Your delicate strands deserve a gentle brush of the highest caliber. A variety of brushes-round, vented, paddle, etc.-have likely called your vanity home, but nothing comes close to the best boar bristle brushes and their exceptional smoothing and shine-enhancing abilities. They've long held a special spot in hairstylists' and editors' hair-care routines for their high-quality, gentle bristles that create tension, detangle strands without damaging hair, and help maintain healthy hair growth.
What makes boar bristle brushes exceptional
But they're not created equal: A good boar brush “shouldn’t be too soft, but it also shouldn’t scratch your scalp,” says Temur Hamilton, hairstylist, colorist, and founder of TEMUR in New York City. “Denser and longer bristles provide a good massage while brushing, and effectively distribute oils from the scalp throughout the hair.” (They also make a good brush for fine hair types, too.)
Whether you're looking for natural bristles or a mixed-bristle option, we found and tested the best boar bristle brushes for all hair-care needs and concerns.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Crown Affair The Brush No. 003
This luxury brush is made from beechwood and real boar bristles that brush through all hair textures. The bristles stimulate the scalp, distribute natural oils and hair products, and add a smoothing touch to your hairstyles. Thanks to its innovative pneumatic rubber pad, you'll feel an even distribution of scalp-massing pressure with every brush stroke.
- Best for Frizz: Oribe Italian Resin Flat Brush
There's something about using a substantial, beautiful hair tool that makes you feel like a woman in Victorian England brushing her hair at her vanity. The boar bristles smooth all hair types for swept-up styles or slicked-back buns. If you're looking to style a blowout, this brush's balance and weight are highly praised by professionals.
- Best for Thin Hair: Mason Pearson Pure Boar Bristle Hair Brush
The Handy Boar Bristle Hair Brush is iconic and long-lasting with a rubber cushion pad for gentle brushing. It’s especially suitable for thin hair or sensitive scalps, and the wood handle is comfortable to hold.
- Best for Thick Hair: La Bonne Brosse No. 2 The Essential Do-It-All Brush
This brush combines nylon and natural boar bristles, gliding through knots with ease. It redistributes oil to minimize greasiness, boosts shine, and offers a versatile tool for finishing and styling as well as daily detangling.
- Best Round Brush: Sisley-Paris Hair Rituel The Blow-Dry Brush No. 2
Boar bristles paired with nylon pins in a round brush design deliver movement and shine during blow-drying, with a smoothing effect that avoids flat, lifeless results and provides easy-to-control tension.
- Best Mixed-Material: Prose Boar & Nylon Bristle Brush
Prose offers a customizable experience with a pure boar version for fine to medium hair and a Boar & Nylon variant for medium-to-thick hair-balancing softness, detangling, and scalp-massaging capabilities.
- Best Under $50: The Hair Edit Boar Bristle Bamboo Finishing Brush
An affordable option that uses real boar bristles to bust through tangles delicately. It also doubles as a damage-minimizing wet brush, with a comfortable wooden handle.
How to choose the right boar bristle brush
For best results, consider bristle density and length. Denser, longer bristles provide a more thorough scalp massage and better oil distribution, while softer bristles may be gentler for very sensitive scalps. If you have thick or curly hair, a mixed-bristle brush (boar with nylon) can offer both smoothness and detangling power. For fine or delicate strands, a pure boar bristle option can work well, especially when paired with the right technique.
Care and maintenance for boar bristle brushes
Cleaning your boar bristle brush is straightforward. Use soap and warm water on all bristles. Wooden paddles and handles can be wiped down with rubbing alcohol. If the brush is moderately gunky, soak it in hot water with gentle disinfectant soap to loosen buildup, then rinse. After washing, use a fine-tooth comb to remove hair and residue. Since boar bristles are prone to fallout, be extra gentle during washing. Let the brush dry with the bristles pointing downward to prevent water from seeping into the handle.
Meet the experts
Temur Hamilton, Lisa Erin, Kim Kimble, Olivia Smalley, and Tukia Allen contributed insights into why boar bristle brushes are transformative for varying hair types and concerns.
How we test and review products
We enlist a range of testers with diverse hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, and concerns. Tests consider efficacy, safety and ease of use, and value. The reviews reflect a broad set of experiences, ensuring recommendations suit a wide audience.
For those seeking added guidance, the Crown Affair brush’s pneumatic pad and the Oribe brush’s robust construction illustrate how design choices impact performance. The Mason Pearson brush remains a long-standing staple for professionals and enthusiasts who value durability and a gentle brush.