It can take years to nail down the perfect curl routine — but for all the buzz around the best curl creams and sprays and drying methods, our hair brushes often make or break our curl pattern.
Pro Tip!
Seattle-based curl expert and educator Tiffani Beste explains that brushes have different types of bristles tailored to various hair types and patterns. When looking for a brush to enhance your curls, she says it’s crucial to consider the type of bristles, as those that are flexible are ideal for detangling, while those that offer a bit more tension are preferable for styling and defining your locks.
To help you find the best hair brush to achieve the curls of your dreams, we tested 26 products from highly trusted brands. We evaluated their ease of use, how well they detangled or shaped our curls, and how they felt moving against our scalp, all while keeping in mind their overall value.
We’ve rounded up the best brushes for curly hair to help you uncover your most bouncy, brilliant locks, from paddle brushes designed for detangling to round brushes that help build volume during a blowout.
PHOTO: Goop
Star Qualities
Super lightweight and easy to clean
Smooth, comfortable handle
Detangles extremely well
Feels relaxing on the scalp
Our best overall pick is like the Ferrari of hair brushes: It has a smooth, hand-carved grip that’s lightweight and flexible, easy-to-clean wooden pins (others on our list have nylon or boar bristles) that felt “so nice” on our scalp and painlessly detangled unruly knots. While we did notice less shedding, it’s hard to say exactly how well it maintained our curls since we used a diffuser after wet brushing, which may have led to pattern changes and some flattening as it dried.
Ironically, the price is enough to make you scratch your head, though it reflects its natural materials and craftsmanship. That said, it’s a luxe investment for those with thick or tangled hair willing to pay extra for durability, but we have plenty of cost-effective brushes that work similarly.
Bristle Material: Beechwood | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly, coily
PHOTO: Amazon
As one of our top hair products of 2024, this brush blew us away with how quickly and easily it detangled our hair in just one pass — a rare feat that saved time and minimized frizz. Its firm yet flexible bristles maintained and enhanced our curls with noticeable bounce and definition. We also loved its 18 customizable bristle rows, so you can rearrange them to suit your texture and hair type.
The hefty handle and wider body surprisingly lend an easy grip without feeling heavy, but if you’re looking for a more narrow option, there are plenty on this list.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly, coily
PHOTO: Grace Eleyae
Star Qualities
Easy to clean
Comfortable to hold thanks to its ergonomic handle
Flexible bristles contour to hair to minimize pulling
One of the most affordable options we tested
This flexible detangling brush has a comfortable ergonomic handle and eight rows of separated bristles that evenly distribute strands, helping to preserve our curl pattern. The bristles also easily contoured to our hair, ensuring very little resistance and pulling.
Whenever we did end up with a bit of shedding (as anyone with curly hair knows, it’s inevitable), we loved how straightforward it was to remove our hair from the brush. While it’s designed for various curl styles, we found it best suited to detangling fine hair with minimal effort. Those with thicker and tighter curls should look elsewhere on this list.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, coily, kinky
PHOTO: Nordstrom
Star Qualities
Detangles and shapes curls
Super lightweight and easy to hold
Dual bristles help separate and smooth wet hair
If you frequently blow dry your hair, you know how important it is to have a lightweight brush that softly detangles, enhances curls, and minimizes frizz. This brush does it all while efficiently smoothing everything from fine to thick hair and adding volume and shine.
Although it’s more expensive, we appreciate its powerful dual-bristle combo, which gently untangles strands and stimulates the scalp as you brush. The round shape makes it slightly more challenging to clean than a paddle brush, but we still found it fairly easy to remove stray hairs around the bristles.
Bristle Material: Nylon, boar | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly, coily
PHOTO: Sephora
Star Qualities
Plastic-topped nylon bristles stimulate the scalp
Great for brushing out extensions
Matte handle ensures no-slip grip
This Drybar detangling brush is perfect for achieving relaxed, luscious curls. It includes a staggering number of bristles tipped with small plastic balls that gently stimulate hair follicles, which is also relaxing. We also love its no-slip, powdered matte handle, which is comfortable to hold and makes it easy to gently brush wet or dry hair without snagging tangles.
Our only complaint is that the bristle tips can fall off over time, revealing sharper, less comfortable bristles below. This makes it a less durable and sustainable choice than the other options we’ve included here.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, coily, very coily
PHOTO: Sephora
Verb’s Detangling Brush works through even the toughest wet-hair snarls in just one to two passes, thanks to its flexible, ball-tipped bristles that leave minimal breakage. However, it tugs a bit more on dry hair, so we prefer to use this brush in the shower.
We appreciate how simple it is to clean with our fingers without combing it to remove smaller strands. The tipped bristles were also a treat, creating a soothing scalp massage sensation, but we worry they’d fall off over time (similar to the Drybar brush). Overall, this is a gorgeous and affordable option that will last you a few seasons.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly, coily
PHOTO: Amazon
This flexible yet durable brush from natural hair expert Felicia Leatherwood is a favorite for its travel-friendly size and wide-spaced, easy-to-clean bristles. Designed for textured hair, it’s a top-notch detangler for all hair types and works great for brushing out braids. It even has a small hole in the handle to hang. Our only gripe is the narrow handle without padding, which is difficult to grip when wet or for those with small hands.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Curly, textured, natural
PHOTO: Amazon
We found Trace Ellis Ross’ Pattern Beauty brush one of the best options we tested for thick or natural hair since it’s sturdy enough to get a firm grip yet flexible to bend toward hair without tugging.
It’s also ideal for those who prefer to wash and brush their hair in the shower: It glided through our wet tresses and evenly distributed our hair products, leaving us with smooth, silky curls with minimal breakage or frizz. Just note not to pull too hard on the brush, as it can break if used with too much force.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, coily
PHOTO: Sephora
If you suffer from a sensitive scalp or want to minimize your hair routine, try this Briogeo brush. Its soft boar and durable nylon bristles gently raked through our hair and any tangles within minutes without scalp irritation.
We noticed significantly less shedding than usual and loved how it helped maintain our curl pattern. It’s slightly heavier than others but easy enough to grasp the matte silicone handle, which provides a non-slip surface even when wet.
Bristle Material: Boar, nylon | Curl Type: All hair types
PHOTO: Nordstrom
Star Qualities
Smoothly and quickly detangles hair
Works wonders on thick and very curly hair — even in the shower
Two-tiered bristles help to reduce breakage
Red Flags
Difficult to clean the close-together bristles
Less sturdy grip when wet
Can’t be used to blow dry hair
When it comes to detangling, this best-selling Tangle Teezer is hard to beat. In just one swipe, it effortlessly unknots hair with its unique two-tiered bristle system, which is flexible enough to move through tresses with minimal breakage or shedding. It’s also shower-friendly and evenly distributes shampoo and conditioner for clean, frizz-free locks.
During testing, we found that the paddle’s generous width was perfect for those with thicker tresses and very curly hair; for anyone with fine hair, the brand also makes the same brush but a size smaller. It’s suggested to keep the brush away from heat, so this isn’t a good option if you’re looking for a blow-dry brush.
Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly
PHOTO: Amazon
Star Qualities
Gently glides through tangles
Firm yet flexible bristles massage the scalp
Travel-friendly size and design
Fun colors and designs kids will love
Brushing a child’s hair (without a battle) can be a feat, and it can be even more difficult if you’re dealing with tangled, tight curls on a tender head. This hair brush from Crave Naturals takes away the tears and makes detangling a breeze for everyone involved. The firm yet flexible cone-shaped bristles glide through even the toughest tangles without digging into the scalp or yanking hair.
We used this on a four-year-old with type 3B/3C hair after a thorough shampoo and conditioning treatment. The brush effortlessly pulled apart the ringlets, removed the tangles, and then snapped the curls back into place. The curls appeared bouncy and amplified and dried frizz-free.
One piece of advice: Brush softly. While massaging to the scalp, the tough bristles can uncomfortably scrape the top of the ears and back of the neck. While the oblong shape of the brush is unique, it can feel unnatural to hold at first. It’s more comfortable if you hold the larger side in the palm of your hand while brushing.
Bristle Material: Plastic | Curl Type: All hair types
Editors Say
“Having a biracial child with curly hair, I have tried so many brushes, combs, and hair products over the years. I’m happy to report that this adorable hair brush from Crave Naturals is the only one that doesn’t elicit tears after bath time. He has even taken to brushing his own hair with it!” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor
What to Know About Brushes for Curly Hair
Bristle Density
The more bristles a brush has, the stronger and more easily it maintains enough tension to move through strands without breaking — an essential factor for those with thicker curls or seeking a blow-dry brush.
Boar bristles are softer and, when combined with flexible nylon ones, are ideal for detangling. We love the Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler, which has two-tiered bristles for easy brushing.
Grip
While most of these brushes have comfortable handles that are easy to maneuver for extended periods, some are better suited for shower use than others. The Verb Detangling Brush includes a powdered matte coating that lends a secure, non-slip grip even when wet.
Size
Are you a frequent flyer? If so, you’ll want to prioritize a brush that can easily fit into a toiletry bag, like the Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush. Its narrow design is also optimal for thicker and tighter curls.
Also, consider your hair type and length when choosing a brush size. A heavy or wide one will be exhausting for those with long hair but can easily glide through fine and medium curls.
Behind the Scenes
We tested 26 brushes for curly hair from trusted brands to curate a list of those we rated on a scale of one to five (with five performing the highest) for ease of use, comfort, and effectiveness. Each tester arrived at the lab with washed, air-dried hair and sectioned it into four parts before spritzing it with water and detangling cream or spray.
Ease of Use: First, we noticed how easily each brush moved through our tresses and tangles and whether flexible ones contoured to our hair. We determined how simple each was to clean and how straightforward or nuanced the overall process seemed.Comfort: Then, we tapped into our senses to asses how the bristles felt against our scalp, whether they pulled or tugged our hair, and how the grip and weight of the brush felt in our hands.Performance: After brushing and using a blow dryer and diffuser to set our curls, we noted whether the brush caused any breakage, shedding, or tension and if it changed our curl pattern.
After our testing period, the 11 brushes with the top average scores made this list and earned the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval, with Crown Affair’s The Brush No. 002 coming out on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to brush curly hair wet or dry?
For bouncy, sleek, and smooth curls, it’s best to brush your hair while wet. Wet brushing tends to minimize tension on your tresses, thus preventing breakage and helping to reduce frizz. Buste agrees, explaining that when it comes to curls, brushing “should typically be done wet, with a wet brush and some type of conditioner in your hair to add slip.” Lathering up with a good conditioner in the shower is ideal, as it will allow plenty of moisture into your hair as you detangle and brush out any knots.
What is the best hair brush for frizzy, curly hair?
Ultimately, the best brush for curls depends more on the density and thickness of your hair than on your frizz levels. But brushes with silicone bristles are excellent for minimizing frizz, says Buste, who says the material helps the product spread evenly. Boar bristles act similarly, helping to distribute product while gently smoothing hair and distributing the scalp’s natural oils.
How do you brush curls without frizz?
Wet brushing is key to minimizing frizz, as it helps to smooth the cuticle of the hair. Buste suggests adding your go-to products throughout your hair, then dividing your locks into sections and brushing them each out individually. “Don’t touch your hair until it’s one hundred percent dry,” she says, explaining that allowing the curls to air dry and set naturally is ideal for a frizz-free look.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Sophie Dodd is a PEOPLE contributor who has been writing for People.com since 2018. She covers travel and lifestyle, with a focus on home goods and beauty products. For this story, she poured over our test results to narrow down the best brushes for curly hair, combining the results with her own extensive research. She also talked with curl expert Tiffani Beste in order to get expert insight on what to look for in an excellent brush for bouncy, frizz-free curls.
Kate Watson, a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE with seven years of experience writing beauty content, refreshed and updated this story after she and the PEOPLE Tested team brushed their locks with our new best overall pick from Crown Affair.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
