The 13 Best Brushes for Curly Hair of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Curls Ultimate Detangler Brush

View On Amazon $17 View On Curls.com $17

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

This Curls brush claimed our best overall spot for its smooth glide, extremely gentle detangling capabilities, and unique customization options. Honestly, we had never used a brush that made such an immediate difference in our curls.

From the first pass, the firm yet soft bristles glided through our wet hair, working to remove tangles without any tension or ripping. Typically, we need at least two passes to completely rid our hair of knots, which in the past has resulted in excessive shedding. With this brush, one was enough to totally detangle, resulting in less hair loss, too. Once our hair dried, we noticed our curl pattern was tighter, bouncier, and more defined than usual. Plus, our coils looked more voluminous.

We appreciated that the brush also came with interchangeable bristle patterns to accommodate curly hair of all types — from wavy and coarse to thin and ultra thick. Changing out the bristles was as simple as sliding the cushion out, inserting a new pad, and snapping it into place. We’ve broken a few brushes over the years (due to the thick nature of our hair), so we like that the extra bristle pads make this a more sustainable option. And although the brush was a bit heavier than other options we tested, it was still perfectly comfortable to handle.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: All types

Best Budget

tgin Define + Style Detangling Brush

View On Amazon View On Ulta $15 View On Tginatural.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  3.5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

If you’re looking for a lightweight yet sturdy brush that doesn’t cost much money, this one from tgin is an excellent option. Though labeled for defining and styling, we found that it functioned best as a detangling brush because it effectively smoothed out our knots and separated our curls without much effort or shedding. During this process the stiff (but gentle) plastic bristles provided a calming scalp massage. By the time we finished brushing we only found one strand stuck in the bristles. When it came to styling, this brush quickly separated curls, but didn’t help define them due to the widely spaced bristles.

While there aren’t any bells and whistles with this brush, we ultimately consider it a reliable, well-made tool that will fit into most budgets.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: All types

Best Splurge

Mason Pearson Junior Bristle & Nylon Mixture Brush

View On Amazon $225 View On Nordstrom $225 View On QVC $225

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Performance
  4.7/5

At first glance, $200 seemed like an excessive amount to spend on a hair brush, but one pass of the luxurious boar bristle tool through our 3B hair was enough to convince us that this was worth the steep price tag. Before we even ran it through our hair, we enjoyed how the lightweight, ergonomic handle fit into our hands — it set us up for one of the most pleasant detangling experiences of our life.

The combination of boar hair and nylon felt invigorating on our scalp, and as we worked our way down, it effortlessly glided through our hair. Our strands are constantly tangled, resulting in shedding and painful brushing, but we didn’t notice any snagging during that first run through. The brush quickly and gently smoothed out our hair without disrupting our curl pattern, leaving it soft and damage-free.

When it came to the brush’s overall performance, we had no complaints. We were a bit disappointed to discover the handle was made of plastic, but considering the bristles are extremely high quality, we can overlook the less-than-luxe base.

Bristle Material: Boar bristle, nylon | Curl Pattern: 2A to 3B

Best Detangling

Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler

View On Amazon $16 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Ulta $16

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Performance
  4.8/5

We’ve been searching for a detangling brush that doesn’t snag or rip our hair for years. It took a lot of trial and error, but we finally found one that makes the painstaking task actually enjoyable. With its two tier bristle system, The Ultimate Detangler from Tangle Teezer passed through our thick hair with efficiency and comfort, resulting in a smooth, frizz-free mane.

With its flexible design, this brush was created for optimum use on wet strands. It distributed conditioner evenly and detangled even the thickest of curls in one to two passes. Though the plastic handle was a little slippery, it was significantly quicker to work through our entire head with the Tangle Teezer, and it created much less shedding than the existing brush we’d been using at home.

Offered in three sizes (mini, regular, and large), we consider the large to be most effective, while still portable enough for daily use. The design felt lightweight and ergonomic in our hand and smoothly contoured to the shape of our curls as we brushed along. Our curl pattern remained intact without any added frizz, too — a serious win.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: All Types

Best for Wavy Hair

Crown Affair The Brush No. 002

View On Goop.com $74 View On Crownaffair.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Performance
  4.3/5

In our Lab test, this brush’s wide-spaced wooden bristles worked best on wavy hair and looser curls. It efficiently glided through our wavy hair’s knots and styled our dry strands without much effort.

The handle felt smooth and comfortable to hold without being slippery, and the light pressure created a soothing massage effect. The brush moved through our tangles faster, more seamlessly, and with far less tension than others we’ve tried in the past. Plus, we were impressed by how the tool also functioned as a static reducer, leaving our strands frizz-free and perfectly smooth.

Meanwhile, we’d be remiss not to mention that the brush’s luxe minimalist design, which deserves to be displayed on all vanities. And though we were concerned by how quickly ours lost a bristle, we’re confident in the brand’s reputation for crafting high quality products and think that may have been a fluke.

Bristle Material: Beechwood pins | Curl Pattern: 2A to 3B

Best for Fine Curly Hair

Ouidad Made for Curls Customizable Detangler

View On Amazon $20 View On Ulta $20 View On Ouidad.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.7/5
• Performance
  4/5

With fewer and more sparse bristles that won’t tease out natural curl patterns, we found that this Ouidad detangler was ideal for fine hair. Our fine, thin strands tend to get extremely tangled, and we were pleasantly surprised by how smooth our hair felt post-brushing. We attribute this to the brush’s customization options, which allowed us to add and remove bristles to flexibly accommodate our detangling needs and styling preferences.

While using the brush, our curl pattern stayed beautifully intact, which is something we’ve struggled with in other brushes. The smooth grip was easy to hold, and though the tool was lightweight, we were still able to apply firm pressure to our scalp.

If your hair is prone to severe knots (like ours), you might feel some minor tugging and snagging during the detangling process. The brush didn’t glide through our roughest tangles with the same ease as some other options we tried, but considering how soft and silky our hair felt afterward, we’re okay with a bit of dragging.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: All types

Best for Long Curly Hair

Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush

View On Amazon $26 View On Dermstore $28 View On Sephora $28

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Performance
  4/5

This Briogeo brush glided right through our long curly strands more efficiently than any other brush we tried. To our surprise, it took less than five minutes to completely detangle our hair, and we didn’t experience any pulling or snagging in the process.

The nylon material mimics the feel and effects of boar bristles while being vegan, cruelty-free, and exceptionally gentle. They felt very soft, yet firm enough to move through large knots with ease. Our tangles came undone with just a single pass, minimizing the length of our wash day routine and leaving our curls smooth and defined. With each additional pass, we noticed our coils clumping in groups, creating a nice volumized look that even enhanced our natural curl pattern. Plus, we noticed less overall shedding with this brush than with others we’ve used in the past.

The silicone handle never slipped from our hand, making this a great option for shower use. And though the brush is definitely heavier than others we tested, it still felt plenty comfortable to handle (no arm workout here).

Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Pattern: All types

Best for Thick Curly Hair

Grace Eleyae 8-Row Detangling Brush

View On Graceeleyae.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.7/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

The plastic bristles on this Grace Eleyae brush were long enough to glide through thick, textured hair with surprisingly little pressure. While the bristles were noticeably firm, we didn’t feel any pulling or tugging as we detangled our thick strands, and we appreciated how little shedding occurred compared to our normal routine. The flexible pad design also contoured to our hair as it moved along our head, a feature that helped distribute product evenly.

Beyond the bristles themselves, we were quick to notice the brush’s ergonomic handle: It felt distinctly comfortable and stable in our hands. The shape of the brush head was also unique compared to other options we tried. It widens towards the top into an angle, which made it ideal for working through large sections of hair. Targeting sections along the hairline was another story. We found it hard to grab specific strands without accidentally picking up more hair than we’d intended. It wasn’t a big nuisance but important to note if you’re creating more stylized looks with detailed parts and edges.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: 3A to 4C

Best for Coarse Curly Hair

Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Shower Brush

View On Amazon $17 View On Sephora $17 View On Ulta $17

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Performance
  4.7/5

This Pattern brush is both strong and flexible, with bristles that penetrate through very coarse curls to reach the scalp with minimal effort. During testing, we found ourselves actually using less conditioner than usual because the brush helped distribute product more evenly and efficiently. It contoured to our hair as it glided through each strand, detangling every knot without much work. As a bonus, the wide grip was comfortable and easy to handle, and we didn’t experience excessive shedding.

After styling, our curls felt smooth, bouncy, and refreshed. The design of the brush kept our ringlets clumped together for a full and defined look, which is something we struggle to achieve with our thick, coily curl pattern. While we wouldn’t suggest it for our wavy-haired friends, we were thrilled to find this rare magic tool that made our natural curls pop.

Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Pattern: 3A to 4C

Best for Coily Hair

Verb Detangling Brush

View On Amazon $20 View On Sephora $20 View On Revolve

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

We were slightly hesitant to try this brush on type 4 hair due to the ball tipped bristles (after testing out similar brushes we were expecting a battle), but we couldn’t have been more surprised by how seamlessly it slid through wet hair and detangled our tight knots — all in a single pass.

The brush is incredibly lightweight; it felt nearly weightless in our hands and only required slight pressure to reach through to the scalp. The narrow handle felt a little unnatural to hold, but the matte finish made it grippy enough to maneuver comfortably. As for those ball tipped bristles, they created a soothing massage that didn’t get stuck in our strands or cause extra tangling. Post test, we decided that we actually preferred this tool over the popular Tangle Teezer and Denman versions, as it enhanced our natural curl pattern by shaping our coils into soft corkscrews, something those popular brushes have never been able to do.

Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Pattern: All types

Best for Wet Hair

Drybar Super Lemon Drop Detangling Brush

View On Amazon $16 View On Nordstrom $20 View On Sephora $20

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

The Drybar Lemon Drop Brush glided through our wet hair like silk, forming well-defined curls along the way. Plus, the velvety matte handle provided a textural no slip grip ideal for in shower use.

The soft and malleable bristles easily worked through our curls without creating tension, and similar to the Verb Brush, the ball tips massaged the scalp while detangling. When used on wet hair, we were able to shape our curls into our desired coiliness for the perfect wash and go air dry routine. When we tried blow drying with the brush, we were surprised that our hair remained frizz-free and silky, which is not usually the case when we apply heat to our curls.

We also found the signature Drybar yellow hue irresistible — it's a fun addition to any bathroom counter. It may not be the most convenient tool to clean because the bristles are tightly packed, but it's not any more difficult than brushes of similar design.

Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Pattern: All types

Best for Blow Drying

Sisley Paris Hair Rituel The Blow-Dry No. 1 Brush for Thin Hair

View On Amazon $70 View On Nordstrom $73 View On Sisley-paris.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  4.7/5
• Performance
  5/5

A round brush that won’t completely rip apart curly hair is a rarity, but this one from Sisley Paris made blow drying our hair a breeze and gave us the softest, smoothest results. Plus, we found that the size and shape is perfectly suited to create a bouncy, voluminous blowout, no matter your natural curl pattern.

The mixed length bristles felt amazing on our scalp, providing a gentle massage and working double duty to detangle as we blow dried. While the brush is technically designed for those with fine hair, we put it to the real test by trying it out on our thick hair. To our surprise, it worked shockingly well, especially when we started from the bottom and worked our way up to the roots. When we finished, we noticed only a few rogue hairs in the bristles — far less than what we find in our regular brush.

Bristle Material: Boar hair  | Curl Pattern: All types