Daily Vanity Logo

If you’ve ever tried to run a brush through your hair, only to end up yanking away in agony, we feel you. When your hair is riddled with knots and tangles, brushing or combing can feel like a futile attempt. The anxiety from all the pulling and tugging is enough to cause a breakdown too. It doesn’t have to be this way, though.

Take advantage of the time we’re spending indoors to slow down and show your hair a little TLC. By introducing detangling brushes or combs in your routine, haircare won’t feel as daunting. Plus, your hair and scalp will thank you.

The benefits of using a detangling brush or comb

Detangling Hair Brushes

While regular brushes have tighter bristles that can easily cause knots, detangling brushes and combs have wider bristles that are gentler on your tresses. When a brush or comb runs through your hair smoothly, it reduces the chances of breakage.

If you have natural curls or permed hair, investing in a detangling brush or comb is the best way to ensure your ringlets or waves stay in place too. What’s more, these everyday tools can redistribute the natural oils in your hair. As you brush or comb your hair, it helps spread the oils from your scalp to your roots to give parched hair ends some nourishment.

When you take time out of your daily schedule to brush or comb through your hair, you’re also giving your scalp a relaxing massage. This promotes blood circulation and stimulates hair growth.

How and when to use a detangling brush or comb

When using a detangling brush or comb, make sure you start from the bottom ends of your hair and work your way up to the roots. This is especially important for those with thick hair to prevent tugging and further damage. If you have plenty of hair to work with, divide them into sections and gently pull the brush or comb through it.

You can use detangling brushes and combs once or twice a day on wet or dry hair. Keeping your brush or comb clean is incredibly important too. Bacteria and dead skin cells can stick to the bristles, so wash them with a gentle soap and let them dry naturally. After all, you wouldn’t want to redistribute product buildup when you use your tool on clean hair.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to knots and hair breakage, check out our list of detangling brushes and combs ahead.

Detangling brushes

1. Tangle Teezer The Large Wet Detangler (Most popular!)

Detangling Brushes Combs Tangle Teezer The Large Wet Detangler

You’re probably familiar with Tangle Teezer’s compact detangling hairbrush, but here’s one of their newer brushes to keep your hair knot-free. The Large Wet Detangler is specially designed to be used on wet hair. You can bring it with you in the shower to help evenly distribute shampoos, conditioners, and treatments through your hair. It’s a good opportunity to give yourself a quick scalp massage too.

The detangling brush has a slim handle that gives you a better grip, so the brush doesn’t slip out of your hand in the shower. You can also use it on dry hair for smoother, shinier tresses.

Tangle Teezer The Large Wet Detangler retails for S$24.50, available at LookFantastic.

2. Milk + Sass Macaron Hair Detangling Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Milk Sass Macaron

How cute is this macaron-shaped detangling brush? The Milk + Sass brush comes in a compact mirror case that’s equal parts Instagram-worthy and effective at reducing tangles. Its bristles are in a radial pattern, which helps to smooth out kinks in the hair quickly, even when you’re on-the-go. Plus, it’ll look adorable sitting on your vanity or bedside table.

Milk + Sass Macaron Hair Detangling Brush retails for S$50.29, available at Amazon.

3. Denman Flexible Vent Brush D200

Detangling Brushes Combs Denman Flexible Vent Brush

The Denman Flexible Vent Brush D200 has long been a go-to detangling tool for many women with curly hair. It has air vents to promote circulation at the level of your roots, so it can be used with a hairdryer.

The brush has a unique curved head, which allows it to create natural styles easily. Featuring a tear-drop handle, the brush gives you a secure grip while you brush through wet or dry hair.

Denman Flexible Vent Brush D200 retails for S$24.90, available at Lazada.

4. Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Hairbrush (Best quality!)

Detangling Brushes Combs Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Brush

This Christophe Robin detangling brush costs a pretty penny, but it’s worth every cent. Its bristles are made of 100 percent natural boar, which are incredibly gentle on the hair and scalp. The brush glides through the hair easily, controlling frizz and adding a touch of shine to your hair at the same time.

Boar bristles also do a great job of carrying your scalp’s natural oils throughout your hair, so your strands stay well-conditioned for days on end.

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Hairbrush retails for S$163, available at Sephora.

5. Verb Detangling Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Verb

If you have fine hair that’s prone to breakage, you’ll want to use a detangling brush with thin, flexible bristles like Verb’s Detangling Brush. You can use this brush on wet hair for detangling right after you hop out of the shower, or on dry hair to get rid of bedhead and knots. The easy-to-grip handle lets you style your hair with ease and comfort too.

Verb Detangling Brush retails for S$24, available at Sephora.

6. Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Felicia Leatherwood

Created by Felicia Leatherwood, a celebrity hairstylist, the Detangler Brush is a great option for those with thick, coarse hair. The brush has wide-spaced, flexible bristles that slide through tangled tresses without pulling or breaking delicate or weakened strands. When you use this brush to coat your hair in a conditioning treatment, it protects your hair and gives you maximum softness.

Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush retails for S$19.80, available at Brush With The Best.

7. Artnaturals Detangling Hair Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Artnaturals

This two-piece hair brush set from Artnaturals features brushes with a unique, wavy shape. Each brush has unique, cone-shaped bristles that are designed to glide through your hair gently. Instead of separating your hair downwards, the bristles part your hair sideways, allowing the brush to unravel the toughest tangles.

The brush also stimulates the scalp with its painless bristles, and this helps your hair to grow out faster, stronger, and healthier.

Artnaturals Detangling Hair Brush retails for S$19.21, available at iHerb.

8. Cantu Thick Detangle Easy Glide Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Cantu Easy Glide Brush

Made to detangle the toughest knots, Cantu’s Thick Detangle Easy Glide Brush gives you a smooth glide without tugging at your hair. It’s designed to have a few rows of bristles missing, so the brush won’t catch or snag easily and cause hair breakage. It has a rubber base that helps to define your hair’s natural texture, while giving your hands a non-slip handle to grip on as you brush through.

Cantu Thick Detangle Easy Glide Brush retails for S$14, available at LookFantastic.

9. Goody Old Quik Style Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Goody Old Quik Style Brush

If you have an unmanageable mane that takes forever to dry, then you need to try the Goody Old Quik Style Brush, stat. The little blue puffs you see are actually small microfibre towels that soak up excess water as you slide it through the lengths of your hair. It has wide-spaced bristles too, so you can get both the detangling and towel-drying in one quick step.

Goody Old Quik Style Brush retails for S$11.12, available at Amazon.

10. Wetbrush The Original Detangler

Detangling Brushes Combs Wetbrush Original

Instead of wrestling your hair with a regular brush, pick up this paddle brush. Wetbrush’s The Original Detangler has heat-resistant bristles that brush through knots and tangles easily. It even has a vented back to help you cut down on drying time.

When used on dry hair, it separates and smooth kinks out without stretching or breaking your strands. If you’re using the brush with a heat styler, make sure you apply a heat protectant spray or a leave-in cream first to reduce damage.

Wetbrush The Original Detangler retails for S$20.69, available at Cult Beauty.

11. Conair Gel Grips Detangle & Style Hair Brush

Detangling Brushes Combs Conair Gel Grips

Perfect for everyday brushing and styling, Conair’s Gel Grips Detangle & Style Hair Brush has a comfortable gel handle that makes hair brushing a breeze. It has ball-tipped bristles that go easy on the hair, so you won’t end up snagging or pulling it. The brush also has a wide paddle surface that smoothes over large areas of your hair, while its flexible cushion base prevents breakage.

Conair Gel Grips Detangle & Style Hair Brush retails for S$7.94, available at iHerb.

12. CkeyiN Electric Ionic Hair Brush Massager

Detangling Brushes Combs Ckeyin Electric Ionic Hair Brush

This detangling hair brush from CkeyiN doubles up as a massage device, so you get to enjoy two benefits in a nifty gadget. When you turn on the brush, the device will vibrate and release negative ions to eliminate any static and frizz. The round-tipped bristles also massage your scalp gently as you brush it through your hair to promote healthy hair growth.

CkeyiN Electric Ionic Hair Brush Massager Massage Comb retails for S$29.40, available at Lazada.

Detangling combs

1. Crown Affair The Comb No. 002

Detangling Brushes Combs Crown Affair No 2

This gorgeous tortoiseshell comb from Crown Affair has wide-spaced teeth to detangle your hair without causing any breakage. It has a sturdy handle too, so you can use it in the shower. You can also use the rounded tips of the comb to lightly massage your scalp. This helps to rid your scalp of dead skin and increase circulation to nourish the roots of your hair.

Dianna Cohen, the brand’s CEO, recently said that “detangling hair is like gua sha-ing your face.” On top of smoothing out knots, that’s exactly what detangling brushes and combs should do for you — stimulate the scalp and release any tension.

Crown Affair The Comb No. 002 retails for S$53.76, available at Crown Affair.

2. Aerin Beauty Large Comb

Detangling Brushes Combs Aerin Beauty Large Comb

Aerin Beauty’s sleek, wide-toothed comb is handcrafted from thick acetate, which is why it looks like marbled ivory at first glance. The comb detangles knots and smooths flyaways easily. Plus, it will sit pretty on your dressing table.

Aerin Beauty Large Comb retails for S$60, available at Net-a-Porter.

3. The Body Shop Detangling Comb (Great value!)

Detangling Brushes Combs The Body Shop

Detangle wet or dry hair easily with The Body Shop’s wide-toothed comb. You can keep it in the shower to help distribute your conditioner or mask evenly throughout your hair.

The Body Shop Detangling Comb retails for S$8, available at Lazada.

4. So Eco Detangling Comb

Detangling Brushes Combs So Eco

So Eco’s Detangling Comb was designed for those with fragile, damaged hair. It has wide-toothed bristles to prevent tugging and snagging while you use it to comb through your hair. The comb detangles damp or dry hair, so you’re left with smooth frizz-free tresses.

So Eco Detangling Comb retails for S$9, available at LookFantastic.

5. Wetbrush Pro Detangling Comb

Detangling Brushes Combs Wetbrush Pro Comb

If the knots in your hair are getting on your nerves, try the Wetbrush Pro Detangling Comb. Designed with a non-slip rubber handle, the brush’s funky rippled teeth smooth out post-shampoo tangles easily. The evenly spaced teeth also stimulate the scalp to encourage new hair growth.

Wetbrush Pro Detangling Comb retails for S$15.52, available at Cult Beauty.

 

Featured image credit: Joshua Reddekopp/ Unsplash