Best Hair Brushes for Thinning Hair: 5 Options That Work for All Hair Types and Promote Hair Growth

Oof! While brushing your hair you might notice more strands than ever coming out these days! As it turns out, when your hair starts thinning, your hairbrush could actually be doing more harm than good. Even if you’re not part of the 50% of women over the age of 50 who experience thinning hair — wouldn’t we all like to prevent as much hair fallout as possible? So we reached out to hair experts and dermatologists to get the lowdown on the best hair brushes for thinning hair.

Why you should change your hair brush when hair begins to thin

So why exactly is it so important to switch out your old hair brush once hair starts thinning out? “First off, the wrong brush can further contribute to hair loss,” explains Ross Kopelman, MD, hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration in New York City. “Especially if the brush causes unnecessary tension, breakage or damage to your hair and scalp.” That’s why the best hair brushes for thinning hair don’t have harsh bristles, which can irritate the scalp and lead to inflammation that can exacerbate hair loss.

What to avoid in a hair brush if you have thin hair

When you notice your hair is shedding or thinning, it’s important to avoid brushes made with rough materials like metal or really hard plastic. Also, when it comes to the best hair brushes for thinning hair, you want to skip ones that have too widely spaced bristles, which can pull on your hair too harshly, leading to breakage and even more thinning, says Dr. Ross. “Brushes made with hard bristles can lead to excessive force as you try to pull them through hair,” adds Tiffany Rose, hair expert and CEO and Founder of Hollywood Hair Bar, a hair product line of all-natural ingredients focusing on hair regrowth. “This further harms hair by literally ripping it out.”

What to look for in a hair brush if you have thin hair

Gently brushing is key when it comes to thinning hair, but what type of brushes make this easiest to accomplish? “For those with thinning hair, it's crucial to choose brushes that are gentle on fragile hair strands and the scalp,” says Rose. “These will be brushes with boar bristles, soft bristles or paddle brushes with a cushioned base.”

The best hair brushes for thinning hair

All of the pros we spoke to say it’s essential to choose a brush that is suitable for your specific hair type to minimize damage and promote healthy hair growth. Read on to discover the perfect one for you.

Best hair brush for thinning hair if your hair is straight

Goody Dream Detangle Paddle Brush

A paddle brush with a soft, cushioned pad at the base of bristles puts less tension on straight hair while brushing. That’s why Rose’s top pick is the Goody Dream Detangle Paddle Brush. “It’s a reliable brand known for high-quality hair brushes,” she says. The long, widely spaced nylon bristles gently smooth hair and remove tangles, and will gently massage and stimulate the scalp to promote healthy hair growth.

Best hair brush for thinning hair if your hair is wavy

PERFEHAIR 100% Wild Natural Boar Bristle Hair Brush

A natural boar bristle brush, like Perfehair 100% Wild Boar Bristle Hair Brush, can smooth out wavy hair and help it keep its shape because the bristles won’t cause too much friction or pull while brushing. But that’s not the only reason a boar bristle brush is so perfect for thinning, wavy hair. “This type of brush can help maintain hair health and reduce breakage,” says Dr. Ross. “Boar bristles are also gentle on the hair and scalp, but also help distribute natural oils from the scalp to the ends of the hair, and reduce static and frizz.”

Best hair brush for thinning hair if your hair is curly

Rizos Curls Detangling Flexi Brush

For curly hair that is more prone to breakage, Dr. Ross says you want soft bristles made of flexible materials like plastic or silicone to remove tangles without any tension or ripping. The Rizos Curls Detangling Flexi Brush is made with eight rows of bristles, which flex to move through hair, but it also has a lock bar to keep bristles in place if needed. Using the brush in the shower while working conditioner through hair can help battle knots while preventing breakage. “Brushes with flexible bristles can be gentler and help detangle curly hair without causing damage,” says Dr. Ross. What’s more, he adds that brushes like this also provide a massaging effect. “This is important because this can stimulate blood circulation to the scalp and promote hair growth.”

Best hair brush for thinning hair if your hair is super fine

Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler

As many women with fine hair know, if damp strands aren’t brushed and smoothed out post shower, hair ends up a tangled mess once dry. This makes it even harder to brush hair out without excessive pulling. “Brushing wet hair can apply additional tension on hair follicles,” says Whitney Tolpinrud, MD, FAAD, dermatologist and Medical Director at Curology. “When hair is already fragile, this stress can lead to even more breakage.” That’s why the Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler brush is known as ‘The Holy Grail’ of brushes on TikTok, where it is also often paired with the hashtag #BestBrush. “Brushes like this are designed to detangle hair gently, without pulling or tugging,” says Dr. Ross. The credit goes to a combination of shorter and longer bristles that can detangle knots smoothly. The brush has two tiers of soft and flexible plastic teeth — the straight and widely spaced long bristles gently glide through hair and work out knots and the shorter teeth help smooth out strands.

Bonus: The best hair brush for thin hair that boosts hair growth

Hairmax Ultima 12 Lasercomb

Laser therapy brushes are a great tool for combating hair loss. “These brushes use low-level laser therapy that work to stimulate hair follicles through emitting infrared wavelengths and promote hair growth,” says Dr. Ross. “One laser therapy brush I highly recommend is the HairMax LaserComb.” This brush combines the benefits of gentle brushing with the stimulation provided by laser therapy, helping to improve hair density and overall scalp health.

The bottom line is this: Choosing the right brush as well as taking care to gently use the brush can help manage thinning hair and reduce the risk of further hair loss. “Always handle your hair gently, especially when it’s wet,” cautions Dr. Ross. “And avoid excessive brushing, which will help maintain your hair’s health and vitality.” Now that you know which brush to choose from for the best hair brushes for thinning hair, your hair is sure to look more lush in no time.

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