No doubt choosing the right brush is key to improving the health and style of your hair. With so many types of brushes out there, you might think choosing the right one is difficult, if not nearly impossible. Well, we have good news for you. There's one specific type of brush that works for nearly every hair type.
We're referring to paddle brushes—the detangling tool that's a staple in nearly every hairstylist's kit. Take it from Matrix Artistic Director Nick Stenson, who says, "A paddle brush is a large brush that softly curves in its base and has an air-cushioned padded center with wide-set bristles. Paddle brushes are one of the most hair-type-versatile brushes to choose from. Any hair type that requires detangling can benefit from a paddle brush."
Mane Addicts artist Cherilyn Farris agrees, saying, "Straight, wavy, and loose-curl hair types can benefit from a paddle brush for detangling or styling on wet, damp, or dry hair."
If you have curly hair, StyleSeat natural hair hairstylist Erinn Courtney recommends using a paddle brush only when the hair is wet on washdays. This will preserve your curls. "Ideally, curlier hair textures would benefit from paddle brushes during washdays when applying conditioner, as a paddle brush helps the product penetrate the hair shaft," she says.
So if you're ready to buy your first paddle brush or replace an existing one, the experts (and we editors) have some recommendations for you. Keep scrolling to see the 11 best paddle brushes that money can buy. We promise that they're as chic as they are functional.
Best Overall: T3 Smooth Paddle Brush
Pros: Detangles quickly and easily, good for use with a hair dryer, and has a comfortable gripped handle.
Cons: None.
The vented detail on this brush allows for fast blow-drying. One reviewer wrote, "It is gentle on wet hair and does a super job of getting rid of tangles without damage. The brush itself is very attractive and feels comfortable in your hand. This is a high-quality brush—I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have shining, healthy hair and make the time spent brushing their hair as enjoyable as possible!"
Promising review: "I am so pleased with the purchase. I did not realize how easy to blow dry and style my hair when I used this paddle brush. Without using any product, my hair looks almost as good as it does after having gone to a hair salon. I should have bought this sooner!" — Sephora customer
Best Affordable: Wet Brush Pro Paddle Detangler
Pros: Detangles quickly and easily, good for use with wet or dry hair.
Cons: None.
You can't go wrong with an iconic Wet Brush. This one has flexible bristles that bend in wet hair, reducing damage by up to 45% and reducing effort by up to 55%. That's impressive. After all, anyone who's ever tried to brush through long, wet, and tangled hair knows it requires some serious effort.
Promising review: "Very gentle on wet hair and helps distribute the product all over hair. It was such a good brush my husband used it one day and said he was keeping it even though it was bright pink! I had an excuse to go buy another one!"
Best Luxury: Philip B. Paddle Brush
Pros: Detangles quickly and easily, ergonomic handle, boar bristles loosen residue and distribute oil.
Cons: Pricey.
Yes, this is a $190 brush, but let me tell you how luxe it is. First, it's made from sustainable mahogany and has a special ergonomic handle. Second, it features boar bristles and crystal nylon pins that will not only detangle and smooth your hair but also cleanse your hair's roots, loosen dead skin and residue, and absorb and distribute oil.
Promising review: "This brush is so different from any other brush I have ever owned. I have thin hair and thought it would do nothing for my hair but I was wrong. My hair is softer and my scalp feels good too. I am just sorry I waited so long to buy it." — Philip B. customer
Best for Curly Hair: Denman Power Paddle Hair Brush
Pros: Detangles quickly and easily, well-suited for curly hair.
Cons: May not work as well in fine, straight hair.
If you have curly hair, this brush is the one for you. It features sculpted, round-ended styling pins to leave your curl pattern nice and defined. Plus, the bristles are placed just far enough apart to distribute product through wet hair quickly and with ease.
Promising review: "This is by far the best detangling brush I have ever used on my type 4c natural hair [...] This goes through my freshly washed hair with ease and minimal breakage. I started to wonder how it went through each strand so easily. A 10/10!" — Amazon customer
Best for Thick Hair: Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush
Pros: Detangles quickly and easily, well-suited for thick hair.
Cons: Some say the bristles can fall out if used long enough.
Aveda's paddle brush has extended bristles, which means it can detangle thick hair without tugging on it and stressing the hair strands.
Promising review: "I can't live without this brush and this is the third time I've purchased it since 2002 or so. I purchased it for my best friend (thick and curly hair) and it's her favorite brush too. It doesn't pull your hair out and gets through all the layers of your hair." —Replica Store customer
Best for Fine Hair: Prose Boar Bristle Brush
Pros: Well-suited for fine hair, boar bristles loosen residue and distribute oil.
Cons: May cause static in very fine hair.
This is a 100% boar-bristle brush that is both soft and strong. The boar bristles loosen scalp residue and distribute oil away from the roots, making it a good option for those of us with fine hair.
Shop More Paddle Brushes We Love
Pros: Plastic-free bamboo base and bristles.
Cons: None.
"I also recommend the Emi Jay Bamboo Paddle Brush for a gentle, stimulating scalp massage and detangler," Farris says.
Pros: Suitable for all hair types, and its vented design makes blow-drying quick and easy.
Cons: Pricey.
This luxe paddle brush not only looks super chic sitting atop our vanities, but it also facilitates a faster blow-dry thanks to its vented design. It's also lightweight, heat resistant, glue free, and anti-static.
Pros: Good for styling, boar bristles loosen scalp residue and distribute oil.
Cons: May create too much tension in weak or damaged hair.
"For styling, I recommend the Ibiza CX6 that has a combination of nylon and boar bristles to help distribute natural oil and create tension for styling," Farris says.
Pros: Flexible bristles don't pull or tug at hair.
Cons: Large design may not work as well for fine hair types.
"For detangling, I recommend the Kristin Ess Detangling brush. Its wide shape helps unwind tangles quickly and gently," Farris says.
Pros: Boosts shine.
Cons: Less intuitive design compared to a traditional paddle brush.
"If you're looking for a brush that gives the benefit of a paddle brush and also offers smoothing with a naturally polishing bristle for shine, you must try my very own, the Curious Oval Cushion Brush," Stenson says. The design features a crisscross pattern on the outer ring that gives height and volume to the hair, whereas the center channel increases airflow for faster blow-dries.
Shop Styling Products
After styling, you're going to need a strong hair spray to keep everything in place. Oribe's product has incredible hold and features hydrolyzed wheat protection and pro-vitamin B5 to condition.
This cult-favorite styling oil strengthen and hydrates the hair while adding shine and taming flyaways.
Spritz this primer on for heat protection and conditioning benefits. It contains a blend of six oils to soften, de-frizz, and detangle.
Use this leave-in formula to hydrate, detangle, and condition your hair. The lightweight formula is a great refresher.
Briogeo's finishing formula is formulated with rose-hip oil to protect the hair from free-radical damage, argan oil for conditioning, coconut oil to lock in moisture, and algae extract to strengthen the hair.
