Whether it’s products made to add volume to thin hair or anti-frizz products, you probably already select your favorite hair products based on the hair you have (and the hair you desire). This is so that style doesn’t have to be stressful, and hair brushes are no exception. You may take a step toward having an excellent hair regimen by choosing the hair brush that is ideal for your hair type and objectives. The right hair brush “should maximize results with minimal effort on any hair,” says Jeremy Taylor, L’Oréal Professionnel National Educator and stylist at TReSs Apothecary and Salon in Newport Beach, California.
From hair dryers and curling irons to accessories like the best hair diffusers, the Home Accessories Institute Beauty Lab has tested hair products for decades. Our experts analyze hair brushes in the lab before sending samples to our panel of consumer testers, who range in age and have a variety of hair kinds, textures, and lengths. Testers give feedback on their likes and dislikes after using the brushes frequently. The top-rated hair brushes from the GH Beauty Lab, editor and expert selections, best-sellers, and more are included in this list of the top hair brushes to buy in 2022.
Top choices:
But let’s start with the basics: What are blackheads? Mona Gohara, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, explains that blackheads, one type of acne, are a buildup of sebum (oil), keratin, and dirt that become trapped inside pores and are oxidized by air, giving them a darker appearance. Hence the term “blackheads.” Although they can appear anywhere on the body, they frequently form on the chin, forehead, and nose.
There are many ways to get rid of blackheads, from instruments that physically remove them from the skin and unclog pores to skincare solutions that work gradually to do just that. Dr. Gohara likes comedone extractors, a little spoon-shaped device with a hole in the middle or a metal rod with loops that force dirt and sebum out of pores. According to Chiara Butler, a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, “Other tools include skin spatulas that vibrate to scrape the surface of the skin and pore vacuums that use suction to pull sebum from the pore.” She dislikes both of these because they can result in bruising and bursting blood vessels.
Many alternatives are available in the skincare industry, including chemical peels, retinol treatments, and exfoliators that typically contain salicylic and glycolic acids, among other ingredients. According to Butler and Dr. Gohara, pore strips are not recommended as they “are a quick fix and do nothing to help the process of the blackheads forming.” You may see our top selections for blackhead removers, including editor and dermatologist favorites, Beauty Award winners, and more when you’ve mastered the various categories.
Check out our top acne face washes and acne-fighting skincare routine if removing blackheads isn’t your only problem.
1
PROS
- Can be used on wet or dry hair
- Gently detangles
- Soft bristles
CONS
The flexible bristles of The Wet Brush, a favourite of the GH editors, won’t tug on strands. Testers discovered in our Beauty Lab review that it effortlessly untangles and tames tangles in wet hair. Any hair, whether dry or wet, can be styled with it. It’s even available in mini versions. “To detangle wet hair after a shower, choose a brush with widely-spaced, synthetic bristles for gentle brushing,” advises Chiara Butler, GH Beauty Lab Analyst.
• Shape: Oval
• Bristles: Nylon, ball-tipped
• Hair type: All
2
PROS
- Works on hair extensions
- Adds shine and helps de-frizz hair
- Gentle bristles
CONS
This detangling brush, another GH Beauty Lab favourite, combines boar and nylon bristles for more shine and smoothness. The meeting gently cuts through tangles and knots thanks to its flexible paddle and ionic bristles, preventing breakage. Birnur Aral, director of the GH Beauty Lab, says of the adjustable brush head, “I like the soft and sturdy handle, and the brush head that moves and separates as needed when detangling.”
• Shape: Paddle
• Bristles: Boar and nylon, ball-tipped
• Hair type: All
3
PROS
- Easy-to-grip handle
- Great for blowouts
CONS
- Pricey
All hair types and lengths benefit from paddle brushes, but longer hair benefits the most because they can handle more expanses of hair at once. No matter how thick or tangled your hair is, this ghd brush won’t feel like it will snap thanks to its wide paddle, ergonomic handle, and significant weight. It’s also ideal for accelerating a sleek blow dry. One reviewer exclaims, “The brush creates a beautiful blowout and has significantly reduced the time it took me to dry my hair using a round brush.”
• Shape: Paddle
• Bristles: Nylon, ball-tipped
• Hair type: All
4
PROS
- Adds volume
- Travel-friendly
- Vented
CONS
- Bristles may lose their tips
You should use a brush that boosts volume if you’re concerned about thinning areas in your hair. The vented shape of this brush makes it perfect for blow-drying because you can easily direct the airflow to get more height and body while also accelerating drying time. One reviewer claims, “I looked hard for a brush for thinning hair and found this one. Because there are fewer bristles than on a typical hairbrush, there isn’t the customary pulling on the scalp you’re used to, which is just what I need.
• Shape: Curved rectangular
• Bristles: Nylon, ball-tipped
• Hair type: All
5
BEST HAIR BRUSH FOR CURLY HAIR
TANGLE TEEZER The Original Detangling Hairbrush
NOW 75% OFF
PROS
- Good for sensitive scalps
- Gentle on tangles
CONS
- May experience some hair damage
According to our editors, I love the cult-favourite Tangle Teaser to untangle curls in the shower. In addition to being soft on knots to prevent breakage, it’s ideal for evenly dispersing conditioner.”The curly hair can be quickly untangled using thin pin bristles, which readily slip through matted knots. Even when I travel, I must have it.
6
PROS
- Helps hair dry faster to avoid heat damage
- Ergonomic handle allows for more control
CONS
- Expensive
This brush is more than just stylish: The wooden vented handle gives better airflow and a more comfortable grip, making it ideal for heat styling and a hairstylist favourite. This brush helps to “smooth out my clients’ hair perfectly with a combination of boar bristle and heat resistant nylon pins,” says Taylor. “The boar bristles smooth the hair’s cuticle while the nylon pins grab and pick up sections of hair with ease.”
7
PROS
- Smooths edges
- Tames baby hairs
- Distributes natural oils
CONS
- Bristles may fall out quickly
This brush costs less than $3 and is essential if you wear your hair in a topknot or neat ponytail. For a professional-looking finish, add some gel to the bristles of your brush to quickly smooth your edges (also known as the baby hairs framing your face). It works well for controlling flyaways on the tops and sides as well. One reviewer claims, “The double-ended feature was what sold me.” “Utilising and essential for kinky, curly hair.”
• Shape: Rectangular
• Bristles: Boar
• Hair type: All
How we choose the best hair brushes
The top-performing hair tools and products that make styling your hair less of a chore are put to the test by the Home Accessories Institute Beauty Lab. We test the goods in our lab before sending samples to our panel of consumer testers spread nationwide when the Beauty Lab tests hair brushes for our annual GH Beauty Awards. After using the brushes as part of their routine for a predetermined amount of time, our testers of various ages and hair kinds, textures, and lengths provide honest feedback on what they liked and didn’t like. We choose the best after tallying the results of consumer and lab tests.
What to look for when shopping for the best hair brushes
✔️ Size: Choose a brush size based on whether you want your hair to have more volume or curl. The wider the brush’s diameter, the more volume and the less curl or movement in the hair advises Taylor when choosing a brush for your particular hairstyle. The meeting will have less volume and more curl or movement the smaller its diameter.
✔️ Bristles: Boar bristles help maintain hair healthy and lustrous. While nylon bristles help detangle thick and coarse hair, boar bristles give your hair “a shine by closing the hair strand’s cuticle, helping the hair reflect light,” according to Taylor. “Nylon bristles provide enough stiffness to brush through thick hair,” Butler continues.
✔️ Handle: Take the brush’s ergonomics into account. Three distinct handle designs are available: rubber, wooden, and plastic. Taylor adds, “Out of the three, I like the wooden handle for a smooth, flawless, grasped handle. However, a rubber handle also provides a good grip and comfort while brushing, and plastic handles are typically more economical.
✔️ Shape: “Paddle brushes are great because they cover a wide surface area,” according to Butler, for maintaining long or thick hair. Additionally, they frequently contain a cushion behind the bristles that flexes while you brush, improving head comfort. Paddle brushes and rectangular brushes can both accomplish the same things. Round brushes are the preferred choice for style since they have a range of barrel diameters that allow you to achieve different looks.
✔️ Use/routine: When brushing damp hair, search for brushes with vented bristles or widely separated bristles. Butler says when your hair is wet, “you don’t want the strands to snag on closely-spaced bristles because they are in their most delicate state.” However, because dry hair is less delicate than wet hair, you have a more comprehensive selection of brushes. Round brushes are typically the ideal option when looking for a hairbrush to use with your hair dryer since they generate volume and bounce when you wrap your hair around them. Additionally, consider brushes with vented or ceramic-coated barrels made to disperse heat from the hair drier and speed up the drying process, advises Butler.
✔️ Hair type: “I like boar bristle for fine hair because the soft, flexible bristles can brush fine hair well,” Butler adds. Meanwhile, she continues that paddle brushes are excellent for thick hair since the bristles are stiffer than boar bristles.
