Top 5 compared
The best detangling brushes
Morning knots and post-swim tangles eased out gently, on wet hair or dry, without the painful tugging.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 5 at a glance
A detangling brush works by giving way. Its bristles or teeth 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. Most have rows of flexible bristles; some have a frame that bends to follow the shape of the head, and some made for tight curls space a few flexible arms well apart so thick hair doesn’t snag.
Every brush here works wet or dry, and in the shower any of them will comb conditioner through. Straight and wavy hair does fine with most detanglers, while tight curls and coils do better with one made for them, and makers say on the listing which hair types each brush is for.
What matters
- A handle that holds in wet, conditioner-slippery hands.
- A waterproof brush, if it’s going to live in the shower.
- Rounded or rubber-tipped bristles, gentler on the scalp.
#1Wet Brush Original Detangler (purple)
Under $10
Thin, ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles flex around 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: Gentle on tangles wet or dry, with soft, flexible bristles that feel nice on the scalp and don’t pull. Durability is less certain: some brushes last, others break easily.
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 gym or swim bag, since it handles hair straight out of the pool as happily as a morning tangle. After a conditioner session, rinse it, let it air-dry and clear out trapped hair so the bristles keep flexing.
- Bristles flex around knots
- Rinse and air-dry after use
Best for: Any hair type or length
- Bristles
- Soft IntelliFlex bristles
- Hair types (maker’s)
- All types and lengths
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#2Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler
$10–$20
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 started in London: its founder, the hairdresser Shaun Pulfrey, was turned down on Dragons’ Den, the UK’s version of Shark Tank, in 2007.
What owners say: Soft bristles that are kind to the scalp work knots loose without pulling or snapping hair, wet or dry, and owners with thick hair rate it too. A few found it broke.
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.
- Long teeth detangle, short smooth
- Firm grip in wet hands
- Suits wigs and extensions
- Spreads conditioner in the shower
Best for: Straight or wavy hair and extensions
- Bristles
- 325 two-tiered teeth
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Straight to wavy
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#3Ninabella Detangling Hair Brush
Under $10
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: Tangles come out gently and without pain, wet or dry, and it works well straight out of the shower. Some find it sturdy, others flimsy.
A closer look: Slim and light, it fits a purse, toiletry bag or carry-on, which makes it a handy spare for vacations and swim lessons. On very thick, heavily knotted hair, work through in small sections: the bristles are made to give way rather than force a path.
- Recycled plastic body
- Anti-static
- Fits a purse or carry-on
Best for: Sharing across the family
- Bristles
- Nylon, rounded tips
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Fine, thick, long, curly
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#4Kitsch Flexi Flow Detangler Brush
Under $10
A flexible, bendable frame shapes itself to your head, and the smooth bristles work through tangles with less pulling, wet or dry. Kitsch makes it for every texture, from fine strands to thick, coily hair, and it doubles as a scalp massager.
What owners say: The rubber-tipped bristles and bendy base mold to the head, gentle on scalp and hair, and it copes with fine and thick hair alike. Several owners notice far less hair left in the brush.
A closer look: Run it through conditioner in the shower to spread it evenly, then use it again on damp hair to detangle before styling. Rinse it under warm water now and then and pull out trapped hair so the bristles stay soft.
- Doubles as a scalp massager
- Spreads conditioner evenly
- Recyclable
Best for: Fine and curly hair
- Bristles
- Soft bristles, flexible frame
- Hair types (maker’s)
- All, fine to coily
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
#5BESTOOL Detangling Brush
Under $10
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: Curly hair is its strength: it detangles wet or dry, defines curls and leaves less hair in the brush. The grip divides people, comfortable for some and hard to hold onto for others.
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 a rinse after each wash day stops conditioner from building up between the arms.
- Control bar firms the arms
- Brush vertically, then horizontally
- Rubberized handle
Best for: Tight curls and coils
- Bristles
- 8 flexible arms
- Hair types (maker’s)
- Curly and coily, 3–4abc
- Wet and dry hair
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Wet Brush Original | #2Tangle Teezer Ultimate | #3Ninabella | #4Kitsch Flexi Flow | #5BESTOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for curls and coils | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | Under $10 | $10–$20 | Under $10 | Under $10 | Under $10 |
| Bristles | Soft IntelliFlex bristles | 325 two-tiered teeth | Nylon, rounded tips | Soft bristles, flexible frame | 8 flexible arms |
| Hair types (maker’s) | All types and lengths | Straight to wavy | Fine, thick, long, curly | All, fine to coily | Curly and coily, 3–4abc |
| Wet and dry hair | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Any hair type or length | Straight or wavy hair and extensions | Sharing across the family | Fine and curly hair | Tight curls and coils |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
