The best detangling brushes
Morning knots, post-swim tangles and conditioner in the shower: five detangling brushes compared on their bristles and the hair each one is made for.
A detangling brush works by giving way. Its teeth or bristles are soft and flexible, so they bend over a knot and ease it apart instead of dragging it tight, which matters most on wet hair. Tangle Teezer, WetBrush and Ninabella use rows of flexible bristles; Nature Spell’s FlexiFlow has layered silicone strands, and BESTOOL’s has eight open arms.
Start with the hair it’s made for. Straight and wavy hair gets on with any of these, while tight curls and coils do better with a brush whose maker designs it for them: BESTOOL’s, or Nature Spell’s, which covers fine to coily hair. All five work wet or dry, and in the shower any of them will comb conditioner through.
What matters
- Bristles: flexible teeth or strands that give way over a knot instead of pulling it.
- Hair type: each maker says which hair it’s for, so check curls and coils are on the list.
- Wet or dry: all five do both, and a waterproof brush can live in the shower.
- Grip: a handle that holds on in wet, conditioner-slippery hands.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler
£15.00 RRP
Two-tiered teeth split the work: the long ones ease knots apart while the short ones smooth, and the handle keeps a firm hold in wet hands. Tangle Teezer is a British firm whose founder, the hairdresser Shaun Pulfrey, was turned down on Dragons’ Den in 2007.
What owners say: Owners say it turns a long, tearful brush-out into a couple of minutes, copes with curls wet or dry, and gets through knots without hurting.
A closer look: In the shower it doubles as a way to comb conditioner or a hair mask through evenly, before rinsing as usual. On long hair, hold the lengths above a knot while brushing below it, so the pull stops at your hand rather than the scalp. Pick out loose hairs from between the rows every few days.
- 325 two-tiered teeth
- Straight, wavy and curly hair
- Wet or dry hair
- Handle for a firm grip
- Suits wigs and extensions
Best for: Everyday detangling
- Bristles
- 325 two-tiered teeth
- Hair types (maker’s)
- All, straight to curly
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#2 of 5
Runner-up
WetBrush Original Detangler
Under £10 Price range
Thin, ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles flex round tangles rather than tugging through them, on any length or texture of hair, straight out of the shower or dry first thing in the morning.
What owners say: It glides smoothly through tangles, owners say, and they find it comfortable on both fine and thick hair, so it becomes the everyday brush.
Heads up: Ease a stubborn knot out in short strokes from the ends up rather than forcing it: kinder to the hair, and to the handle.
A closer look: Keep one by the shower and another in a swimming or gym bag, since it deals with hair straight out of the pool as happily as a morning tangle. After a conditioner session, rinse it, let it dry in the air and clear out trapped hair so the bristles keep flexing.
- Ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles
- For all hair types and lengths
- Works on wet or dry hair
Best for: Any hair type or length
- Bristles
- Soft IntelliFlex bristles
- Hair types (maker’s)
- All types and lengths
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#3 of 5
Best for the whole family
Ninabella Detangling Hair Brush
Under £10 Price range
Ninabella makes this one for women, men and children alike, so a single brush can do the whole household. Its flexible nylon bristles have rounded tips that give way over knots, and the body is made from recycled plastic.
What owners say: Owners say it untangles quickly without pulling, and some describe brushing with it as feeling like a scalp massage.
A closer look: Slim and light, it fits a handbag, wash bag or hand luggage, which makes it a handy spare for holidays and swimming lessons. On very thick, heavily knotted hair, work through in small sections: the bristles are made to give way rather than force a path.
- Flexible nylon bristles, rounded tips
- Fine, thick, long and curly hair
- Wet or dry hair
- Body of recycled plastic
- Anti-static
Best for: Sharing across the family
- Bristles
- Nylon, rounded tips
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Fine, thick, long, curly
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#4 of 5
Best for the shower
Nature Spell FlexiFlow Detangling Brush
£8.00 RRP
Layered silicone strands bend with the hair instead of catching on it, and the whole brush is waterproof, so it can live in the shower for combing conditioner through. Nature Spell says it suits everything from fine, straight hair to thick, coily hair, and extensions too.
What owners say: Owners find it gentle on the scalp and smooth through wet hair, particularly with oil or conditioner in, with no snagging.
A closer look: Nature Spell’s own routine is to brush from roots to tips, easing through knots as they come, then rinse the brush under warm water and leave it to dry. Loose hair lifts off the silicone strands easily, so it stays clean with very little effort.
- Layered silicone bristles
- Fine and straight to thick and coily
- Waterproof, made for the shower
- Wet or dry hair
- Suits extensions
Best for: Conditioning in the shower
- Bristles
- Layered silicone strands
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Fine and straight to coily
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#5 of 5
Best for curls and coils
BESTOOL Detangling Brush
Under £10 Price range
Eight flexible arms with open space between them reach through thick, tightly curled hair where a dense brush would snag, and a control bar behind them firms the arms up when needed. BESTOOL designs it for curly, kinky and coily 3–4abc textures.
What owners say: Owners with Afro and very curly hair say it glides through damp hair and speeds up detangling day.
A closer look: BESTOOL’s method is to go in vertically first to release the tangles, then brush horizontally to smooth and define. Working in sections on damp, conditioned hair keeps each pass short and gentle, and the rubberised handle stays put in slippery hands.
- 8 flexible comb arms
- Control bar for firmer arms
- Curly, kinky and coily 3–4abc hair
- Wet or dry hair
- Rubberised handle
Best for: Curly and coily hair
- Bristles
- 8 flexible arms
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Curly and coily, 3–4abc
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
How they compare
| Feature | #1Tangle Teezer Ultimate | #2WetBrush Original | #3Ninabella | #4Nature Spell FlexiFlow | #5BESTOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for the whole family | Best for the shower | Best for curls and coils | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.6 |
| Price | £15.00 RRP | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £8.00 RRP | Under £10 Price range |
| Bristles | 325 two-tiered teeth | Soft IntelliFlex bristles | Nylon, rounded tips | Layered silicone strands | 8 flexible arms |
| Hair types (maker’s) | All, straight to curly | All types and lengths | Fine, thick, long, curly | Fine and straight to coily | Curly and coily, 3–4abc |
| Wet and dry hair | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Everyday detangling | Any hair type or length | Sharing across the family | Conditioning in the shower | Curly and coily hair |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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