As a beauty writer with tightly coiled hair, I’ve tested some of the best brushes for curly hair over the last decade. I’ve found that they help with detangling, definition, and completely transforming the final look. “A good brush when conditioning will not only save you time but help prevent breakage,” says Sophie Gutterman, a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles. “The key is looking for one with flexible bristles that you can easily clean if you’re using it with conditioner or curly-hair products.”
After extensive testing, I found the best overall to be the Denman D3 Original 7 Row Styler because it does it all—defining curls, and adding bounce and volume. We also found standout options for everything from detangling to volumizing and even heat styling. Regardless of which you choose, these picks will make every day a good hair day.
The best brushes for curly hair, at a glance
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When testing, we considered the bristle brush and materials used to help meet these hair-styling goals. We looked at different bristle options like nylon pins (for detangling through all curl types), metal tips (for safely brushing through thicker textures or smoothing), and vegan boar bristles (also best for detangling and smoothing) to determine which ones perform best through curls (wet or dry). The best ones were easy to use and helped define curls, boost volume, and smooth when heat styling.
Best Overall: Denman D3 Original 7-Row Styler
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Denman D3 Original 7-Row Styler
- What we like: Versatility for detangling, smoothing, and defining curls.
- What to consider: Bristles are very close together so might be hard to clean.
The Denman D3 Original 7-Row Styler is our top overall pick because it’s a versatile and classic choice that serves multiple purposes. This brush is made with a solid rubber base and sturdy nylon bristles, making it great for creating tension along the shaft when defining curls, smoothing, and heat styling. I’ve used it for both.
On dry hair, I’ve used this with my blow-dryer to get my hair shafts as smooth as possible before flatironing, and I loved how it stretched out my curl before that step. The rubber base grips the hair nicely so it’s great for smoothing in small sections. I particularly like to use it for detangling and styling my curls. Most days I use this in the shower and style my hair with gel; it detangles and defines my curls, which always end up super bouncy and spiraled once they’re dry.
We recommend using this on wet or damp coils with your favorite conditioner or styling product for slip, and working in small sections to define your hair. As you brush you’ll notice your curls clump together in a defined pattern. Once your hair dries, you’ll notice a lot more definition, bounce, and shiny. If you’re using this on wet hair in the shower, you can remove the bristle pad to clean and thoroughly dry your brush to avoid bacteria buildup.
Best Detangling Brush: Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Curly Hair Brush
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Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Curly Hair Brush
- What we like: Firm bristles; lightweight feel; easy detangling when wet
- What to consider: Plastic material and firm teeth may be too harsh for use outside the shower
Tangle Teezer is known for its original detangling brush, but the brand has since expanded its offerings, featuring a wide range of tools for all hair types, including curls. This one’s excellent for detangling on wet hair, and its firm yet flexible teeth make it easy to rake through curls without snagging or pulling at them in the process. I love that this is also lightweight and has a handle (compared to the palm-size original one), so I can quickly detangle my curls in the shower. I’ve even used this to detangle the curls in my boho knotless braids (which get really knotted) and found that this worked really well to revive them.
Best Blow-Dryer Brush: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium StyleSwitch Ionic Multi-Styler & Dryer
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BaBylissPro Nano Titanium StyleSwitch Ionic Multi-Styler & Dryer
- What we like: Firm bristles; customizable airflow
- What to consider: Includes paddle brush, diffuser, smoother, and round brush
If your hair is curly and you heat style, you can skip using a paddle brush and hair dryer altogether by investing in a blow-dryer brush. This one from BaBylissPro features the brand’s powerful heat technology that I know and love (their Nano Titanium flatiron is my favorite for silk presses), paired with a few different attachments to customize your use. The paddle-brush attachment is my favorite for smoothing out curls before going in with a flatiron. If your hair is coily like mine, I recommend creating small sections with alligator clips and working from the ends to roots, one section at a time, to detangle and smooth hair.
