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Not All Brushes Can Handle Thick Hair, But These Can
The best brushes for thick hair are non-negotiable when it comes to taking care of high-pile strands, whether your hair type is curly, wavy, or pin-straight. More hair means more knots and a steeper hill to climb when it’s time to untangle. Thankfully, brushes made with thick hair in mind make the whole ordeal a lot less painful (literally). And it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, either—you’ve got options. Prefer boar bristles? No problem. Craving a mini scalp massage with every stroke? Absolutely. Need a brush that plays nice in the shower? You bet. Keep scrolling to meet our editors’ favorite brushes for thick hair, plus expert tips and recs worth writing down.
Our Top Brushes for Thick Hair
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Tek Multipurpose Large Oval Brush with Short Pins
Why we love it: Tek’s Multipurpose Large Oval Brush is gentle yet effective, providing a subtle, non-irritating scalp massage you’ll genuinely enjoy. Its short, hornbeam wood pins won’t trigger frizz or static (similar to metal options) and even help absorb excess sebum and natural oils from your strands. Due to the shorter length of the pins, it’s ideal for use on dry hair. Comfortable to grip and perfect for long, thick hair, it’s a timeless addition to your haircare lineup.
“Meet my ultimate weapon against my long, dense hair. With hair down to my waist, it can get a bit unruly during the day, and just a few swipes of the Tek Multipurpose Brush whips it back into shape. I start by brushing gently on the ends, working to the middle of my hair on one side at a time. Once I’m tangle-free, I do two quick, gentle brushes at the top of my head, mindful not to remove the volume. I toss it into my bag for the day and am on the go. At night, I repeat the same routine but do a mini scalp massage to help with my postpartum loss since the pins are so gentle on my hair.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director
- Brush material: ash wood body, hornbeam wood bristles
- Who it’s for: everyone, people with short thick hair
Best on Scalps: Mane Ready or Knot Detangling Paddle Hair Brush
Why we love it: The spacious surface area of Mane’s Ready or Knot Brush is immediately impressive. The paddle brush’s birch wood design features metal bristles that deliver a blissful scalp massage every time you detangle. Especially talented at breaking up stubborn knots in towel-dried hair, this brush expertly smooths strands with minimal static. It’s exactly the brush we wish we had growing up—but better late than never.
“No joke, this is the only brush that detangles my hair. Before I was using the Ready or Knot brush, it took maybe a full six minutes to brush my very long hair post-shower, and this thing cut that time more than in half. The metal bristles are key and I appreciate the surface area. Part of my struggle is that my individual strands aren’t super thick, but I have loads of fine hair, which makes me extra tangle and breakage prone, so this brush has been a lifesaver. It looks really pretty on my dresser, too. I’ve had the brush for around a year now and it’s still going strong, but the paint on the wooden body has started to wear a bit. Doesn’t bother me one bit, though.”
- Brush material: birch wood body, metal bristles
- Who it’s for: people brushing damp hair, people with lots of knots
Best Splurge: La Bonne Brosse N.03 The Gentle Scalp Care Hair Brush
Why we love it: Part of the whole “quiet luxury” thing is investing in beautifully elevated versions of everyday items. La Bonne Brosse’s No.3 The Gentle Scalp Care Hair Brush fits that perfectly. Its boar bristles and nylon pins are infused with keratin for an extra reparative boost with every stroke, gently smoothing without irritation. (For more serious detangling, opt for the Universal version, which also happens to be a Best of Beauty winner.) Round-tipped bristles make it ideal for sensitive scalps—no overstimulation here—and it comes in 10 stunning shades, ensuring you’ll find the perfect match for your vanity aesthetic.
“When you have lot of hair (hi, hello) you need a do-it-all brush, and for me, that’s the N.03 from La Bonne Brosse. The combination of nylon bristles (which have capped ends that make it nice and gentle on your scalp) and boar bristles makes it so this brush can detangle, smooth, and style. My hair is curly and I often heat style it, so I’m constantly needing to detangle and brush out blowouts or curls, and it does a great job at sealing up the ends and making everything look overall more polished. I also use it to massage my scalp, and distribute oils through my dry, damaged ends. It’s definitely pricey, but it can replace so many in your routine.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Brush material: cellulose acetate body, nylon and boar hair bristles
- Who it’s for: people who want a softer brushing experience
Best Detangling: FHI Heat Unbrush Detangling Hair Brush
Why we love it: You might recognize the Unbrush from its viral TikTok fame, but with social media trends, it can be tricky to separate hype from reality. Luckily, this brush lives up to the buzz. Its one hundred and five hardworking bristles glide effortlessly through even the toughest tangles, while the lightweight body ensures easy handling as you move from section to section. Despite being plastic, the bristles boast an anti-static coating, an excellent feature for wet hair and dry hair alike. Pro tip: start detangling from your ends and gradually work your way up to the roots for best results.
“I just got K-tip extensions and the Unbrush has been a total lifesaver with keeping them looking perfect. It glides through my hair without tugging or catching on the bonds, which is basically a miracle. No knots, just smooth, tangle-free hair.” —Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Brush material: plastic body, plastic bristles
- Who it’s for: everyone
Best for Styling: Wet Brush Easy Blowout Detangling Hair Brush
Why we love it: Absolutely slaying the bang-to-buck ratio every time, the Wet Brush is a drugstore staple in every sense. While each iteration of this classic delivers, the Easy Blowout Detangling Hair Brush truly shines on days when you use hot tools. Start by detangling damp strands before your blowout, then keep it handy as you fire up your hair dryer. Its heat-resistant bristles and ceramic-plated base retain heat, enhancing smoothness and straightening without risking damage to your strands while blow-drying.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“This brush is a dream for thick hair. My hair instantly mattes and knots when it gets wet. My hair texture is straight and fine, but it’s very dense, so the combination of that results in a tangly tornado. This brush brilliantly brushes out knots while adding volume. It’s excellent for continous detangling as I am blow drying my hair, and truly gives the volumious, blowout look that I am seeking. It also holds up to the wet brush standard of never becoming damaged due to water exposure.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Brush material: plastic
- Who it’s for: people who style with heat
More brushes for thick hair we love
Best Boar-Bristle Brush: Mason Pearson Popular Bristle & Nylon Hairbrush
Why we love it: A classic boar bristle hair brush that’s just as luxe as it is effective, try Mason Pearson’s Popular Bristle Nylon Brush. Los Angeles-based hair stylist Devin Toth appreciates the mixed-bristles, which use “nylon and boar bristles, which, together, create maximum tension and control, creating a lot of smoothness and shine.” Celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago agrees. “I always make sure my Mason Pearson [brush] is in my kit and salon. The bristles are strong enough to detangle the hair, soft enough not to break it, and amazing at evenly distributing the natural oil from your scalp through your hair all at the same time. This makes your hair shinier, healthier, and gorgeous,” she says. Convinced? We are.
- Brush material: cellulose acetate plastic body, nylon and boar bristles
- Who it’s for: everyone
Best Round Brush: Philip B. Large Round Hairbrush
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Philip B.
Large Round Hairbrush
Why we love it: For a round brush that can tackle thick strands like a pro, grab Philip B.’s Large Round Hairbrush. “The high bristle density smooths and shapes coarse textures effortlessly, making it easy to create sleek styles or add volume and bounce,” says Santiago. She explains that the large barrel is ideal “for smoothing out thick hair and adding volume right at the root.” Pair this brush with your blow-dryer to refresh a second-day blowout.
- Brush material: mahogany body, boar bristle, and nylon bristles
- Who it’s for: people styling or refreshing heat-styled hair
Best for Coily Hair: Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush
Why we love it: Thick, coily hair meets its match in Felicia Leatherwood’s Detangler Brush. This brush’s flexible bristles are stout and widely spaced to minimize tugging and breaking tight spirals of hair. “This brush moves with the hair instead of fighting it. It’s gentle, effective, and curl-defining, all in one,” says hairstylist Michelle O’Connor. The broad, flat handle makes it easy to grip and guide, which is helpful when brushing wet hair—something that O’Connor recommends. She likes to use it on soaking wet strands, saturated with conditioner, to help with detangling and curl definition.
- Brush material: wood, nylon
- Who it’s for: people with curly or coily hair
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you define thick hair?
According to Toth, thick hair can be defined as a matter of overall density or of individual strand coarseness. “You could describe the diameter of each individual strand of hair as either fine or coarse, but thick hair comes down to the collective density of your entire head of hair (hair follicles per square inch),” says Toth. As for the signs you have thick hair? Toth points out a few. “You probably have thick hair if it feels heavy, like it’s pulling down your head and neck, especially when in a bun,” he says. “Another example is when you have a clean hair part, you can barely see your scalp.”
What’s the best hairbrush for thick hair?
The brush you use for thick hair largely depends on preference, because “thick hair” isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition, so your hairbrush shouldn’t be either. If you like brushing your hair when it’s wet, look for metal bristles that won’t rust or flexible plastic bristles. If you prefer taking a brush to your strands when they’re totally dry, opt for a non-static wood bristle. Want a style refresh? “If hair is in a bouncy blowout, I would use a boar bristle brush to softly brush the hair to remove tangles and distribute oils from roots to ends,” says Santiago.
You can also look for brushes that feature bristles of different lengths, which can help with detangling, according to Mandee Tauber, a hairstylist and educator for Oribe.
How do you brush super thick hair?
Since thick hair is more prone to tangling, it’s important to brush in a way that limits painful tugging and snagging. The solution lies in where you begin brushing. Toth recommends the following method for people with wavy hair or thick, straight hair: “Brush the ends first, and then once they are detangled, brush from the mid shaft downward through the ends. Once that’s all detangled, brush from the roots of the hair all the way down and through the ends.”
However, the requirements for brushing thick curly hair can be a little different. Maryland-based hairstylist Ardajah Jones explains, “Sometimes, depending on the hair’s health and curl pattern, you might need to start brushing above the tangle and work your way down first, rather than always starting at the ends. The main goal is to use a combination of technique and the right amount of tension to minimize wear and tear on the hair.”
You can expect a bit of trial and error as you figure out what brushing method feels good for you, your strands, and your scalp. Just be gentle and patient.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new blow-dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.
For our list of the best hairbrushes for thick hair, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists and seasoned estheticians. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
