Yahoo

News

13 Best Boar-Bristle Brushes and What They Really Do

 

Start saving up.

Fact: There are a bazillion types and styles of hair brushes on the market, and, surprisingly, they often do vastly different things. And though you don't necessarily need a dozen differently brushes in your drawer, you may want to think about investing in a boar-bristle brush, since it's one of the few hairbrushes that can do the job of many.

Leigh Hardges, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, calls the boar-bristle brush the "ultimate tool in hair care," since it helps polish strands with the natural oils from your scalp and gently detangle your hair without massive pulling. And, to be honest, it's kinda just one of those beauty tools worth having on hand to play around with at least once in your life.

But if you're not sure if you should try one—or, TBH, you're not totally sure what "boar bristle" even means—we've gotchu:

What is a boar-bristle brush made of?

A boar-bristle brush is made with just that—a boar's bristles. "The bristles are both durable and pliable, so they last for a long time without showing much sign of wear," says Joseph Maine, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Trademark Beauty. This type of natural bristle is great for creating tension when brushing your hair, yet it's also soft and gentle, which means it won't tear or splinter the hair strands, Hardges adds.

Not a fan of using actual boar bristles? No worries—not all boar-bristle brushes are made with 100 percent natural bristles. Some feature a mix of natural and synthetic bristles while others are entirely vegan, so you've got plenty of options that fit your preference. Case in point: These 13 different boar-bristle brushes for all your styling needs.

THIS ETHICALLY SOURCED BOAR BRISTLE PADDLE BRUSH

Raincry Condition Large Pure Boar Bristle Brush

High-quality brushes come at high price points, but you'll only have to save up once because the best brushes will last forever. You won't ever need to toss and replace this handcrafted boar-bristle brush, so add it to your low-waste beauty routine. Made with materials from ethical and environmentally renewable resources, this brush features strong boar bristles and a flexible cushion for ouch-less hair brushing.

THIS CRUELTY-FREE BOAR BRUSH

Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush

This brush is fully vegan, but it looks and performs just like the real thing. In lieu of boar bristles, this tool is packed with varying lengths of synthetic bristles (some with ballpoint ends) to thoroughly detangle strands and massage the scalp. A pretty, cruelty-free brush at a pretty affordable price? Can't beat it.

THIS CLASSIC BOAR-BRISTLE BRUSH

Mason Pearson Junior Mixture Hair Brush

Ah, yes. The hair brush of all hair brushes. The crème de la crème. The Great Bambino. This classic brush will last you for-ev-er, which is the only way you can justify spending two hundred bucks on a hair tool that doesn't even plug in. "These brushes carry that price tag for the quality in craftsmanship and their longevity," explains Hardges, who is a big fan of Mason Pearson. With this brush, in particular, you get all the shine and oil-dispersing advantages of boar hair and the detangling benefits of nylon bristles.

THIS LIGHTWEIGHT ROUND BRUSH

Ibiza Hair Brush - EX4 Boar Bristle Brush

Not only are the bristles an important factor when picking out a brush, but Hardges says you'll also want to take note of the handle because if it's not comfortable, guess what? Yeah, you're not using it. We know heavy a blow-dryer can be, so a lightweight brush with an ergonomic handle is key when creating tension with your hair without getting tired. This round brush is not only super light, but it also holds a blend of natural boar and heat-resistant carbon fiber.

THIS GENTLE BOAR-BRISTLE BRUSH

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Hairbrush

Look closely and you'll notice how the boar bristles in this brush vary in length, which is ideal for gently detangling and imparting a shiny finish to the hair. Both Hardges and Maine love this kind of brush for smoothing and softening the hair to create a more uniform glam wave. After you've used a curling iron or wand to make the tight ringlets, run this brush through your strands to loosen the curls into a soft wave pattern.

THIS BOAR-BRISTLE BRUSH FOR SHORT HAIR

R+Co Round Brush 1

Round brushes aren't just for long strands. If you're want to heat-style your short hair and either blow-out your curls or add volume to flat roots, this 1.5-inch brush with natural boar bristles will help you get the look you want without further damaging the hair.

THIS DETANGLING BRUSH

Wet Brush Pro Shine Enhancer Brush

This type of detangling brush would be great to use before wash day to help condition the strands and stimulate the scalp. With a combo of flexible massaging bristles and natural boar, this brush will leave your hair all soft and smooth and tangle-free.

THIS BOAR-BRISTLE STYLING BRUSH

Y.S Park G-Series Curl Shine Styler Round Brush

This round brush from one of Maine's favorite brands features alternating rows of two different types of bristles: natural boar and heat-resistant polyamide pins. The longer, non-boar bristles help with detangling while the boar bristles gently pull the hair, and together they work to give your blow-out the smoothest results.

THIS SYNTHETIC BRISTLE BRUSH FOR HAIR EXTENSIONS

Polisher Brush

If you have hair extensions, you know how much of a pain brushing your hair can be, both literally and figuratively. Enter: This hairbrush. One of Maine's top picks, this super-gentle synthetic oval brush is safe to use on extensions, wet hair, dry hair—you name it. Reach for it when blow-drying and creating sleek looks.

THIS DOUBLE-SIDED BOAR BRUSH

Yusef 2-Sided Club Brush

The only two-in-one we approve of using in your hair-care routine is this double-sided brush that does it all. Use the side with reinforced boar bristles to detangle any knots, then flip it over to smooth out your strands and add shine with the soft, 100 percent boar bristles on the other half.

THIS AFFORDABLE BOAR-BRISTLE BRUSH

Goody Naturally Smooth Boar Hair Brush

Whether you need a smaller brush to fit in your travel cosmetic case or you're just not looking to spend the money rn (fair), try this trusty drugstore option. It's made with 100 percent boar bristles, it can fit easily in your bag for on-the-go use, and it'll get the job done for smoother, shinier hair.

THIS BOAR PADDLE BRUSH

Spornette DeVille Cushion Paddle Boar Bristle 344

If you've got a whole lotta hair and love a big paddle brush, this one will help you thoroughly disperse all the natural oils throughout your hair without compromising the integrity of your strands. The 100 percent natural boar bristles and cushiony base both work to prevent breakage and damage.

THIS NYLON AND BOAR TEASING BRUSH

Olivia Garden Style-Up Mixed Folding Teasing Brush

Now that we've drilled it into your head that boar-bristle brushes are great for smoothing and detangling your hair, we're going to throw in a fun fact just to confuse you: they're also great for teasing your hair. Yep, turns out the bristles that are great for creating tension in the hair works both ways, which means you can use a narrow brush like this to backcomb the hair for more volume as well.