Best hair brush for long fine hair

Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

While some people can get by with just a comb, brushes are crucial for anyone with long, thick hair. But as hairstylist Kat Savano notes, they're not all created equal. Your hair type and desired style will determine what kind you need.

"The more bristles, the more control (tension) you get when you blow out the hair," Savano explains. "The fewer bristles, the more airflow you get, so less control but a faster blow-dry." Additionally, she recommends natural over plastic bristles and ceramic instead of metal barrels when blow-drying. For wet hair, plastic is usually the way to go.

According to hairstylist Carolyn Aronson, a good hairbrush will have a "strong, comfortable handle." As for the bristles, she says boar or a blend of natural and nylon is best.

With pointers from these pros in mind, we rounded up the best hairbrushes below.

What We Like

• Affordable

• Real boar bristles

• Leaves hair shiny

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for very thick hair

Who else recommends it? Allure also picked the Fromm The Intuition Glosser Boar Bristle Brush.

What do buyers say? 89% of 1,300+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

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

What We Like

• Affordable

• Doesn’t pick up a lot of strands

• Minimizes tugging

What We Don’t Like

• Somewhat small

For babes on a budget, we recommend Conair's Velvet Touch Brush. It clocked an impressive 4.7 out of 5 overall score from our home tester, who said it gets knots out without unnecessary tugging.

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

What We Like

• Affordable

• Real boar bristles

What We Don’t Like

• Somewhat small

Goody reigns in the drugstore category for its clips and hair ties. The brand also makes an excellent hairbrush, and considering the natural boar bristles, this one's a steal.

Hair Type: All | Bristle Material: Boar | Shape: Rectangular | Wet or Dry: Both

What We Like

• Real boar bristles

• Leaves hair shiny

• Stylist-recommended

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

"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. 

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

What We Like

• Cushioned

• Heat-resistant bristles

• Easy to grip

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

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, non-slip handle also provides a nice grip.

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

What We Like

• Tourmaline barrel

• Aerated holes

• Five sizes

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for dry hair

Aronson stands behind It's a 10 Round Brushes. "They come in five different sizes and have aerating holes at the top of the brush, as well as throughout the barrel," she tells Byrdie. "The core of the brush is a tourmaline metal, which heats up and acts almost like hot iron."

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

What We Like

• Extra-long pins

• Long base

• Separates wet hair

What We Don’t Like

• Slick handle

Thick hair? The Denman D4 has your name on it. Featuring nine rows of extra-long nylon pins on a long, rounded base, this brush effortlessly separates, shapes, and defines even the thickest hair.

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

What We Like

• Unique design

• Minimizes tugging

• Easy to grip

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for dry hair

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

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

What We Like

• Flexible bristles

• Minimizes tugging

What We Don’t Like

• Uncomfortable handle

If you're working with kinky or coily hair, this 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 breakage.

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

What We Like

• Flexible bristles

• Minimizes tugging

What We Don’t Like

• Somewhat small

Drybar makes the best brush for 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.

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

What We Like

• Massages scalp

• Eco-friendly packaging

What We Don’t Like

• Tricky to clean

We also like this pretty lilac brush from Briogio. It features vegan boar-style bristles with soft ballpoint tips to detangle all hair types, wet or dry while massaging the scalp—extra points for the eco-friendly packaging.

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

What We Like

• Real boar bristles

• Leaves hair shiny

• Massages scalp

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for wet hair

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: Boar, nylon | Shape: Oval | Wet or Dry: Dry

What We Like

• Affordable

• Minimizes tugging

What We Don’t Like

• Not recommended for dry hair

When you step out of the shower, reach for the Wet Brush. This clever detangler works to gently remove knots and separate your hair without tugging at your roots or causing hair breakage.

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

What We Like

• Defines natural curl pattern

• Easy to grip

What We Don’t Like

• Not very durable

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.

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

What Our Editors Say

"Pattern's Shower Brush makes detangling my 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. The brush also does an excellent job of clumping curls, which helps me achieve incredible definition." — Olivia Hancock, Editor

What We Like

• Minimizes tugging

• Easy to grip

• Easy to clean

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for curly hair

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

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

What We Like

• Ceramic barrel

• Aerated holes

• Easy to grip

• Eight sizes

What We Don’t Like

• Scratchy bristles

Savano recommends a ceramic barrel when blow-drying, like this thermal option from Olivia Garden. Available in eight sizes, it has sturdy bristles, large holes for maximum airflow, a retractable sectioning pick, and an ergonomic handle.

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

Final Verdict

The best option overall is the Fromm Intuition Glosser, a wide paddle brush with real boar bristles, massaging pins, and a sturdy handle. For folks on a budget, we suggest the Conair Velvet Touch Hair Brush. And if you're open to splurging, you can't go wrong with the Leonor Greyl Natural Boar Bristle Brush.

Meet the Expert

• Carolyn Aronson is a hairstylist and the founder/CEO of It's a 10 Haircare.
• Anthony Nader is a celebrity hairstylist and the salon owner of Raw Anthony Nader in Sydney, Australia.
• Kat Savano is a hairstylist based in the California Bay Area. She is also an educator for Leonor Greyl.

What to Look for in a Hair Brush

Shape

When it comes to shopping for hairbrushes, hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader recommends first making sure the brush shape will fit your specific hair needs. “If you want to achieve more volume with a blowout, aim for using a medium to large round brush,” he says. However, if you’re looking to achieve a quick and effortless blowout with minimal drying time, he recommends investing in a large, flat cushioned paddle brush. “The larger the brush, the more area you can cover in a shorter amount of time,” he says.

Boar Bristles

When it comes to bristle material, Nader is a big fan of bristles made of boar's hair. “These are soft, so your strands will glide through them with ease,” he says. “They help reduce the amount of tugging on strands, which can cause hair breakage, and they're fab for promoting blood flow which is beneficial for hair growth.” 

Ergonomic Design

Blowouts can take some time, especially if your hair is on the thicker side. With that in mind, shop for an ergonomically designed brush that fits comfortably in the hand and is easy to maneuver. This will make your blowout experience less of a hassle and help prevent sore wrists and hands post-blow dry.

FAQ

• Does brushing make hair grow?

  Brushing your hair won’t make it magically grow overnight, but Nader considers brushing to be the alarm that wakes up the blood cells underneath the scalp's surface. Stimulating these blood cells leads to a healthier scalp and hair, creating the right environment for optimal growth.

• How do you clean hair brushes?

  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.”

• 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.

• Is it bad to brush hair when it is wet?

  Nader doesn't recommend brushing your hair when it’s wet. “Each hair strand will stretch and won't bounce back to its original length, which causes breakage and frail, wispy ends,” he says. If you have to brush wet hair, opt for a wide-tooth comb as these are much less damaging and will help gently detangle any knots.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in cosmetics, self-care, and wellness. She interviewed two experts for this story, compiling their product recs and insight into the best materials and designs. Before landing on her final selections, she considered a broad range of brushes from myriad brands and retailers, ultimately choosing sturdy, gentle, and effective options. Theresa covers haircare, skincare, and makeup at Byrdie. You can find more of her bylines on The Spruce and MyDomaine.

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

1. The 13 Best Boar-Bristle Brushes, According to Hairstylists. Allure. https://www.allure.com/gallery/best-boar-bristle-hair-brushes

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