I have naturally thin hair that's prone to dryness, breakage, and split ends, so I'm always hyper-focused on hair health. I sleep on a silk pillowcase, I use hair masks religiously, and I'll go weeks without touching any heat tools (but when it's time to turn back to my flat iron, I always make sure I use heat protectant). I also use boar bristle brushes.
If you're asking yourself why that last part matters, I get it. How much of a difference can a hairbrush really make? Surprisingly, the answer is a big one. Take it from me. After switching out my traditional hairbrush for a boar bristle version, I've noticed a visible improvement in my hair—it seems stronger, smoother, and shinier. I'm not the only one who's noticed what a boar bristle brush can do. Hairstylists love them too!
Below, find the best boar bristle brushes to incorporate in your routine, plus everything stylists want you to know about the underrated staple.
The Best Boar Bristle Brushes, Listed
- Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Hair Brush
- Emi Jay Mini Boar Bristle Brush in Pink Sugar
- Emi Jay Flat Brush in Pink Sugar
- La Bonne Brosse N.03 the Essential Soft Hair Brush
- Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush
- Ibiza B4 Boar Bristle Round Hair Brush
- DryBar Full Keg Boar Bristle Brush
- Urtheone Mini Boar Bristle Hairbrush
- Wet Brush Pro Shine Enhancer
- DryBar Texas Tease Teasing Brush
- The Hair Edit Finish & Shine Boar Bristle Brush
- DryBar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush
- Pattern Double-Sided Bristle Brush
The 13 Best Boar Bristle Brushes of 2024
1. Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Hair Brush
Pros: Stimulates the scalp and promotes shine
Cons: Expensive, but it lasts a long time
Let's kick off with the most recognizable boar bristle brush—the Mason Pearson. It's used by hairstylists, celebrities, and beauty experts the world over. "The Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Brush is possibly the most iconic boar bristle brush on the market and for good reason," says Jamila Powell, the founder of Naturally Drenched and owner of Maggie Rose Salon. "It's definitely a luxury purchase, but it's worth the price." This is a brush that will last you a lifetime.
2. Emi Jay Mini Boar Bristle Brush in Pink Sugar
Pros: Adorable size and design
Cons: Very small, so not the best for super-thick hair
This mini boar bristle brush isn't just visually appealing when left on your vanity. It's sturdy, shine-boosting, and great for creating sleek, slicked-back hairstyles.
3. Emi Jay Flat Brush in Pink Sugar
Pros: Contains a blend of nylon and boar bristles
Cons: If you're looking for a smoothing-only option, dual bristles aren't for you.
If you prefer a full-size brush, opt for this one. It combines nylon bristles with boar bristle ones for detangling and shine-boosting effects, all in a single swipe.
4. La Bonne Brosse N.03 the Essential Soft Hair Brush
Pros: Beautifully designed, handmade in France, handle is gorgeous and easy to grip
Cons: Expensive but lasts a while
Here we have WWW senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider's number one brush pick. "The blend of boar and nylon bristles massages my scalp, redistributes oils, and smooths my flyaways," she says. "Yes, it's pricey at $158, but I've had mine for over a year without any signs of wear. It's, hands down, the chicest hairbrush I own. It's handmade in France, after all! This cherry red color is just divine."
5. Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush
Pros: Features soft ballpoint tips to gently the massage the scalp, 100% vegan
Cons: Ballpoints can potentially irritate sensitive scalps
If you want to reap all of the smoothing, shine-inducing, and moisturizing benefits of a boar bristle brush, but you'd prefer to shop a vegan option, this one is for you. "Briogeo's Vegan Boar Bristle Brush is a more affordable synthetic option that still has those great smoothing and detangling benefits," Powell says.
6. Ibiza B4 Boar Bristle Round Hair Brush
Pros: Cork handle prevents hands from slipping
Cons: Better for blowouts than everyday brushing
Celebrity hair expert Cory Aaron Scott recommends boar bristle brushes from the brand Ibiza. "My go-to brushes for over a decade are the Ibiza brushes," he says. "I love how they are made. I love that they have a cork handle. (It helps your hands not slip when your hair is wet and/or you have product on it.) They also make so many great sizes and designs."
7. DryBar Full Keg Boar Bristle Brush
Pros: Handle is grippy and easy to maneuver for blowouts
Cons: Not the best for everyday brushing
Reach for this round boar bristle brush from DryBar if you're looking to achieve a sleek and shiny at-home blowout. It has a grippy, ridged handle, so it's easy to maneuver for blow-dry novices (like me).
8. Urtheone Mini Boar Bristle Hairbrush
Pros: Portable, affordable, and great for travel
Cons: Not the best for super-dense strands, as it's quite small
This mini boar bristle brush is the perfect size for stashing away in a carry-on.
9. Wet Brush Pro Shine Enhancer
Pros: Sturdy enough to detangle knots while smoothing hair
Cons: Not the best at defining curls
This brush combines boar bristles with gentle synthetic ones for optimal shine.
10. DryBar Texas Tease Teasing Brush
Pros: Great for precisely sectioning hair
Cons: Better suited for the hairline as opposed to your whole mane
Another option from DryBar, this teasing brush is made up of 50% boar bristles and 50% nylon bristles, and it imparts major volume. The tapered handle makes sectioning hair easy.
11. The Hair Edit Finish & Shine Boar Bristle Brush
Pros: Super soft on the scalp
Cons: Some reviewers mention they have to replace it frequently
A lightweight boar bristle brush that tames flyaways and boosts shine.
12. DryBar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush
Pros: Longer bristles are able to stimulate the scalp, wood handle prevents slipping
Cons: Label easily peels off with wear
"I recommend ones with cork or wood handles," says celebrity hairstylist Bryce Scarlett. "I like the Flat Mate from DryBar." It's a boar-nylon blend with a wood handle that feels comfortable as you brush from root to tip.
13. Pattern Double-Sided Bristle Brush
Pros: Innovative dual-sided design, great for slicked-back styles and detangling
Cons: Better suited for thicker hair
Of course iconic curl queen Tracee Ellis Ross created the most covetable boar bristle brush for textured strands. This dual-sided tool features nylon bristles for gathering and detangling lengths and boar bristles to slick back tighter styles. It's the ultimate two-in-one pick.
What Is a Boar Bristle Brush?
"A boar bristle brush is a styling brush made from the hairs of boars," explains Scarlett. Hence its name! Some brushes feature 100% boar bristles (these are denser and typically used more for smoothing flyaways and slicked-back styles), while others use a mix of boar and nylon bristles for more detangling benefits.
"They are more gentle on the hair than other artificial bristles," adds Scarlett. That said, if using boar hair to smooth your own mane gives you pause—totally fair!—you can find vegan versions that use synthetic bristles.
Benefits of Boar Bristle Brushes
According to hair expert Lulu Pierre, founder of Boho Locs, boar bristle brushes are beneficial for multiple reasons. "Boar bristle brushes are great for smoothing and moisturizing hair. They actually lift away the dust and debris that your hair collects throughout the day while redistributing the scalp's healthy natural oils from root to tip. They also help prevent breakage during brushing because the bristles are so soft and gentle," she says.
The redistribution of oil is key (and the reason boar bristle brushes can actually improve the health of the hair). They take the natural oil that collects at the scalp and carry it down the lengths of the hair. This effectively moisturizes dry, breakage-prone ends.
They offer these benefits whether they're used alone or in conjunction with heat tools. Take it from Scott, who says, "Boar brushes don't get too hot and burn your hair like metal brushes. You can get close to the root and get so much tension with boar bristles. They are great for setting the hair (using them as rollers), and they get hot and cool down quickly so you can get lots of volume and bounce to the hair."
Any Disadvantages?
To be clear, "Any type of hair texture is good for boar bristle brushes," Scott says. "Fine hair is great when using a smaller, less-dense boar bristle brush. Coarse and curly hair is great when using a little bigger and denser boar bristle brush."
That said, those with curlier hair textures might not want to use it on their whole mane (unless you're opting for a slicked-back style). Anyone can use a boar-bristle brush to smooth down flyaways and create sleek buns, but when it comes to detangling, "it works best on straight to wavy hair to add smoothness and volume," says Scarlett.
How to Use a Boar Bristle Brush
Powell recommends using boar bristle brushes before showering or before bed. "You can use it whenever your hair needs a refresh as long as it is not wet. Using a boar bristle brush on damp or wet hair can cause damage to both your hair and the brush. Also, don't forget to brush in sections and take your brush all the way from root to tip so that the oil is distributed evenly!"
Shop My Other Haircare Essentials
Remember how I said I'm obsessed with hair masks? I love this one from Coco & Eve. It never fails to leave my hair super moisturized and silky smooth, and it's all thanks to the coconut extract, fig and shea butter, and argan oil inside.
I also like this hair mask from Kristin Ess. It's thinner than other hair masks, which makes it easy to slip across wet hair. I apply it in the shower, and when I rinse it out, my hair feels incredibly soft.
This is my silk pillowcase of choice for reducing friction and minimizing breakage.
The hair oil I've been loving lately is this one from Olaplex, which strengthens hair bonds to prevent split ends. Don't be turned off by how small the bottle is—a little goes a long way.
I also love this hair oil. It's a pre-wash scalp-and-hair oil that's formulated to strengthen roots, hydrate hair, and promote new growth. It makes my hair routine feel like more of a ritual.
This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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