I'm a huge believer that the simplest tools like your hairbrush can make or break your routine. This is especially true if you have coarse, thick, or curly hair. Certain brush types just don't work for those of us with a generous head of hair, because the bristles are sometimes too thin or get stuck in your strands while brushing. Sigh. It's a hard life.
Recalling my struggle also brings to mind that scene in The Princess Diaries when Mia breaks the stylist's brush due to her very thick, coarse strands. I won't lie to you; I felt seen when watching that unfold because same. I too am guilty of breaking several brushes because my hair is extremely similar to Mia's (at least I'm not alone).
Needless to say, finding the right hairbrush for me required a lot of trial and error. While it hasn't been easy, I'm writing this in the hope that it'll save someone else a lot of time, energy, and money. For the best brushes for coarse, thick, and curly hair, keep scrolling. I'm sharing them below along with a few more key products in my routine that keep my hair healthy and happy.
Like I said, choosing the right brush is important, but it's equally important to select the products for your hair that are going to detangle, hydrate, and define your coarse curls. The products below are a few favorites that make brushing my hair that much easier.
Color Wow's entire curl collection is amazing, but this detangling pre-shampoo treatment works wonders for coarse, curly hair that gets tangled easily. It adds a lot of slip and instantly detangles hair so it's easier to shampoo.
I try to keep my washdays to a minimum, but I do work out a lot, so I aim for two to three times a week. This hydrating, creamy co-wash offers the perfect way for me to lightly cleanse my hair a few times a week without stripping it. Once a week, I also use Maria Nila's Purifying Cleanse Shampoo ($32) for a deeper clean.
It was really tough for me to find the right conditioning masks for my hair since my strands seem to hate coconut oil. I recently realized that coconut oil repels water, and it can make your hair even drier if you're not careful. Unfortunately, so many products for curls contain it. Some find that their hair thrives with products containing coconut oil, but my curls are already coarse and dry, so it doesn't work too well for me. This deep-conditioning mask is amazing. It features super hydrators like aloe and shea butter instead. It leaves my hair so soft, moisturized, and easy to manage.
Another issue I've run into is products with silicones like dimethicone. Silicones (similar to coconut oil) can keep water out of the hair shaft because they create a seal over the hair. If you find that a lot of hair oils and conditioners are making your hair drier, check for these ingredients. This hair oil is great because it's silicone- and coconut oil–free. It features a blend of kakadu plum oil, safflower oil, and capric triglycerides to deeply hydrate the hair without weighing it down.
The Best Brushes for Coarse, Curly Hair
Best Overall: Denman Curly Hair Brush D3
This brush creates so much definition for curls. It honestly would work well for both finer and thicker hair types, but I find that it works particularly well for my coarse curls that can be hard to brush. It also doesn't snag in my hair due to the unique staggered pin pattern, which provides maximum grip and tension.
Best Drugstore: Cantu Ultra Glide Detangling Brush
This is my all-time favorite drugstore hairbrush for thick, curly hair. As I said above, I had the hardest time finding the right brush for my hair, but this detangler with stiff bristles and a wider setup works like a charm for me. It has a few rows of bristles missing to minimize hair breakage. It has also lasted me for years, so that speaks to the quality of the brush.
Best Luxury: La Bonne Brosse N.04 The Miracle Detangling Brush
Okay, I know this hair brush is super expensive, but I promise it's worth it. I use my Cantu as an in-shower brush and this one when I get out of the shower or on dry hair. At first, I wasn't sure it would work very well for my super-thick, coarse, curly hair, but boy, was I wrong. It makes my hair so soft and manageable like no other brush has before. If you have coarse, thick hair, nylon bristles (like this brush is equipped with) are the way to go. This brush detangles in a breeze and even provides a gentle scalp massage.
Best Paddle Brush: Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush
Honestly, I had this irrational fear of paddle brushes thanks to The Princess Diaries, but this Aveda brush is so sturdy, durable, and great for thick, curly hair. It has extended bristles and a lightweight design that's great for running through coarser hair types.
More Brushes I Love for Coarse, Curly Hair
Like I said, I didn't used to buy paddle brushes due to my irrational fear, but this one from Mane is another great option. I like that it's a bit bigger with wider rows of metal bristles, making it great for thick hair.
Briogeo's brush contains both vegan boar bristles and nylon bristles to smooth the hair and detangle with ease.
This flexible brush is designed to be used on both wet and dry hair.
Mason Pearson brushes are definitely luxury-priced, but they're also incredibly worth it. Basically, if you have super-thick or coarse hair, you'll most likely want to opt for nylon bristles over boar because they're sturdier and better able to detangle. This brush features all nylon bristles that are flexible and won't cause too much breakage.
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