Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications
Whenever I complain to my hairdresser that my locks aren't looking their glossy, bouncy best, she always repeats the same trusty mantra: 'You have to brush it.' The woman's a genius. It's easy to forget that the humble hairbrush is a classic tool to keep our tresses in check, whether you have tightly-coiled afro hair, long straight, fine locks or a thick, curly mane.
Luckily, we've searched every last corner and crevice of the internet for the best hairbrushes in the UK, from round brushes to paddle brushes, ones that detangle, and even some of the latest ionic brushes, which banish frizz. With products by brands like ghd, Tangle Teaser and Aveda, all available from Amazon, eBay, John Lewis and Boots. We hope there's something on our list to fit your budget and leave you feeling like the star of a shampoo advert!
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
Naturally, different hair types need different hairbrushes. We've put together a guide so simple you could follow it today and go brush shopping in your sleep. After making a few simple decisions, like which brush shape and bristle material work with your hair type, you'll be blessed with a brush that'll transform your tresses in a few short sweeps.
Shape is key when it comes to picking your hair's perfect match. Think about what you're hoping to do with your locks; build volume, straighten to perfection, enhance curls, or neaten spirals. Each hair type will have certain brushes that caress your lengths more comfortably.
A paddle brush can suit almost any hair type, especially if the bristles are set widely apart, as they can gently glide through thick, fine, curly and even some afro hairstyles.
Paddle brushes are wide, round and flat, and can sweep through your hair in one easy movement. They're great for simply adding some life to limp hair that's become flat after a stressful day, or that's lost a bit of life thanks to grim weather conditions or pollution in the air.
They can also be used to dry straight or wavy hair by dragging them through your lengths with the hair dryer pressed close to the bristles. They're also unlikely to get tangled or caught in thicker hair – a risk that comes with some other brushes.
Best suited to hair that is naturally straight, round brushes are ideal for using alongside a hairdryer to blast in hot air, creating bags of volume. If your hair has a loose curl, a round brush may also help you build tousled volume.
Though they can be tricky to manoeuvre and have a tendency to get stuck in long or thick locks, round brushes, with a little practice, can be used to produce stunning salon-worthy results on even the least inspiring hair style.
If you have very long hair, or it's really thick, things can get tangled pretty quickly, especially after washing. The answer? Why, a tangle teaser of course! These brushes have bristles placed in such a way they can be pulled seamlessly through even the tightest of knots, without yanking or causing breakages in fragile hair.
These types of brushes can be shaped like a flat, palm sized pebble or come with a handle – choose the shape based on the type of control you like to exert. There are also tangle teasers especially for afro hair, with bristles designed to work their magic on tightly-coiled tresses.
Back in the day, bristles were made using the hair of animals such as horses, boars and even goats. They can still be found online today and are still effective, but if you want a cruelty-free product, steer clear. Here are the most commonly used modern alternatives – just choose your favourite!
Not keen on the idea of animal hair in your brush? Synthetic, fluffy bristles that mimic the traits of real hair are very gentle and flexible, and effortlessly glide through your mane. They carefully draw its natural oils from root to tip to leave it soft, smooth and shiny.
The texture of faux-natural bristles creates a little static, meaning it boosts hair's overall volume, although you may want to avoid them if you have long hair that's prone to frustrating flyaways!
Hard plastic bristles are often found on tangle-teasing brushes as they draw a clear path along the scalp and can be pulled through even the thickest of barnets without catching or creating static.
They won't be as kind to fragile or damaged hair, however, so if your strands are naturally very fine or have been through many a treatment, think carefully.
Whilst soft bristles and hard plastic bristles are the most common, there are a couple of other materials to weigh up. Firstly, you may decide to try a ceramic hairbrush, or, more accurately, a hairbrush with ceramic-coated bristle tips. These are ideal for creating a smooth, frizz-free look, and are often used by stylists when blow-drying as they help to transfer heat to the hair evenly.
Failing that, wooden bristles - made from bamboo, for example - are also worth considering, since they create zero static, are produced sustainably and won't tug or break your hair.
This year it's all about the ionic hairbrush, which takes inspiration from ionic hair dryers and straighteners, whose aim is to balance out the number of positive and negative ions in your hair, with the goal of eliminating frizz.
Ionic hair brushes are said to emit negative ions, replacing those which your hair loses through brushing, touching and the daily business of living your life. Too many positive ions can leave hair looking dry and lacklustre, prone to frizz and fluffiness.
The downside is that these brushes cost a fair bit more, and there isn't a huge amount of science to back up the claims made by many hair styling brands and cosmetics ranges. The upside is they do have the approval of thousands of users and product reviewers online, who claim ionic brushing really does provide hair with a silky-smoothness that rivals salon treatments. Definitely worth a try!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tangle Teezer Detangling Hair Brush | £8.96 Mid | What a Tease! | ||
2 | Fixbody Ionic Thermal Ceramic Round Barrel Brush | £13.99 High Mid | Thermal Ceramic Technology | ||
3 | Aveda Wooden Hair Paddle Brush | £24.49 High | Beautifully Designed and Scalp Stimulating | ||
4 | Majestik+ Ionic Paddle Hair Brush | £9.99 Mid | Salon-Sleek Styles at Home | ||
5 | TRESemme Ceramic Paddle Brush | £6.82 Low Mid | Primp Like a Pro | ||
6 | MoroccanOil Ceramic Ionic Paddle Brush | £14.65 High Mid | Ion Out Your Lucious Locks | ||
7 | AGDLLYD Detangler Brush for Afro Hair | £6.47 Low Mid | Go With the Fro | ||
8 | BFWood Bamboo Bristle Brush | £6.98 Low Mid | Sustainable Chic for Big Hair | ||
9 | ghd Natural Bristle Radial Brush Size 3 | £20.00 High Mid | Good Hair Daze | ||
10 | Denman D90 Tangle Tamer | £7.00 Low Mid | Tame Rebel Ringlets |
Which other brush could sort out wild, unruly, just-out-the-shower tresses than this expert tangle teaser? A firm favourite with hundreds of thousands of people all over the UK for good reason, it sorts out messy manes both wet and dry.
It slips oh-so-easily into your bag (or even, at a push, your pocket!?) so you can whip it out in the bathroom, on the bus, or on the beach with no trouble. It guarantees tangle-free tresses in no time and doesn't cost a packet either. Perfect!
To take hair brushing to expert new levels, try this portable, ceramic round bristle brush. Its springy spikes are made from a combination of boar bristle and heat-resistant nylon – worth noting if you want a cruelty-free hairbrush.
The large round honeycomb-style barrel is absolutely ideal for blow-drying buckets of height and volume into your hair before a glamorous party or pals' night out. Fight frizz and accentuate shine all in one go.
Aveda's glorious range of brushes is popular with online reviewers for good reason. Not only is this brush shapely and easy on the eye, it's also highly effective at bringing rebellious locks into line.
As well as helping you de-tangle by gently easing its way through even seriously matted hair, this brush is also claimed by Aveda to stimulate your scalp by providing a delicate massage as you brush. It feels lovely in your hands too, so we can't complain!
Bring the salon to your home with this ionic hair brush! Designed for effortless brushing for all hair types, this brush will detangle your locks and wet or dry. It also has a lightweight paddle, making it easier to hold.
It comes with its own little hair-parter attached to the bottom so you can guarantee a lovely neat parting every time you style your barnet. The wide, flat shape means it can tackle the thickest, curliest hair and will give volume to fine, flat locks too.
If you want a brush with bristles that sweep effortlessly through your hair, prevent static with its ionic bristles and leave your barnet beautifully bouncy (and who doesn't?), then this is the product for you.
TRESemme are known for bringing us salon-quality hair styling at happy high street prices, and this brush has proven very popular with many shoppers leaving reviews on eCommerce sites, gaining plenty of 4 and 5 star ratings.
This large paddle brush has fine bristles and a flat, square shape that works well if you're aiming for a straight, silky look. There's a ceramic coating on each of the bristles to help them glide smoothly through hair.
The bristles are also described as using 'ionic technology' which claims to smooth out the hair cuticle, allowing hair to be dried quickly as well. As a little added bonus, this brush comes with a fine tip with which you can part your hair.
Top pick on our list for natural afro hair, this lightweight brush is designed with tight curls in mind. The widely-spaced bristles mean it moves easily through your natural 'fro, and can be used when wet to create optimal bounce and general fabulousness.
With eight rows of springy, bendable bristles, this brush helps you loosen matted hair stress-free. It's also vented so you can use it along with a blow dryer without worry of overheating, and is available in a few colours, but be careful as its handle makes it slightly difficult to grip.
A gorgeous choice for anyone with big, bulky hair that needs a few brushes to look its best, this bamboo paddle brush doesn't cost the Earth – in either sense. Shunning plastic completely, it's instead made from sustainably-sourced bamboo, which is great for both the planet and your scalp.
The widely-spaced bristles on this elegant hairbrush are smoothed off to perfection, meaning they sweep through your hair with ease. As an added bonus, the brush helps to stimulate blood supply (which can boost hair growth) and makes a dreamy head massager too! However, some customers have said the bristles may be bit hard.
In order to achieve a bouncy yet smooth finish on longer hair, wrap this cylindrical brush in a bunch of your almost-dried mane and blow dry as you gently drag it towards the end of your lengths.
Round brushes can sometimes get lost and tangled in your hair, so be extra careful when using this brush or you may find it stuck in your roots, requiring some super-human strength to tug free!
Ideal for use on damp hair straight out of the shower, this funky pink brush glides through wet hair leaving it lush and silky. It will brighten up any dressing table and can be easily stashed in your bag or taken on your travels, too.
Plastic bristle tips are perfectly effective, but watch out if you have a sensitive scalp as they can be a little harsh on delicate skin. Cheap, cheerful and practical – a classic solution to knotty locks.
Armed with your fabulous new hairbrush, we're guessing you're feeling somewhat inspired to finally whip your barnet into the shape it deserves. Enter our related buying guides, designed to offer a range of advice and products whatever locks you rock.
And hair you have it! No? Does that not work? OK, hair enough. Sorry. But we really do hope our article has been helpful and informative in guiding you through the most effective and affordable de-tangling, volume-boosting and styling hairbrushes you can buy online this year. Here's hoping you've found something you love!
Author: Annie Hopkins
No. 1: Tangle Teezer|Detangling Hair Brush
No. 2: Fixbody|Ionic Thermal Ceramic Round Barrel Brush
No. 3: Aveda|Wooden Hair Paddle Brush
No. 4: Majestik+|Ionic Paddle Hair Brush
No. 5: TRESemme|Ceramic Paddle Brush
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications