9 Best Boar-Bristle Brushes of 2024 for Impossibly Glossy Hair

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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 and detangle strands without damaging hair. Whether you're looking for natural bristles or a vegan nylon brush option, we found and tested the best boar-bristle brushes for all hair-care needs and concerns. comb cut hair

Angela Trakoshis brushing her hair with the Crown Affair The Brush No. 003.

Why it's worth it: Smooth frizzy hair from root to tip with Crown Affair's luxurious The Brush No. 003. This paddle 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 brush pad, you'll feel an even distribution of scalp-massaging pressure with every brush stroke.

Tester feedback: Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis recently made the move to a much more humid state so, as she states, her frizz is out of control. “This brush lays all of the flyaways down and makes my hair feel so soft and silky. As mentioned, if I apply a product to my roots and brush it out, the bristles really evenly distribute the formula all the way to my ends. I really have no complaints," she says.

Material: boar bristles, beechwood | Who it's for: all hair types, especially fine hair

Kassidy Silva brushing her hair with the Oribe Italian Resin Flat Brush.

Why it's worth it: 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. This Best of Beauty award-winning brush from Oribe is a sensorial delight; it's heavy in your hands, comfortable to grip, and feels like a treat to the scalp. The boar bristles smooth all hair types for swept-up styles or slicked-back buns.

P.S.: Los Angeles-based hairstylist Lisa Erin highly recommends Oribe's Medium Round Brush. "The build on this brush is phenomenal with the balance in weight between the handle and the bristles," she explains. "If you take care of it, it will take care of your hair." Creating a full, shiny blown-out 'do has never been so easy.

Tester feedback: "If you have ultra-long hair that's prone to frizz, this is your new secret weapon," says Allure social media director Kassidy Silva. "The Oribe Italian Resin Flat Brush is worth every cent of its $100 price tag, for your perfectly polished at-home styling needs."

Material: boar bristles, nylon pins | Who it's for: all hair types

Nicola Dall'Asen brushing her hair with the Mason Pearson Handy Boar Bristle Hair Brush.

Why it's worth it: Mason Pearson's Handy Boar Bristle Hair Brush is an iconic boar hair brush that's been a go-to for hairstylists for years. It's a steep investment but will last you for a long time if you take care of it (which is easy to do, considering the brush comes with a cleansing brush and an instructional booklet for cleaning). The rubber cushion pad offers some give for a comfortable and gentle brushing experience, particularly for those with thin hair or sensitive scalps.

Tester feedback: "Look, the Mason Pearson Handy Boar Bristle Hair Brush is very expensive, I know. But there's a reason it's long been regarded as one of the best in the world, and that's evident by the way it can tame even my tangled-ass, damaged-ass hair into a smooth, shiny finish," says Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "Its soft but dense bristles draw hair in like a magnet to gently rake through knots while eliminating frizz-fueling static—a must for extremely fragile hair."

Material: boar bristles | Who it's for: all hair types, especially thin hair

Shanna Shipin brushing her hair with the La Bonne Brosse No. 2 The Essential Do-It-All Brush.

Why it's worth it: With La Bonne Brosse's No. 2 The Essential Do-It-All Brush, you get the best of both worlds—as in, synthetic and naturally-derived boar bristles. This combination of nylon and boar bristles glide through knots with ease, no matter how tightly wound or tangled your strands are. Its boar bristles evenly redistribute oil to minimize greasiness, boost shine, and gently massage your head. We're big fans.

Tester feedback: "The most prized part of my hair routine! La Bonne Brosse uses natural boar bristles that are equal parts firm and soft to smooth strands, amp up shine, and add body to the hair. I love the flexible, elongated nylon bristles; they detangle your hair and give you a truly addicting scalp massage," says Allure commerce director Shanna Shipin. "It's the most versatile brush I own: You can use it for finishing and styling as well as everyday detangling and general care. After years of heat-styling, I’m quite 'hard-headed,' so if you have a more sensitive scalp or hair on the thin and brittle side, you'll want to opt for the brand's No. 03 Essential Soft Hair Brush, which has softer, ball-tipped nylon bristles."

Material: boar and nylon bristles, cellulose acetate | Who it's for: all hair types

Jennifer Hussein brushing her hair with the Dae Detangle + Style Brush.

Why it's worth it: Take the vegan approach to your hair tools with Dae Detangle + Style Brush. This Allure editor-approved brush is far less costly than the other options, thanks to its 100% nylon-based bristles and pins. Though these bristles are man-made, they still provide the strand-smoothing glide and glossy finish you know and love from pricier options. Its ergonomic handle only adds to this affordable brush's luxurious feel.

Tester feedback: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says the Dae Detangle + Style Brush is essential in her hair-care routine for its synthetic boar-mimicking bristles that can be used on dry and wet hair. Plus, the ballpoint tips provide a gentle, relaxing scalp massage. "When I'm going for a straighter hairstyle, I always have this brush by my side," she says. “It's so gentle on my thick, naturally curly hair and brushes out knots without pulling out any hair strands."

Material: nylon | Who it's for: medium to thick hair

Sarah Han brushing her hair with the Prose Boar & Nylon Brush.

Why it's worth it: The beauty of Prose's Boar Bristle Brush is that it's customizable—no wonder it won an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022. The pure Boar Bristle Brush is ideal for fine to medium hair, thanks to soft bristles that redistribute oil to minimize greasiness and boost shine. However, those blessed with medium-to-thick hair types should grab the Boar & Nylon Bristle version, which, as you can expect, features a mix of pure boar bristles and synthetic nylon pins for their detangling and scalp-massaging abilities.

Tester feedback: "Numerous hairstylists have told me I have thin hair…but a lot of it," Allure commerce editor Sarah Han shares. "Because of this, I've found pure boar bristles are too soft to sweep through my hair—so it only makes sense Prose recommended this mixed-material brush. The ball-tipped bristles really get in there, especially when my damp—don't use this on wet hair!—is tangled, and the shorter boar bristles balance them out, adding softness and shine. Oh, and the monogram is a very cute touch."

Material: boar and nylon bristles, beechwood | Who it's for: medium to thick hair (or thin but dense hair)

Kara McGrath brushing her hair with The Hair Edit's Boar Bristle Bamboo Finishing Brush.

Why it's worth it: Want smooth hair without shelling out the big bucks? Your best bet is The Hair Edit's Boar Bristle Finishing Brush, an under-$50 option that utilizes real boar bristles that bust through tangles just as effortlessly (and delicately!) as pricier options. It gets bonus points for its ability to act as a damage-minimizing wet brush, too.

Tester feedback: "For the lower price point, this is a great brush," says Allure content director Kara McGrath. "It smooths out my ponytails in one or two swipes and the wooden handle is comfortable to hold."

Material: boar bristles, bamboo | Who it's for: all hair types

Talia Gutierrez brushing her hair with the Emi Jay Boar Bristle Mini Brush.

Why it's worth it: If you're going somewhere, make sure you pack Emi Jay's Boar Bristle Mini Brush with you. Its small stature allows this mini brush to fit in any carry-on or weekender bag with ease. Though it's tinier than all of the options on this list, its sturdy yet gentle boar bristles work just as well at creating smooth, sleek looks as its bigger counterparts.

Tester feedback: "I throw my hair back into a slicked-back ponytail at least four days a week. My secret to creating a sleek, bump-free pony is using a boar bristle brush as the final step before heading out the door," says Allure associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. "I adore this mini one from Emi Jay because it makes reaching those awkward areas, like the back of my head and behind my ears, easier to manage and slick back with some hair gel. I like to apply a tiny amount of gel directly onto my hair before brushing it smooth with this brush. For any leftover, stubborn baby hairs, I'll spray some hairspray directly on the board bristle brush and smooth those babies down. Throw this brush in your makeup bag while you travel, or in your purse for touchups at the office, the size is perfect for on the go."

Material: natural boar bristles, bamboo, cellulose acetate | Who it's for: all hair types

We believe multiple brushes have a time and place in your hair-care routine, but the beauty of boar-bristle brushes is that they're beneficial for fine strands, coarse hair, and just about everything in between. "Boar-bristle brushes are great because their soft bristles glide through hair, leading to less hair breakage during styling," hairstylist Kim Kimble explains. "They are also great for massaging the scalp and promoting blood flow, which is important for healthy hair." Hello, relaxation.

Need even more convincing? Fort Lauderdale-based stylist Olivia Smalley says boar-bristle brushes won't cause any annoying static, split ends, or frizz—and they can even exfoliate. "As the boar bristles come in contact with your hair, they are actually brushing out the dead cells from your scalp and getting rid of product buildup and dust," Smalley explains.

Cleaning your boar-bristle brush is very similar to cleaning the rest of your hairbrushes. Not sure how to make your brushes squeaky clean in the first place? TL;DR:

The only caveat we'd like to add is that since boar bristles tend to be prone to fallout, they should be extra gentle when washing them.

We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new blow-dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.

For our review of the best boar-bristle brushes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists with a wide range of hair types, concerns, and desired outcomes. Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, safety and ease of use, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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9 Best Boar-Bristle Brushes of 2024 for Impossibly Glossy Hair | Allure