Detangling hair is never a fun process. However, it doesn’t have to be—and shouldn’t be—a painful process. If detangling does hurt, you’re and likely causing damage, explains Nicolette Rauchut, a hairstylist at Lrn Beauty in New York City.

“Detangling your hair should not be a painful experience,” says Rauchut. “If your detangling moments are hurting your scalp, you may have a lot of tangles and snags, causing unwanted tension at the root. Your bristles also may be too stiff or the wrong material for you.”

Successfully detangling your hair involves using one of the best detangling brushes, explains Jamal Edmonds, a celebrity stylist and Mizani Artist based in Washington DC. “A great detangling brush should have high-quality, firm bristles that can work through knots and tangles,” he says. “I prefer beadles bristle brushes because I find the textured hair tends to wrap around the beads, which creates more tangles.”

When brushing hair to detangle, Rauchut says it’s essential that you don’t tug and pull. Start by wetting your hair and applying a leave-in conditioner or moisturizing spray. “Split your hair into multiple sections. If you have a lot of hair, try clipping some areas out of the way to avoid becoming overwhelmed,” she says. “Next, use your brush starting at the ends, working your way up every two inches once you breakthrough. Make sure to work in small sections to avoid ripping through tangles. Keep working your way up through the shaft little by little as the tangles free themselves. Repeat all over.”

Shop the best detangling brushes below (and learn how to clean a hairbrush to keep your hair healthy).

Brushes for curly and coarse hair

Jamal Edmonds Texture Tamer Detangling Brush — $11.00

Edmonds is a huge fan of this brush from his eponymous hair-care line. “Detangle like a pro with the Texture Tamer Detangling Brush,” he says. “It’s lightweight, flexible, and can be used on any texture type.”

Shape of brush: Paddle

Wet or dry hair: Both

Kazmaleje KurlsPlus Paddle Comb — $22.00

This brush is my go-to for detangling my own 4C hair. It’s great for getting through bigger tangles, so if my hair is really knotted, I’ll use this first before going through with a finer brush, like the Tangle Teezer shared below.

Shape of brush: Paddle

Wet or dry hair: Both

Tangle Teezer Thick & Curly — $12.00

“I love the Tangle Teezer,” says Ratchet. “This hand-held brush allows for better control without the pressure on your wrist. With different length bristles, this helps get through thick textures without creating a lot of tension.”

Shape of brush: Paddle

Wet or dry hair: Both

Shu Uemura Large Paddle Hair Brush — $78.00

Rauchut says this brush is fantastic for dry brushing thick hair. “It’s extremely durable with nylon fiber bristles, which is great for scalp massaging,” she says. “You can also use this brush for blowdrying your hair smooth.”

Shape of brush: Paddle

Bristle material: Nylon fiber

Wet or dry hair: Dry

Brushes for straight, wavy, &/or fine hair

Framar Detangling Brush — $10.00

“There are several good detangling brushes on the market,”says Gina Rivera, hair artist and CEO of Phenix Salon Suites. “I like the Framar brush because the bristles are plastic and flexible. The bristles are also spaced apart well.”

Shape of brush: Paddle

Bristle material: Plastic

Wet or dry hair: Both

Wet Brush Pro Detangler — $14.00

“I also the Wet Brush Pro Detangler because it’s ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles and rubberized EasyGrip handle allows for more comfort and control,” says Edmond.

Shape of brush: Paddle

Bristle material: IntelliFlex

Wet or dry hair: Both

Revlon Detangle & Smooth Cushion Hair Brush — $5.00

“I really like the Revlon brush as it’s very affordable,” says Rivera. It’s got soft bristles that make it great for detangling and smoothing out hair when it’s wet or dry.

Shape of brush: Paddle

Wet or dry hair: Both

Tangle Teezer Fine and Fragile — $14.00

If you’ve got fine and fragile hair, this version of the Tangle Teezer will help you gently detangle your hair. It has soft-flex teeth that are softer than Tangle Teezer’s original Ultimate Detangler allowing for less breakage and pulling.

Shape of brush: Paddle

Bristle material: Soft-flex

Wet or dry hair: Wet

Ibiza Hair OC7 — $38.00

“For dry brushing, I love Ibiza mixed brittles,” says Rauchut. “Having the mix of both natural boar and synthetic gives the aggression to detangle seamlessly while having a balance to distribute oils from roots to end.”

Shape of brush: Paddle

Bristle material: Boar

Wet or dry hair: Dry

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