In 2007, the haircare world changed forever.
The inventor and former hair colorist Shaun Pulfrey noticed a gap in the market. There was innovation to be made in the hair brush space where little had changed since the first patent for the modern hairbrush was filed back in 1854.
It’s baffling to think that combs have been said to date back around 3.3 million years to the Palaeolithic Age and were made from bone, wood and shells to remove pests like lice. The basic design remains unaltered where the same runs true for the combination of bristles and wood that has stood the test of time to the modern day. Until Pulfrey.
By now, many of you may have garnered which Grimsby-born brand we are referring to. The humble Tangle Teezer was thought up in 2003 but didn’t reach the public consciousness until a Dragon’s Den appearance four years later. While Pulfrey went home empty handed, the original pebble-sized brush went viral to the point where now Tangle Teezer has almost become a catch-all for any hairbrush. It’s the stuff of any business owner’s dream.
What set these brushes apart from the crowd was their game-changing ability to glide through knotted hair without pulling, tearing and reducing fall-out - and luckily for us, this has triggered innovation across the industry where brands like WetBrush, GHD and Act+Acre have taken the traditional brush design back to the drawing board to create equally effective detangling designs to simplify your daily or five-time daily brushing routine.
Detangling brushes are defined by widely spaces bristles which are flexible and usually crafted from the likes of nylon so that they are kind and gentle on the strands and will slip throughv your lengths to leave them silky smooth and shiny.
Below we have gathered the best detangling brushes with travel-ready and handbag sizes as well as fully formed to suit those with mobility concerns.
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Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Brush
Not content with resting on its laurels (the original palm-sized brush), Tangle Teezer has continued to innovate to which The Ultimate Detangler Brush is a testament. When hair is at its most fragile aka when it’s wet, employ the use of this model to be gentle during the detangling process and to minimise the likelihood of breakages.
On the brush, you will find 325 teeth created using the brand’s signature specialised two tiered teeth technology that glides from root to tip to separate knots and tangles. The addition of a grip ensures that even when used in the shower, it stays firmly in hand.
Buy now £11.20, lookfantastic
Act+Acre Detangling Brush
Act+Acre is a newer addition to the UK market but has made a splash with its scalp care. The brand was founded by hair health enthusiast Helen Reavey where each product has a science backing to treat your lengths.
So that every step of your routine is thought-out to provide the maximum amount of TLC, the range includes this brush that has double-length bristles to detangle and smooth, while attempting to keep snagging out of the equation. The model is made from post-consumer recycled plastic, so there’s an eco-conscious twist too.
Buy now £28.00, Cult Beauty
WetBrush Go Green Mini Detangler
WetBrush was founded to detangle hair when it’s at its most fragile. In its vulnerable damp state, it’s far more prone to tearing, breakages and split ends but that’s where these detanglers will help.
For your mane maintenance, they are fitted with flexible bristles so they won’t compromise thick, curly, or any hair types in your mission to have sleek strands. This is a pocket-friendly option that can slip into wash bags, handbags or hand luggage with ease.
Best of all, the balls on the tip of the bristles work on scalp stimulating cirulation to encourage hair growth. There’s eco-credentials here too as the brush is biodegradable - it will break down in five years after being sent to the landfill.
Buy now £10.00, Cult Beauty
Drybar Super Lemon Drop Detangling Brush
Drybar began as a chain of chic salons across California that quickly gained popularity for the speedy blow dry services offered that meant you could get professional styling in a pinch. To create the same well-coiffed creations, the brand expanded into at-home products that includes sprays and tools - including this detangling brush. In a vibrant yellow hue that means you’ll be able to locate it even in the depths of your bag, it works through knots and tangles both on wet and dry hair and for all hair types.
Buy now £18.00, Harrods
Briogeo Wide Tooth Detangling Comb 1 piece
If you’re looking to retain the structural integrety of a bombshell blow-out, effortless beach waves or find it easier to glide wider tooth brushes through your thicker locks, this comb still offers detangling benefits. It was created by New York haircare label Briogeo using recycled materials and ensuring no snagging occurs as you brush it through wet or dry hair. This is made possible through extra wide teeth where the hair slips through with no elbow grease necessary.
Buy now £14.00, Cult Beauty
La Bonne Brosse N.04 The Miracle Detangling Scalp Brush
When no part of your haircare routine is immune from the luxury treatment, French label La Bonne Brosse is one you’ll want adorning your dressing table. While providing the benefits of detangling, the N.04 dubbed ‘The Miracle’ will also massage the scalp at the same time to increase blood circulation and thus soothe, nourish and encourage growth. This is achieved through the spherical tip that was created after going through a process of scientific research.
Buy now £128.00, Harrods
Pattern Shower Brush
We need not tell those with 3B to 4C hair types who will likely already be familiar with this ground-breaking haircare collection, but for the uninitiated, Pattern is the brainchild of Tracee Ellis Ross to encourage its customers to fall back in love and maintain curly hair types.
This brush was unsurprising tailored specifically for those with kinky, curly, coily and textured locks in order to increase mane management. For best results, use in the shower where the rubber bristles are gentle encourage to not interfere with your curl pattern.
Buy now £17.00, Cult Beauty
Virtue Manta Brush
Haircare label Virtue is no stranger to innovation. The brand has enriched its formulas with a trademarked Alpha Keratin 60ku, mimicking a protein found naturally in the hair for its reparative properties. To amplify the effects of these restorative shampoos, conditioners, stylers and oils comes this expertly engineered brush that is flexible and bends to the shape of the scalp and hand to make it comfortable and gentle on the tresses in equal measure. It provides a massaging effect too.
Buy now £34.00, Space NK
Tangle Teezer The Salon Elite Detangling Hairbrush Midnight Black
This is the original Tangle Teezer that has sold as many as 50 million iterations since it entered the public consciousness back in 2007. It was created to slip through the strands pain-free and stimulate the scalp at the same time with the specialised two tiered teeth technology. The beauty of the pebble-shaped brush is that it doesn’t drag or tug at your precious strands and can be slipped into any sized handbag with ease.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon
ghd Oval Dressing Brush
Tame your unruly locks and create a perfectly coiffed style with the help of legendary hair tool label GHD’s professional range. This Oval Dressing Brush has been lauded for its detangling of knots where the hair passes through anti-static nylon bristles that minimise frizz, encourages your length’s natural oils to travel from root to tip and leave hair shiny and smooth. There’s a non-slip handle too to give you ample control.
Buy now £17.25, Cult Beauty
