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These 9 Detangling Brushes Make Knots A Thing Of The Past

A brush for every budget, hair type, and aesthetic preference.

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When you're a child, it feels like detangling your hair is something straight out of a nightmare. We all know the scene (and most of us have lived it): A kid screaming while their mother diligently sprays detangling mist in the vain hope it'll coax a brush through their curls.

Years later, we now know the key to effective detangling is all in the tools—aka a gentle-yet-effective detangling brush. So which one is right for you? Depending on your hair type, goals, and sensitivity, you might need something different. Below, find 9 incredible detangling brushes that can take care of every hair issue that arises and leave you with smooth, silky, tangle-free strands.

1
Best For All Hair Types

Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler

The Ultimate Detangler

Pros

  • Great for in-shower detangling

Cons

  • Can't be used with heat

If you’re new to the detangling brush sphere, this is a great tool for beginners. It works on all hair types, won’t pull too hard and cause breakage, and most importantly, is super effective. Plus, that pop of pink will look great in your bathroom.

Best Hair Type: All Hair Types

Ulta Rating: 4.6/5

An ELLE editor says: “For my 4B, soft hair texture, I used this brush to ensure my conditioner was throughout my curls. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked in the shower, and when I stepped out, my hair was pretty much detangled.” — Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director

2
Best For Curly Hair

FRAMAR Detangle Brush

Detangle Brush

Pros

  • Flexible bristles
  • Good for tender heads

Cons

  • Wears down quickly

This brush has super flexible bristles, which is a must-have for anyone with waves or curls. Instead of yanking the hair out of a knot, it’ll glide through strands without too much pulling. Plus, it works quickly so you don’t have to spend hours detangling now.

Best Hair Type: Curly Hair

Amazon rating: 4.7/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “My toddler has really curly mixed hair and for the first time he didn’t pull away or cry when brushing his hair. Perfect brush for those tender-headed babies. I used this brush as well and no tugging on my long hair. I’m amazed and highly recommend this brush!”

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3
Best For Eco-Friendly Styling

Wet Brush Go Green Hair Detangler

Go Green Hair Detangler
Credit: Courtesy of Brand

Pros

  • Biodegradable
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Wet hair only

If you’re trying to ditch plastic brushes, this is a must-have. It’s made of biodegradable plant starch that will break down in around five years, instead of forever in a landfill. Plus, it works excellently at eliminating knots and tangles for most hair types.

Best Hair Type: Wavy hair

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “I’ve always had thick hair which tangled easily, so I would have to sit patiently and comb from bottom to top to get the tangles out. Recently my gray hair was getting rats nests in the back of my head from sitting in a lounger (I’m 72), so I began to look for a solution. From the first stroke, I was in love with this brush, wet or dry; it glides through my hair, taming flyaways, making it shine, shine, shine, and no tangles. I was so excited I took it with me to my stylist appointment for her to see. She used it on my wet hair and was blown away - now she’s ordering some for her, her daughter, and one to try on some of her clients with tender heads. I keep the mini in my car.”

4
Best For Sensitive Scalps

Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush

Glide Thru Detangling Brush

Pros

  • Easy to hold
  • Minimizes breakage

Cons

  • May create static

Gliding instead of pulling might seem too good to be true, but take it up with their 33,000 five-star reviews. This is the best brush for anyone who usually can’t take the pain of a pulling hair brush. It’s even sensitive enough to use on kids, too.

Best Hair Type: All hair types

Amazon rating: 4.3/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “I got this brush for my 8 yr old niece who I help care for. She has incredibly thick beautiful long hair that gets tangled like nobody’s business. This is the only brush we have tried that can effortlessly brush through her wet hair in under 3 mins without her saying “ow” even once! She loves it and was so excited we finally found something that works so well, and I am incredibly happy to finally be able to brush her hair without it getting pulled despite my very best efforts to do it as carefully as possible! My kids also tried it and though they don’t get tangles like her, but they loved how well it works and how nice it feels on your scalp, so I got them one each too. This brush is a miracle worker and worth every single penny!”

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5
Best For An Investment

Mason Pearson Detangler Brush

Detangler Brush

Pros

  • Comes with cleaning brush
  • Wet or dry hair

Cons

  • Pricey

Hair enthusiasts know you can’t go wrong with a Mason Pearson hair brush. These babies cost a pretty penny, but there’s a good reason. They’re all handmade, gorgeous, and created with the best materials for effective detangling.

Best Hair Type: All hair types

Bloomingdales Rating: 4.4/5

Bloomingdales reviewers are saying: “Nice quality brush - it really does detangle your long wet hair without snags or tearing. It also works nice on dry hair, though it creates some static if you don’t use an anti-static spray on your hair. A star off as it is a bit of effort to clean - cannot submerge brush in soapy water for cleaning, as it has a tiny hole on the tip that it is advised not to get water inside.”

6
Best For Type 4 Hair

KareCo Tangle Buster Brush

Tangle Buster Brush

Pros

  • Flexible base and bristles
  • Easy to clean
  • Curved head

Cons

  • Tips break down over time

For tighter coils, this brush balances out being gentle with being effective. The rows of bristles are flexible and not attached at the top, meaning they can glide along hair strands instead of yanking and causing brittleness or damage.

Best Hair Type: Curls and Coils

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “I had added this to my wish list months ago, but only recently decided to buy because I’ve been losing a lot of hair all of a sudden, most likely due to stress. I read that it was very gentle from other reviews, so it had to be better for my current extreme hair loss than what I currently had. First impression? It bends about as much as I expected from the listing, but it was a lot more gentle than I expected, even from reading the reviews. I definitely noticed a difference in how gentle it was compared to my paddle brush. Loose hair falls out of the brush easily, making for easy cleaning. Its surface is very soft, but I hope this isn’t the kind of soft coating that gets sticky with age and heat - I’ve had that happen to too many electronics; we don’t want that to happen to a hairbrush, of all things. So far, I’m impressed.”

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7
Best For Thick Hair

Denman Tangle Tamer

Tangle Tamer

Pros

  • TikTok obsession
  • Wet or dry hair

Cons

  • Pricey

If your hair is thick or long, you know that detangling can seem like it takes years. This paddle brush is big enough to detangle your whole head in just a few swipes, without breaking off your ends or pulling at your scalp.

Best Hair Type: Thick or long hair

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “Thanks, Jennifer Garner! I didn’t believe this was going to be a ‘thing.’ Well, it was just so easy to brush through my entanglement of hair. A brilliant brush!”

8
Best For Curl Definition

PATTERN Shower Brush

Shower Brush

Pros

  • Great for twisting and curling

Cons

  • Not very durable

Detangling doesn’t just have to be a chore; it can also be part of your styling routine. Tracee Ellis Ross created this brush to give some volume and definition to curly hair while also distributing product and handling any tangles.

Best Hair Type: Curly hair

Ulta Rating: 4.5/5

Ulta reviewers are saying: “The perfect brush to detangle natural hair! This is my go-to styling tool for wash day. This brush smooths out every tangle. It’s also good for achieving sleek hairstyles (low buns, ponytails).”

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9
Best for Kids

Drybar Super Lemon Drop Detangling Hair Brush

Super Lemon Drop Detangling Hair Brush

Pros

  • Wet or dry
  • Helps with frizz

Cons

  • Difficult to clean

Can bright yellow—aka Dry Bars’ signature color—make detangling fun? We think so. Most reviewers share it’s gentle enough to use on their little ones, making detangling now a family affair.

Best Hair Type: All hair types and children

Amazon Rating: 4.8/5

Amazon reviewers are saying: “I originally purchased this for my 5-year-old daughter as she would constantly cry and complain about the pain she experienced when removing hair knots. After reading many reviews on how others had used it for young children with similar experiences, I decided to purchase it. Our daughter’s fuss was greatly reduced, and my wife ended up using and eventually taking the brush as her primary brush. I have now purchased this a second time, so both my wife and daughter each now have one. As a husband and father, I absolutely recommend this product for your family’s hair care needs.”

10

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