14 best brushes for curly hair in 2022, according to testers

The type of brush you use for curly hair depends entirely on how you use it. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of brushes and their uses.

• Paddle brush: Most common type of brush for detangling and styling wet or dry hair depending on hair type and paddle shape
• Untangling brush: Detangles knots and tangles on wet or dry hair
• Boar hair brush: Smoothes dry hair, lightly detangles and adds shine
• Wide tooth comb: Detangles wet or dry hair, but works best on shower conditioned hair
• edge brush: Smooths, conditions and styles edges and baby hair

At a minimum (brush), All curl types can benefit from keeping a wide comb in the shower to detangle. Distribute product through wet hair. However, the rest of her brushes kit will vary depending on your styling needs. A boar bristle brush will help detangle and smooth a fresh blowout or silk press, while a detangling brush will help remove knots before you hit the shower. , if you have type 3 or type 4 hair, you can never have too many brushes.

Whether you brush your hair wet or dry depends on the texture and style of your hair. For especially tight Type 4 textures, “It’s best to detangle your hair while it’s wet and apply conditioner to aid in glide,” says Green. “Applying conditioner to wet hair softens and relaxes the hair cuticle., making it easier to loosen. “

In general, wet combing helps keep the curl pattern intact (although it’s not very good at untangling all the final knots). Not sure which one is best for your hair? Try both: Brush dry hair and comb with conditioner before showering After shampooing. Wet hair is brittle and breaks easily, so detangling dry hair first helps reduce damage.

First of all, brushing your curls doesn’t permanently ‘ruin’ them. Wetting her hair will return the curls to their natural pattern. If you still want to keep the curl you defined, use Brush only before or during showerYou can then use a Denman-style brush or wide-toothed comb (depending on your curl type) to section and style your hair while it’s still wet. And remember: don’t tear the hair as you comb. To prevent breakage, “detangle in small sections and work from tip to root,” says Courtney.

How often you brush your hair depends on the texture and level of damage to your hair. Generally, you should not brush your curls more than 2-3 times a week.“There are only two reasons to brush curly hair: detangling and styling,” says Green. Frequent brushing of hair increases the risk of it breaking from tugging and pulling (especially if it has a texture so stiff that the brush doesn’t slip).

it doesn’t mean you Can not Brush your hair more often. it’s your hair But that’s not the only option, says Green. You can use your fingers to gently break the knotAnd to help prevent further tangling during brush days, lubricate the ends of your hair with a lightweight hair oil each night to help keep strands smooth. Sounds good, but the flatter the cuticle of your hair, the less likely it is to knot, so incorporate the oil.

Consider the purpose of the brush

Choose a curly brush based on your styling goals. Define wet curls with a brush? Use a wide comb to hold curls together while gently detangling them. Looking to quickly deal with tangles before braiding, twisting or showering? Look for a wide paddle brush with ball-tipped plastic bristles. Need a brush to smooth out topknots and low buns? Choose a boar bristle brush.

Find additional features

a The open-backed brush won’t retain water or grow mold, making it perfect for detangling in the showerOn the other hand, brushes with removable rows allow you to customize the width of the tooth spacing for styling, detangling or brushing. , which helps define the curl pattern at the root.

Don’t get stuck in one brush

Remember: There is no one-size-fits-all curling brush, because i have curly hair needsInstead of hunting for the non-existent unicorn brush, you’ll set about creating your go-to kit of curly hair brushes, as you’ll likely rely on a combination of brushes depending on your texture and styling habits. A detangling brush and a styling brush are a must, but you can always add extras like a dry detangling brush, an edge control brush, or a paddle brush depending on your purpose and hair type.

• Jasmine ‘Jazzy’ Green Hairstylist at Collective Plus Salon in New York, NY, specializing in all hair textures, braids and haircuts. She has worked with celebrities such as Jill Scott, Quincy Tyler Bernstein, and Angela Lewis.
• Erin Courtney is a hairstylist and natural hair expert at StyleSeat in Los Angeles, CA. She has experience in braiding, faux lock installation, hair extensions and haircuts.Among her celebrity clients include Zendaya and Big Sean.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor of cosmopolitan She has four years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories ranging from wavy hair products to natural hair braid ideas. She is an expert when it comes to curly brushes, regularly testing and analyzing the effectiveness of hairbrushes and working with the industry’s top hairstylists to evaluate new innovations and new brands. increase.