the top of the brush as well as throughout the barrel. The core of the brush is a tourmaline metal, which heats up and acts almost like a hot iron, which can be helpful when styling hair. It's also lightweight by round brush standards, offering a comfortable fit in your hand.

Hair Type: Thick, long | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Curved rectangular | Wet or Dry: Both

Thick hair? The Denman D4 has your name on it. Featuring nine rows of extra-long nylon pins on a long, lightweight, rounded base, this brush effortlessly separates, shapes, and defines even the thickest hair. This is a super sleek pick, which you'll no doubt want to proudly display on your nightstand or vanity.

Hair Type: Curly, coily, wavy | Bristle Material: Plastic | Shape: Pronged | Wet or Dry: Wet

The Flexi Brush was designed specifically for curly hair. It's lightweight, gliding through your knots without pulling on your roots and causing unnecessary fallout. What's more, the nonslip rubber handle gives you a solid grip while you work out the tangles.

Hair Type: Coily, curly, textured, wavy, medium, thick | Bristle Material: Plastic | Shape: Rectangular | Wet or Dry: Wet

If you're working with coily hair, this lightweight detangler brush might be your best bet. The flexible bristles are placed in wide rows to help them glide through wet hair without tugging at your scalp or causing tension and breakage. Our only gripe is that the handle isn't the most comfortable.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Both

We'll let you in on a little secret: Drybar makes the best brush for hair extensions. Featuring flexible bristles and a soft cushioned base, the Super Lemon Drop is designed to gently detangle wet or dry hair with minimal tugging. It's somewhat small, so those with lots of hair might be brushing for a while, but those who want to be extra careful with their extensions might enjoy how petite it is.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Both

We love this pretty lilac brush from Briogeo, which features vegan bristles with soft ballpoint tips to detangle all hair types, wet or dry. It provides the same smoothing benefits boar-style brushes have while remaining cruelty-free. The tips work to gently massage the scalp and detangle every strand they come in contact with, regardless of hair type and texture.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Boar, nylon | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Dry

This blush-pink brush by The Hair Edit was designed for dry hair. Featuring real boar bristles and ball-tipped nylon pins, it helps distribute your hair's natural oils, tames flyaways, and enhances shine, while giving you a nice scalp massage.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Plastic | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Formulated specifically for wet hair, but can be used on dry strands, too

When you step out of the shower (or are in the middle of one), reach for the Wet Brush. This clever and lightweight detangler works to gently remove knots and separate your hair without tugging at your roots or causing hair breakage. It works wonderfully with hair masks and deep conditioners while being super easy to clean afterward.

Hair Type: Curly, wavy, textured, thick | Bristle Material: Plastic | Shape: Curved rectangular | Wet or Dry: Wet

Pattern's Shower Brush has long, comb-like bristles that effortlessly separate and detangle your wet hair while defining your natural curl pattern. The comfy handle also has a hole on the end so you can hang it up next to your loofah. Byrdie editor Olivia Hancock shares that this brush makes detangling her thick, long curls a pain-free process. "The well-made bristles allow the brush to gently and effectively work through even the toughest tangles in my hair," she says. "The brush also does an excellent job of clumping curls, which helps me achieve incredible definition."

Hair Type: Medium, straight, wavy | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Contoured | Wet or Dry: Both

The Tangle Teezer earned a 4.8 out of 5 overall score from Byrdie contributor Sarah Y. Wu, who said it passed through her knots without tugging and enhanced her hair's natural shine. She also liked the lightweight, comfy hold and easy-to-clean design.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Round | Wet or Dry: Wet

Savano recommends a ceramic barrel when blow-drying, like this thermal option from Olivia Garden. Available in eight sizes, it has sturdy bristles (which, admittedly, can be scratchy against skin and clothes), large holes for maximum airflow, a retractable sectioning pick, and an ergonomic handle.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Rectangular | Wet or Dry: Either

This two-for-one product offers a brush on one side and a comb on the other, so it's kind of the best of both worlds. Use the comb to lay baby hairs and edges (or groom brows and lashes) or create a part and sweep through with the brush to smooth flyaways.

Hair Type: Mid-length and fine hair | Bristle Material: Boar | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Either

This luxurious brush tames frizz and flyaways with six rings of stiff boar bristle tufts. We love the long handle, which allows the user to brush to great lengths (literally). And while this pocket bristle brush is expensive, it will likely stand the test of time, thanks in part to the cleaning brush that comes with it and helps you keep your hairbrush in the best possible condition.

Hair Type: All, but best for thin | Bristle Material: Nylon and boar | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Either

All hair types will benefit from this boar- and nylon-bristled brush, but associate commerce editor Caitlyn Martyn says it's exceptional for those with thin hair who need volume. "I've tried so many brushes and this is the one I keep coming back to," she explains. "It's gentle on my fine strands—so it won't cause breakage— and it effectively detangles and adds to volume to my waves." It's something of an investment, but as Caitlyn points out, it's a solid choice for those in need of something that won't be too hard on their head or hair.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Paddle | Wet or Dry: Either

If you like the look and feel of a wooden brush, this one from Aveda has your name on it. Suitable for all hair types, it's lightweight and easy to hold with a large paddle and scalp-stimulating bristles that work to detangle hair, wet or dry.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Nylon | Shape: Paddle | Wet or Dry: Either

If you need something for at-home blowouts, go with the Moroccanoil Paddle Brush. Like many hair dryers and flat irons, the paddle and handle are made of ceramic to help speed up drying time, prevent damage, smooth flyaways, and leave you with super-sleek locks. Just a heads up, medium blow-drying heat is best, as the nylon bristles might warp if they get too hot.

FAQ

• How often should you brush your hair?

  When it comes to brushing, Nader’s rule is never to brush more than twice a day. “Any more than that, and you’re asking for trouble,” he says. He explains that over-brushing causes the sebaceous glands in the scalp to work overtime, leading to oily roots and the need to wash hair more frequently.

• When should I replace my hairbrush?

  Experts recommend that hairbrushes be replaced every six months and cleaned at least once a month.

• How do you clean hairbrushes?

  According to Nader, cleaning your hairbrush shouldn’t be a complicated process. “I just mix warm water with clarifying shampoo and let the brushes soak for an hour; that way, all the buildup can disappear," he says. "Then, I rinse them in cool water and lay them out in the sun to dry.”