11 Best Detangling Brushes Perfect For All Hair Types
The TikTok viral brush has thousands of five-star reviews calling it a “game-changer” for “soft hair”.
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When it comes to hair, we all know that brushes are not created equally. And if you ask us a detangling brush is at the top of the pyramid.
“The main difference between a normal brush and a detangling brush lies in their design and functionality,” says celebrity hairstylist and founder of Cole Hair in Double Bay, Mariah Rota. According to Rota, detangling brushes are specifically designed to handle tangles and knots in the hair more effectively. “They typically have wide-spaced bristles that are flexible and gentle on the hair, minimising damage and breakage during detangling,” she says.
As someone with thick, curly hair a detangling brush is a true godsend. And honestly, I wish I started using one sooner. It would have saved many a tear back in the day when my mum would try getting all my knots out.
There are many factors to consider when buying a detangling brush including bristles, material and design according to Rota. Luckily we’ve done the hard work for you and collated the best detangling brushes for you by brands like Tangle Teezer, Christophe Robin, JS Health and more.
As always, please note: price are correct and products in stock at time of publishing. We’ll do our best to keep this story updated, but be aware products move fast during sales events.
QUICK LINKS:
- Best all-rounder
- Most gentle
- Best for curly hair
- Best for dry hair
- Best for wet hair
- Best luxe brushes
- When and how should you use a detangling brush?
- Can all hair types use a detangling brush?
- What should you look out for when buying a detangling brush?
- Are there any other products you would use in conjunction with the detangling brush?
BEST ALL-ROUNDER
Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush – Pink Fizz, $21.95 at Amazon Australia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The OG detangling brush, the name itself should be reason enough to give it a go. Designed with a unique two-tiered technology, the brush features long and short bristles to perfectly smooth and detangle all knots. It works just as well on wet hair as it does on dry hair and is suitable for straight or wavy hair too.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
With over 15,687 five-star reviewers and comments like “miracle worker”, this brush is well-loved by its users. “It literally took 30 seconds to do my entire head (with a normal brush it was taking me about 30 minutes with many breaks just to get the knots out),” wrote one five-star review. “This felt amazing on my scalp and gave my hair a softness I have not experienced before. This is literally a game changer for me.”
Reviewers also noted it worked well on all hair types. One happy customer said it was the “best brush” for their fine hair while another said, “I have very long, thick, and frizzy hair, and it works perfectly for me.”
Tangle Teezer has also gone viral on TikTok and the #tangleteezer has over 273.9 million views on the video-sharing platform.
Signature Hair Brush – Detangle + Smooth, $19.99 at JS Health Vitamins
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
This sleek brush is designed to be gentle on your hair and scalp. It also works as a scalp massager. By simply applying a gentle pressure to the scalp you’ll be surprised just how relaxing the massaging effect can be. The ergonomic handle is an added bonus for ease of use.
WHAT REVIEWS SAY
This brush currently has a stellar rating of five stars from 145 reviews. Customers have said the brush “save[d] hair from breakage”, that it’s a “nice brush to handle when brushing” and they “didn’t know [they] could love a hairbrush so much.”
One five-star review wrote, “I have very thick hair and it does a brilliant job smoothing out every strand and adding natural shine. It gives a really lovely scalp massage too, love it.”
Another wrote: “Detangler and smooth brush feels nice to hold, glides through my hair after going nuts with the blow dryer (head upside down) and compact enough to throw in your bag to go out. Love it!!!”
Denman Classic Styling Brush 7 Rows, $46.46 at Amazon Australia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
If you’re after a one stop solution when it comes to your hair brush, the Denman Classic Styling Brush is a great choice. Whether you’re detangling, blow-drying or styling, this brush can do it all. Featuring seven rows of smooth bristles, it gently detangles, reduces frizz and smooths. It also works well as a tool to define curls when wet or to add shape while blow-drying.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
Over 36,700 customers have given this simple brush five stars on Amazon. Customers love how “easy to use” it is as well as how it “detangles knots easily and painlessly”. One five-star said the brush made “an unbelievable difference” to their “frizzy knots.”
“This brush is AMAZING!” wrote another happy customer. “It makes my curls have the most perfect spirals. My hair is not frizzy after using it, and it makes my hair super voluminous! A curly head must buy!”
Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush, $47.53 at Amazon Australia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Billed as the original glide-through brush, the Crave Natural Glide Thru brush is made from firm, quality bristles in a unique cone shape that are designed to work the hair sideways instead of down. This movement is gentler on the scalp and the hair. It says it’s suitable for all hair types: straight or curly, thin or coarse, wet or dry.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
Still not quite sure? Maybe the 45,150 five-star reviews on Amazon might convince you. “This brush is phenomenal,” said one five-star review.
“It took maybe 2 minutes with no pulling, snagging, tangles, or pain!!!! I tried it again with wet hair in the shower (something I would never dare try normally) and OMG again the brush exceeded all expectations!” they continued.
Another wrote, “The brush works wonders when it comes to detangling hair. It’s very gentle and I noticed a lot less hair came out compared to using my regular brush or wide-tooth comb.”
MOST GENTLE
Christophe Robin Detangling Hair Brush, $80 (down from $160) at Look Fantastic
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Crafted from 100 per cent natural boar bristle and wood, this brush is all about gentle brushing and keeping the hair damage free. Made using bristles of varying lengths to effortlessly detangle the hair and keep the shine too.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
Sitting at 4.3 stars on Google, reviewers are notably “surprised by how good” the brush is. “My hair is pretty thick but it brushes through unbelievably well and no breakage,” wrote one five-star review.
“My hair is usually such a hassle to comb with normal brushes but with this, I had no problem brushing through smoothly.”
VIRTUE Flourish and Manta Brush, $50 at Adore Beauty
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Combining gentle scalp massage with a detangling brush, this pick from Virtue is best for those whose hair is on the thinner side. To be used on wet or dry hair, it’s designed to detangle without pulling or tugging.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
On the Adore website, there are only a couple reviews at the moment but all are super positive. “I bought this to help increase blood flow to my head, it feels like you are getting a massage,” wrote one happy customer.
On Google, it is sitting at 4.3 stars. One review titled, “Um, is this what perfection feels like?!” writes, “The moment I touched the Manta brush to my head, I knew I’d found the right tool for me.”
They continued by saying, “It feels so good against my scalp that I’m now considering using it as a regular hair brush as well. I’m so impressed with this product that even if the longevity turns out to not be great, I’ll still give it five stars. If you have fine hair and a sensitive scalp, the Manta is very, very worth its price tag.”
BEST FOR CURLY HAIR
Bestool Detangling Brush, $20.71 at Amazon Australia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Designed for Black hair, this brush is perfect for detangling curly, thick hair without causing any damage. Featuring eight flexible arms, it can be used both vertically and horizontally to properly detangle and help natural hair maintain its curl. The rubber grip handle also ensures comfortable and sturdy ease of use.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
Over 28,300 reviewers on Amazon have given this brush five stars. Reviewers call it the “best brush ever for curly hair” and a “game changer.”
In particular, reviewers with natural Black hair have given raving reviews.
“My 8yo daughter has very thick, curly 3C hair,” started one happy customer.
“We just cannot do hair day without this brush. With wet hair, saturated conditioner while in the shower, and this brush, we can take out the worst knots … What used to take us over an hour, takes maybe 20 minutes now (at its worst). Can’t recommend it enough.”
Another said, “As someone with thick and unruly natural hair, I’ve always been on the lookout for products that make detangling a breeze … The unique design of this detangling brush is what sets it apart from the rest. The bristles are unlike anything I’ve seen before – they’re firm yet gentle, detangling my hair with ease while also providing a soothing scalp massage.”
BEST FOR DRY HAIR
Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush, $55 at THE ICONIC
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ideal for smoothing and detangling in a blow dry, this paddle brush is the ultimate styling tool. With a missing bristle down the bottom, this hole works to provide ventilation and aids in drainage and preventing bacterial growth. To use, brush vertically to detangle and horizontally to smooth.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
At 4.6 stars on THE ICONIC, reviewers are fairly impressed with this paddle brush. One happy customer has even owned it for the last 28 years. They said, “I have very long, thick, curly hair so finding a brush that would get through the snarls, without either damaging my hair, snapping in half, bending, or leaving bristles behind was impossible until I bought this brush.”
“The brush is extremely durable, I use it daily and only have to replace it every 7 or 8 years.”
BEST FOR WET HAIR
The Wet Brush Original Detangler Classic – Black, $18.95 at Adore Beauty
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Perfect for tangled wet hair, this brush is designed to detangle hair with less damage and less effort. It works on all hair types to simply glide through and gently loosen knots.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
97 per cent of Adore Beauty customers recommend this brush with most loving how “gentle” and “sturdy” it is.
“I have long thick hair and this brush works great!” wrote one five-star review.
“It glides through knots and makes my hair feel nice and soft.”
Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler Large Size, $36.30 at THE ICONIC
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
I have been using this brush for a couple of years now and if travelling when I know I will wash my hair, I won’t go without it. I have quite long, thick, curly hair and this brush is a true life savour when it comes to calming the beast that is my hair after I give it a good scrub with shampoo. I even now take it to the beach with me because if I let my beachy, knotty hair dry without brushing I know I will live to regret it.
It is made from 325 two-tiered teeth that are designed to flex over tangles and knots.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
On THE ICONIC, it is currently sitting at 4.7 stars.
“It feels great going through my hair, barely any of my hair comes out, way less frizz, and doesn’t hurt!” wrote one five-star review.
“The large size was perfect for my long hair and prefer this size over the regular size.”
BEST LUXE BRUSHES
Mason Pearson Brush, $218.85 at Amazon Australia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
OK, I know what you’re thinking. $218 on a hairbrush? Yes, it is definitely a lot of money but it is widely regarded as one the best detanglers on the market. So if your budget does stretch this far, you definitely won’t regret it.
The brand itself has been around for over 130 years and the iconic orange rubber-cushion pad is still being made by hand today.
Designed for tangle-prone, thick hair, this brush is crafted from stiff nylon bristles which provides you with more control when brushing. The cushioned pad also adds a massaging effect for your scalp.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY
On Amazon, reviewers write “Mason Pearson never disappoints” and that they are the “finest quality brushes.”
“This brush is totally worth the hype,” said one five-star review.
“This detangling brush goes right through my hair, detangles everything without product, and feels amazing on the scalp.”
WHEN AND HOW SHOULD YOU USE A DETANGLING BRUSH?
“A detangling brush can be used either with conditioner on wet hair or before blow-drying after shampooing,” says Rota.
“When using it with conditioner, apply the conditioner to your wet hair and gently comb through with the detangling brush to remove tangles and knots. Alternatively, you can use the detangling brush before blow-drying to smooth out any tangles and make the styling process easier.”
CAN ALL HAIR TYPES USE A DETANGLING BRUSH?
Yes, detangling brushes can be used on all hair types. However, the time it takes to detangle the hair may vary depending on the thickness and texture of the hair according to Rota.
“Thicker hair or hair with extensions may require more time and effort to detangle, so it’s recommended to work in smaller sections and be patient when using a detangling brush,” she suggests.
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR WHEN BUYING A DETANGLING BRUSH?
When buying a detangling brush, Rota says there are a few factors to consider:
Bristles: Look for wide-spaced bristles that can easily glide through the hair without causing excessive pulling or tugging. This design helps to minimise breakage and damage.
Material: If you intend to use the brush on wet hair, it’s best to choose a detangling brush with nylon or plastic bristles, as these materials are less likely to cause damage when the hair is wet.
Design: Consider the overall design of the brush. Look for a comfortable handle grip and a shape that fits well in your hand for easy maneuverability.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PRODUCTS YOU WOULD USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DETANGLING BRUSH?
In addition to using a detangling brush, it’s beneficial to use other hair products that can aid in detangling and provide moisture. Rota’s recommended product is a leave-in conditioner spray or cream.
She says, “Applying a leave-in conditioner after using the detangling brush can help to further smoothen and hydrate the hair, making it easier to manage. Genesis by Kérastase is a preferred choice for a leave-in conditioner, known for its nourishing properties.”
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