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LJ HairLab

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Hair Brush & Comb Finder

Pick your hair type and the job, and get the right brush or comb, a backup, and how to use it without breakage.

What is the hair like?

For a wig or extensions, pick the texture of that hair.

What do you want to do?
How dense is it?

How to use the Hair Brush & Comb Finder

  1. Choose the hair type

    Pick relaxed or straightened, wavy, curly or coily. For a wig or extensions, pick the texture of that hair.

  2. Choose the task

    Select what you want to do: detangle wet or dry, blow-dry and stretch, smooth a ponytail or edges, define curls, or care for a wig.

  3. Add density and scalp sensitivity

    Pick low, medium or high density, and tick the box if you are tender-headed.

  4. Press “Find my brush or comb”

    You get the main tool, a backup, what to look for when you shop, how many sections to work in, how to use it and what to avoid.

How to use the Hair Brush and Comb Finder (51 s)

How the finder decides what brush you should use for your hair type

There is no single best brush. The right tool depends on two things: how easily your hair tangles and breaks, and what you are trying to do with it. The finder is a lookup table of six jobs and four hair types. Each combination has a main tool and a backup from a short list of generic tools, with no brands involved.

Why curl pattern changes the answer

Combing studies show that the curlier the hair, the more it breaks when a comb or brush is pulled through it. Tightly coiled hair also forms small knots along the strand, and those knots are where it snaps during grooming. That is why the finder gives coils a wide-tooth comb for detangling, always on wet, conditioned hair, and never suggests a brush for dry curls or coils.

Relaxed and straightened hair behaves differently. It tangles less, but the hair is at its weakest when wet, so it also gets a wide-tooth comb for wet detangling and a cushioned paddle brush once it is dry.

Tender scalps, density and sections

If you tick tender-headed and the wide-tooth comb is the backup for a detangling job, it becomes the main tool, because it pulls the least. Density sets how many sections to work in: 4 for low, 6 for medium and 8 for high density, with 2 more for coily hair. These counts are estimates. If you keep hitting tangles, make the sections smaller.

Technique matters more than the tool

Whatever you use, the same three habits prevent most breakage: work in sections, start at the ends and move up to the roots, and hold the hair above the spot you are working on. The hair styling coach walks through detangling and blow-drying step by step.

What the finder cannot tell you

It does not know your exact curl pattern, how damaged your hair is or which brush feels good in your hand. If you are unsure of your type, start with the hair type quiz. If you are losing a lot of hair when you detangle, the shedding vs breakage checker helps you tell normal shed hair from breakage. Scalp pain, sores or thinning patches are not a brushing problem: see a board-certified dermatologist.

Brush and comb chart by hair type and task

Task Relaxed or straightenedWavyCurlyCoily
Detangle wet with conditioner Wide-tooth comb Backup: flexible detangling brush Flexible detangling brush Backup: wide-tooth comb Flexible detangling brush Backup: wide-tooth comb Wide-tooth comb Backup: flexible detangling brush
Detangle dry or take down a style Paddle brush Backup: wide-tooth comb Wide-tooth comb Backup: paddle brush Wide-tooth comb Backup: rat-tail comb Wide-tooth comb Backup: rat-tail comb
Blow-dry and stretch Round brush, about 2 in (51 mm) barrel Backup: paddle brush Round brush, about 1.5 in (38 mm) barrel Backup: paddle brush Styling brush with rows of nylon pins Backup: paddle brush Styling brush with rows of nylon pins Backup: wide-tooth comb
Smooth a ponytail or edges Boar-bristle smoothing brush Backup: edge brush Boar-bristle smoothing brush Backup: edge brush Boar-bristle smoothing brush Backup: edge brush Boar-bristle smoothing brush Backup: edge brush
Define curls Rat-tail comb Backup: paddle brush Wide-tooth comb Backup: styling brush with rows of nylon pins Styling brush with rows of nylon pins Backup: wide-tooth comb Styling brush with rows of nylon pins Backup: hair pick
Care for a wig or extensions Loop brush for wigs Backup: wide-tooth comb Loop brush for wigs Backup: wide-tooth comb Wide-tooth comb Backup: loop brush for wigs Wide-tooth comb Backup: hair pick

What to look for in each tool

Tool Look for
Wide-tooth comb Smooth, seamless teeth with clear gaps between them
Flexible detangling brush Soft bristles on a base that flexes or is vented
Paddle brush Wide cushioned base with ball-tipped pins
Round brush Ceramic or wooden barrel; avoid bare metal on high heat
Boar-bristle smoothing brush Dense natural or mixed bristles, soft to medium
Styling brush with rows of nylon pins Seven to nine rows of firm nylon pins on a rubber pad
Rat-tail comb Fine teeth and a thin pointed tail for parting
Hair pick Long, widely spaced teeth
Edge brush Small soft bristles, often with a mini comb on the back
Loop brush for wigs Looped nylon bristles that cannot catch on wefts or bonds

For wigs and extensions, the hair type is the texture of the unit, not your own hair.

Frequently asked questions

What brush should I use for my hair type?
It depends on the job as much as the hair. For detangling, coily and relaxed hair do best with a wide-tooth comb, while wavy and curly hair can use a flexible detangling brush on wet, conditioned hair. For blow-drying, straight and wavy hair use a round brush and curls and coils use a styling brush with rows of nylon pins. For smoothing, every hair type uses a soft boar-bristle brush on hair that is already detangled.

Should I brush curly or coily hair wet or dry?
Wet, with conditioner in it. Curls and coils tangle around each other and break easily when they are combed dry. Water and a conditioner with slip let the tool glide. Relaxed and straightened hair is the exception: it is weakest when wet, so use only a wide-tooth comb on it until it is mostly dry.

Is a wide-tooth comb better than a detangling brush?
A wide-tooth comb pulls less, so it is the safer choice for coily hair, relaxed hair and tender scalps. A flexible detangling brush is faster and removes more shed hair on wavy and curly hair. Many people use both: comb first, brush second.

Why should I detangle from the ends up to the roots?
Starting at the roots pushes every small tangle down into one big knot at the ends, and the force needed to pull through it breaks hair. Starting at the ends clears a path a few inches at a time, so each stroke meets less resistance.

What size round brush do I need?
A barrel of about 2 inches gives a smooth, straight finish on relaxed or straightened hair that is shoulder length or longer. A barrel of about 1.5 inches grips better and leaves more body, which suits wavy or shorter hair. These sizes are rules of thumb: the longer the hair, the larger the barrel you can control.

Can I use a boar-bristle brush on natural hair?
Yes, for smoothing only. Use it on hair that has already been detangled with a comb, to lay the surface flat for a ponytail or bun. It is not a detangling tool, and hard daily brushing along the hairline can wear down your edges.

How do I brush a wig or extensions without damaging them?
Use a loop brush or a wide-tooth comb, hold the hair above where you are working, and start at the ends. Keep the tool away from the lace, wefts, tape and bonds. Curly and coily units should only be combed when damp.

Sources

Last data update:

  1. Bryant H, Porter C, Yang G. Curly hair: measured differences and contributions to breakage. Int J Dermatol. 2012;51 Suppl 1:8-11. Curlier hair breaks more during combing; breakage is a key limit on length.
  2. Khumalo NP, Doe PT, Dawber RP, Ferguson DJ. What is normal black African hair? A light and scanning electron-microscopic study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43(5 Pt 1):814-820. Tightly coiled hair forms knots and breaks more easily during grooming.

How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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