The Best Brushes For Every Hair Type And Concern

Rooting for good hair days? It all starts with the right tools. We combed through countless brushes to bring you our favourites for every hair type and styling preference.

Best hair brush overall

Crown Affair The Brush No. 001, $163

Often compared to the famous—and even pricier—Mason Pearson brush, this nylon-and-boar option with a wooden handle is a real treat to use. Testers raved about how comfortable it was to hold and how smooth and frizz-free their locks looked after using. “I swear my hair is straighter and sleeker, and my blowouts last longer because of this brush,” one said.

Best hair brush for detangling

Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler, $21

This brush has many fans—including several among the Chatelaine team—because it’s affordable and extremely versatile: It can be used on wet or dry hair and works on almost all hair types and lengths. A mix of long and short flexible bristles make quick work of knots and tangles without tugging or snagging.

A word of caution: Heat can cause the plastic bristles to warp, so steer clear of hot tools when using this one.

Best hair brush for volume

Conair Double Ceramic Round Brush, $15

Our tester was looking for a round brush with grippy bristles to provide tension when styling and a comfortable handle that doesn’t slip. She found her match in this affordable vented brush with a mix of nylon and boar bristles. It gives hair a ton of volume and shine while also being easy to control.

Best hair brush for fine and damaged hair

Manta Hair Brush, $65

After his wife lost her hair following an illness, hairstylist Tim Binnington created the palm-sized Manta brush. Made from flexible silicone, it’s designed to minimize pulling and breakage on fine hair. Several Chatelaine team members have been using this brush for years and love how gentle it is, even on delicate, heat-damaged or knotted strands. It can be used as a wet brush as well.

Best hair brush for thick hair

Dyson Paddle Brush, $55

Thanks to its generous size and sturdy bristles, this brush can tackle large swathes of hair at once. Dyson is known for its hot tools, so it’s no surprise that this brush was designed with styling in mind: it’s heat-resistant up to 150F, and the luxe weighted handle makes it easy to manoeuvre.

Best hair brush for curly hair

Denman D4 Original Styler, $36

“When I brush my hair in the shower, my curl pattern comes back to life instantly,” says our tester, who has been using Denman brushes for years. Best used on wet hair, the brush’s firm nylon pins create tension, which sculpts and smoothes curls and coils without causing breakage. It’s also an excellent tool for combing hair product through evenly.

The Original Styler comes in various sizes: as a rule, the more rows of pins the brush has, the tighter the curls will be.