Fine-hair types know that they want to avoid anything that weighs down their hair or makes it seem flat. “Fine hair gets tangled quickly and easily, and that is where a lot of breakage happens,” says Laura Polko, T3 brand ambassador and celebrity stylist. “It is a bit more fragile since it is a thinner strand, and it cannot withstand the same heat, chemicals, and environmental factors as thicker hair.”
That means you want to be using the right products and tools to care for your delicate strands. And when it comes to the latter, you especially want to make sure you have a brush on hand that is gentle enough on the hair but also able to detangle and style. It might seem like a tall order, but I asked some hairstylists for their tips, which they shared below.
StyleSeat natural hair hairstylist Erinn Courtney says that fine hair needs a brush that’s created to be able to reach all of its strands in one stroke, for styling or detangling. You don’t want anything that will stress your hair out while you’re working the brush through it. When shopping for a brush for fine hair, many of the the experts suggest looking for a detangling brush. “Find a detangling brush that doesn’t pull too hard or a boar-bristle brush that has natural bristles, which are gentler on hair and scalp,” recommends Mane Addicts artist Shelley Gregory. A detangling brush provides enough flow between bristles so you don’t have to pull your hair too much while detangling.
And Matrix Artistic Director Nick Stenson suggests looking for brushes that incorporate natural hair fibers, which allows for gentle and polished styling.
Start at the bottom and work you way up when you’re brushing your hair. “If you start at the top of your head, you create a huge knot or tangle that will make it so much harder to get out as you work your way down,” Polko says. “Also, with fine hair, I recommend brushing it to the part you want, rather than brushing it back first before creating your part. Then you just create a second detangling process.” And don’t forget to use a detangler or leave-in conditioner, which will help the brush glide through and prevent any breakage.
Ready to shop for a brush? Take a look at some expert recs below.
“Get the mixed-bristles brush—it has boar bristles and nylon bristles,” says Gregory. “It’s great for detangling and styling. The boar bristles are gentle, and they polish the hair to add shine.”
“The perfect brush for fine hair is the T3 Detangle Duo (the shower comb for in the shower and the detangle brush to help release knots following),” Polko says. “This is the ideal brush for fine hair, as it gets the tangles out and keeps hair in your head. Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up.”
Courtney says this brush is great for fine hair. “You should look for a brush that has a lot of bristles that create a thick bundle to smooth hair strands,” she adds.
“I love this brush because of the boar bristles mixed with the paddle bristles,” Courtney says. “It’s great for fine hair without causing damage or breakage.”
Gregory uses this for detangling hair, wet or dry. “I also use this for brushing through hair masks and color glosses,” she says.
“My very own line, Curious Brushes, was crafted with versatility for all hair types in mind,” Stenson says. “Both the Round and Oval Cushion brushes combine natural fiber and nylon bristles to gently detangle and guide hair into shape while ensuring polish and shine in the finished result.”
While this brush is made for curly hair, it also works well on fine hair. It’s great for detangling, smoothing, and styling.
Designed specially for those with fine or fragile hair, this brush features soft-flex teeth to detangle with ease and reduce breakage.
The multi-layered bristles on this brush make it easy to detangle and smooth your strands. And the soft ballpoint tips will give your scalp a nice massage.
Wet Brush’s detangler is designed for fine-to-thin hair. It has a bristle density that bends and contours to the head shape, so it won’t pull or tug.
The cool thing about this brush is it’s made of all vegan materials. It works well with both detangling and styling and also features boar-like bristles to massage the scalp.
This paddle brush does it all—detangles, smoothes, tames, and helps with blow-drying. Its large body also ensures you can style and brush a big chunk of your hair at once.
If you prefer to air-dry your hair but want some body and texture, try this lightweight cream.
Conditioners can weigh down the hair, but you don’t have to worry about this one. It’s formulated with pink pomelo to revitalize the hair, artichoke leaf to strengthen the hair’s cuticle, and Alpha Keratin 60ku to repair damage.
If your fine hair is dry or damaged, apply this mask to restore hydration and add shine.
Oribe’s volumizing shampoo is weightless and features body-building polymers to add thickness and leave the hair fuller.
Spray this tonic on to damp hair at the roots to add extra lift when blow-drying.
Christophe Robin’s leave-in mist protects color and adds body and volume. The formula contains 96% rose water to soften and nourish the hair.
