These 13 Hair Brushes Will Change Your Routine for the Better

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

There are subtle differences in hairbrushes that can make a huge impact in your hair's overall look and health. And whether you have fine, thick, or coily hair—when it comes to nailing down the perfect routine—you need the right brush that matches your hair and your goals.

But where to start? You just need to consider a few things. "A good-quality hair brush can help you achieve the look you want or address a specific concern," Anna Kimble, director of events and education at Drybar, tells Bazaar. “For example, to achieve a bouncy blowout, look for a round brush with a ceramic barrel, and for detangling, a brush with flexible yet sturdy nylon bristles that can easily glide through hair is usually best.”

Ahead, the ultimate guide to hairbrushes—including expert tips from pros on choosing the right one for your hair.

Flat Brush

If you already count yourself a fan of Oribe's shampoos, conditioners, and styling products, then this ergonomic flat brush made from European beechwood might become your new favorite hair care essential.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "Why do I have to love a $100+ brush? Its mixture of bristles is perfect for detangling and smoothing. Smaller than expected, but still a good size!" — Mckays15

Floral Garden Detangle & Style Kit

A favorite of stylists, editors, and hair obsessives everywhere, Wet Brush's detangler is gentle on wet and dry hair, no matter the texture (including wigs and extensions). And as an added bonus, you'll also receive a handy scrunchie to keep hair out of your face.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "Super cute brushes and high quality! Love love love!" — Sara

Boar Bristle Hair Brush

"I always recommend a natural bristle brush for straight hair types," celebrity hairstylist Rocco adds. "The Boar Bristle Hair Brush seamlessly detangles most hair types, and its bristles help evenly distribute the scalp's natural oils through the length of your hair."

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "This brush is great!!! It smells great. It literally detangles your hair for easy styling. Leaves your hair silky & shiny." — Barbara

Bristle and Nylon Brush

This culty brush is on the pricey side, but it's still a frequent pick for hairstylists because of its patented cushioning—which conforms to the contours of the scalp—and combination nylon and boar bristles.

"If you're willing to splurge a little on a hair brush, I'd say get one from Mason Pearson," Candace Witherspoon, stylist and owner of Candace Witherspoon Salon in New York City, says."It's a favorite among many professionals, myself included." Celebrity stylist Gabrielle Corney agrees, adding, "The best luxe hair brushes available are made by Mason Pearson, hands down."

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "I decided to splurge and treated myself to a Mason Pearson brush. I have been using my brush daily and love it. It really does enhance the shine of my hair and helps eliminate frizziness. I have straight, long fine hair, but lots of it. I purchased the Handy Mixture Boar Bristle and Nylon Hairbrush and it works perfect for my hair type. Well I didn't enjoy the price (lol) I can tell this is a quality brush that I will have for life." — HappyMum

Smooth Paddle Brush

T3 is well-known for their bevy of salon-quality hot tools, which can be used with this smooth paddle brush that contains heat-resistant bristles for seamless styling.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "If you have thick or course hair, this is your drying brush. Dry in sections and it is much easier to flat iron. Learned this from my stylist and the T3 paddle brush is light-weight and easy." —1feedback

Original Styler 7-Row Brush

The Denman brush is another essential for many professional hairstylists, and this one contains seven rows of round-ended pins that are helpful for separating wet hair or defining curls. "My personal go-to is usually a Denman seven-row brush," Corney says. "Denman brushes are among the best detangling brushes for a majority of hair types and textures. They have many styles and sizes to choose from to suit just about anyone's needs."

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "I swear you will NOT regret buying this brush! It’s so easy to use, and makes the curl clumps form really really fast. I use curl cream, then tension brush through my hair in sections. Lock it all in with a gel, and TADA!!! Best curls you’ve seen in your LIFE! I have type 3a/2c hair and thought this wouldn’t work for me. But CLEARLY I was wrong. Add to cart ASAP." — Kari

9-Row Professional Styling Brush

For a more affordable brush option, Corney counts Diane by Fromm's nine-row hair brush as one of her most consistent go-tos to use on clients.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "I love this brush, it's so affordable and works really well to detangle my 3A hair. I wouldn't bother spending an arm and leg on the brand name tools when this works just as well. It's also easy to clean and of really great quality, in my opinion." —Naila

Edge Tool

And speaking of Pattern Beauty, this slender, dual-sided tool from the brand features a comb and stiff-bristle brush to help sculpt your baby hair. "The Edge Tool by Pattern Beauty is amazing," Witherspoon says. "It's an excellent two-in-one tool: great for slicking down edges and baby hair with its brush end, but its rattail comb side also comes in handy when executing a clean part."

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "Defined my edges in both natural and protective styles. I also love that I can use this tool to lay down stray hairs that may stick out from my protective braid styles. Def recommend buying!" — Dani

Rizos Curls Pink Detangling Flexi Brush

This flexible detangling brush from Rizos Curls is made to glide through wet or damp curls without pulling, and best used in the shower while deep conditioning.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "I'm really impressed! This brush gets though curls so easily and gently. Game changer." —Shelby S.

Mini Boar Bristle Brush

Here's a glittery and handbag-ready boar bristle brush from Emi Jay. It's ideal for midday hair touch-ups, and nicely made with organic bamboo.

Naturally Curly Detangling Brush

To help smooth her curls in the shower, hairstylist and Ouidad brand ambassador Irinel de León personally uses this Tangle Teezer hair brush, since, she says, it's soft enough to detangle them without compromising the hair's integrity or contributing to breakage.

Pro-tip: don't overdo it though. Brushing too much can cause more harm than good. "Brushing your hair offers great stimulation for your scalp, which leads to more hair growth," De León explains. "However, over-brushing can cause damage as it can lift the cuticle and eventually cause dullness in the hair's appearance. Only brush enough so your hair is untangled and smooth."

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "This brush is the best one that I've ever owned since going completely natural! It's helped detangle my hair when it's wet and because it's so good at detangling, I've noticed a huge difference in the quality of my hair! I have thick and coarse hair (about 4b), and it's been easy to use." — Astrid

Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hair Brush

When creating straight styles with heat, Rocco suggests using a round ceramic ion or tourmaline ion option like this ventilated Ulta shopper favorite, which is available in eight size options.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "This brush glided through my wet hair like butter, and gave me the fastest, softest self blow dry ever. Completely helped tame my frizz; it looked like it had almost been flat ironed. I'm actually looking forward to using my blow dryer now." —Lisa

Professional Medium Round Hair Brush

Here's a three-pack of best-selling brushes from Conair (one of Rocco's preferred hair brush brands) that feature ball-tipped bristles that won't snag as you work it through. As an added bonus, you can snag a these coveted brushes on for under $10.

What the Reviewers Are Saying: "I’ve been having a hard time finding a hair brush that doesn’t dig into my scalp and hurt me. This one is perfect! No scalp pain and no tangled hair. Very happy with it." —M.R. M.

What should I look for when choosing a hair brush?

When choosing a hair brush, look for one that meets the needs of your hair type, like detangling, shine-boosting, or volume-enhancing. Brushes should be durable and easy to clean, so you don't have to replace them often.

What are some of the most popular kinds of hair brushes, and how are they used when styling?

• Round brushes: Typically used with a blow dryer to volumize and lift hair at the roots.

• Paddle brushes: Ideal for smoothing through fine to medium, straight, or straightened hair with minimal snags.

• Detail brushes: Often used to smooth edges and shape baby hair.

• Detangling brushes: Made of flexible material that's ideal for smoothing knots and tangles in and out of the shower.

What are some benefits of brushing your hair daily?

In addition to keeping tangles at bay, daily hair brushing evenly distributes oil from the scalp to the length of your hair for increased hydration and shine. The process is also a great way to keep your scalp healthy and your hair follicles stimulated.

Meet the Experts

• Anna Kimble is the director of events and education at Drybar.

• Irinel de León is a professional stylist and Ouidad ambassador.

• Leonardo Rocco is a professional stylist and owner of Rocco Donna Salon in Miami Beach, Florida.

• Candace Witherspoon is a professional stylist and owner of the Candace Witherspoon Salon in New York City.

• Gabrielle Corney is a celebrity stylist based in New York City.

Why trust Harper's Bazaar?

For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

You Might Also Like

• 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora

• The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine