Welcome to Texture Talk, a column that celebrates and deep dives into the dynamic world of curly hair, from crowns of curls that are free flowing to strands that are tucked away in a protective style.
If you have curly or coily hair, a thorough and effective detangling process is an essential part of maintaining hair health. To prevent tangles and single strand knots that can eventually lead to breakage, it’s important to detangle hair at every step of the washing and styling process — especially after taking hair out of a protective style. While it might be easy to remember to detangle hair, finding the right tools for your hair type, skill level and budget can be a task of its own. We’ve rounded up some of the best detangling brushes for curly hair, plus multipurpose combs and the perfect brush for slicking down edges, to make sure the only labour-intensive job you undertake is getting those tangles out of your hair.
Pattern Beauty Shower Brush
Tracee Ellis Ross is just as well known for her gorgeous toothy grin as she is for her voluminous curls. So creating a haircare line dedicated to curls and coils of all textures was a natural step for the Black-ish star. The Shower Brush is a standout product from her Pattern Beauty line. Made with several rows of thick rubber bristles and a comfortable, lightweight handle, this shower brush is perfect for getting tangles out while your hair is sopping wet. Not only does the brush help to define curls, but a portion of all Pattern Beauty sales go towards organizations and programs that help empower women and people of colour.
Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Paddle Hairbrush
Yes, this brush comes with a pretty hefty price tag, but you know what else it comes with? Amazing detangling capabilities! Each natural boar bristle is actually a different length to make latching onto each strand of hair a breeze, thus preventing breakage. The boar bristles, which are well known for adding tons of shine to hair, will leave your hair tangle-free, imparting looser curls with a more defined and bouncy look.
Ibiza Hair Round Brush
It’s no secret that the key to an amazing blowout is blow-drying your hair using a round brush. That said, the majority of round brushes on the market are made of ceramic which can be damaging on textured hair. For those of us with curly hair, to get the bounciest, glossiest blowout, a boar bristle round brush, like this one, is your best bet. Not only does this brush help keep hair soft and shiny, but it’s also great for distributing oils throughout the hair and improving overall hair health.
Denman Brush
Small but mighty, the Denman Brush is an absolute classic for many folks with naturally curly hair. The long bristles help you get close to the scalp and rid your hair of any tangles that might be at the root. Their length makes this a great option for people with shorter hair as well — use it to rake through conditioner or as a last step before pulling hair into a twist out with seriously defined curls.
Wetbrush Pro Detangling Comb
The wide-tooth comb is an oft-forgotten gem of the beauty world and a total staple in any curly hair toolkit. Not only is it perfect for distributing product throughout the hair, but it can be used to comb through already styled curls without separating them and creating frizz. Bonus: the Pro Detangling Comb from WetBrush has a grip on the handle ease the styling process.
DANNYCO WTZ Wood Teasing Brush With Boar Bristles
This is truly the definition of two-in-one. The boar bristles are excellent for teasing straight hair, but it’s the size of the bristles that make this the perfect brush for slicking back edges. The pointed handle is also a great tool for creating parts, ponytails and braids. If you’re truly a pro, you can even use this brush to style baby hairs in all the swoops and swirls your heart truly desires.
Pattern Beauty Hair Pick
Another treasure from the Pattern Beauty line, this is the tool you need if you’re looking for the fluffiest and most voluminous curls possible! Designed with a hole that you can place your finger in so that the comb doesn’t slip out of your fingers, this hair pick lets you to get to the root of your hair and helps stretch out curls to their fullest potential.
Missed our last Texture Talk column? Click here.