The first rule of curly hair is that no two curl patterns are the same. Though both you and your pal might have expertly classified 2C curls, what works best for you – both with regards to your personal style and your own hair needs – is entirely unique.
The second golden rule is to never dry brush your curls when styling. Whether you’ve had curly ringlets for as long as you can remember, or you’re only just discovering your natural waves thanks to #CurlTok – a hashtag which has amassed over 780 million views on the platform –the number one warning that all curly-headed girls are heeded from youth up to adulthood is to never brush one’s curls when they’re dry. That is, unless you’re into the lion’s mane look.
Brushing curly hair when its dry runs the risk of ruining the curl pattern and causing breakage due to tension. It’s no secret that curls get knotted easily, and trying to tease those tangles out without the help of conditioner or a moisturising styling product applied to wet hair will do more harm than good in the long run.
Now, this doesn’t mean that all curly haired girls and guys should allow their locks to become irreparably tangled. Rather, you should only brush your hair when it’s wet in order to ensure your curls look as luscious, defined and healthy as possible.
It’s also not to say dry-brushed curls don’t make quite the fashion statement, with the style hitting the runways as of late to accompany vintage-inspired collections. Think: the twins that walked for Gucci’s SS23 show, as well as the wonderfully teased hairstyles seen on Tom Ford’s SS23 ready-to-wear runway. Yet it’s fair to say that all of these styles will require a hefty hair mask for complete curl recovery.
The brushes that we’re going to introduce you to in this article are specifically designed to aid the styling and defining of your natural curls for a frizz-free finish.
If you haven’t yet determined your curl type, we recommend having a gander at Flora & Curl’s illustrated guide to curly hair classification. You might also want to give Naturally Curly’s fantastic texture typing quiz a go.
However, if you’re well acquainted with your curls and are simply looking for a handy styling aid or detangling saviour – keep scrolling for the best hairbrushes for curly hair.
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Best hairbrushes for curly hair at a glance:
- Best for perfect ringlets: Denman D3 African Violet Styling Brush - £7.70, LOOKFANTASTIC
- Best for lifting roots when styling: Yves Durif Vented Brush - £86, Revolve
- Best for combing-out beach waves: Briogeo Wide Tooth Detangling Comb 1 piece - £14, Cult Beauty
- Best for a two-in-one brush for silky smooth locks: Act+Acre Detangling Brush - £28, Cult Beauty
- Best for antibacterial properties: Hershesons The Everyday Essentials Brush - £30, Hershesons
- Best for it’s all in the name: Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Naturally Curly Brush - £11.20, LOOKFANTASTIC
- Best for ultimate curly hair management: Pattern Shower Brush - £17, Cult Beauty
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Best hairbrushes for styling curly hair
Denman D3 African Violet Styling Brush
Best for: perfect ringlets
Whether you’re well into your curly hair journey or have only just begun, we can bet good money on the fact that you’ll have come across the Denman D3 brush. Perfect for higher maintenance curls, and for those who are interested in creating perfectly defined coils and ringlets, this is the only styling tool you’ll need in your arsenal.
Though using this brush requires a whole lot of sectioning before wrapping small portions of your hair around the brush and slowly releasing the curl – the results are worth it. The action is kind of like curling a ribbon with a pair of scissors, if you catch our drift. There are plenty of tutorials on both #CurlTok and YouTube if you’re in need of a more visual aid.
Buy now £7.70, lookfantastic
Yves Durif Vented Brush
Best for: lifting roots when styling
Though most curly-haired humans are well versed in the art of blow-drying with a diffuser attachment, some of us still struggle with thinning and flatness in certain areas. This vented brush by Yves Durif is suitable for use on both wet and dry hair, and will give your roots that much-needed lift when styling with heat.
Buy now £86.00, Revolve
Briogeo Wide Tooth Detangling Comb 1 piece
Best for: combing-out beach waves
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 does the above, while still offering 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
Best detangling brushes for curly hair
Act+Acre Detangling Brush
Best for: a two-in-one brush for silky smooth locks
Shaped like the leaf of a beautiful monstera plant, the Act+Acre detangling brush is a cult favourite amongst curly hair-havers for a multitude of reasons. Equipped with double-length bristles, this ergonomic detangler rids your hair of any snags for a silky-smooth finish. What’s more, the bristles double-up as an effective scalp massager, which helps to improve blood flow to the scalp and increase the overall health and growth of your hair. As such, Act+Acre recommends working from the ends upwards when using this brush.
Buy now £28.00, Cult Beauty
Hershesons The Everyday Essentials Brush
Best for: antibacterial properties
Most hair enthusiasts are aware of the fact that proper haircare starts at the scalp. While this nylon and boar bristled hairbrush indeed works to reduce frizz and static while improving softness, its scalp-friendly and anti-bacterial nature is what sets this product apart from others. Plus, we love that it’s available in the brand’s signature bright blue colourway.
Buy now £30.00, Hershesons
Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Naturally Curly Brush
Best for: it’s all in the name
A vast improvement on the tangle Tangle Teezer’s original handleless design, this lilac paddle brush does exactly what it says on the tin. Designed with 3C-4C hair types in mind, this innovative brush not only detangles with the utmost ease, but the two-tiered firm-flex bristles are both stronger and more extended than other brushes within the Tangle Teezer range. As a result, curls and coils are left tight and ultra-defined with zero tangles.
Buy now £11.20, lookfantastic
Pattern Shower Brush
Best for: ultimate curly hair management
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 with 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 enough to not interfere with your curl pattern.
Buy now £17.00, Cult Beauty
