Choosing the right products to add volume to your hair is half the battle—no amount of mousse or texture spray will help if you don’t have the right brush. “Fine hair is delicate,” says celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. “You really don’t need to manhandle it.”
Vogue’s Favorite Brushes for Fine Hair
So what makes a brush good for fine hair? There are a couple of things to consider. Celebrity hairstylist Barb Thompson says you’ll want something that gives you control while styling but gentle enough that it won’t tear or damage strands. The bristles, Thompson explains, should move through hair without pulling, and the brush as a whole should be lightweight for easy use. “You want a brush that smooths the hair without making it flat,” she says.
Celebrity hairstylist Yusef Williams adds that the best brush for fine hair (like his own The Y by Yusef Hair Brush Set) is one that can glide without creating too much tension. “With fine hair, the right brush can make all the difference,” Williams says. “You want something that enhances the hair’s natural texture and gives you that beautiful, finished look without overworking it.”
So with that in mind, see below for what they say are the best brushes to use on fine hair. (And we threw in some of our favorites too.)
Best Mixed-Bristle Brush: La Bonne Brosse No. 3
La Bonne Brosse
The Large Gentle Scalp Care Hairbrush
- Why We Love It: Thompson loves this brush for how gentle it is on fine strands. But what really makes it stand out is how it helps with scalp health. “It’s great for detangling and scalp massage, which is great to stimulate hair growth,” she says. “Also it really helps amplify shine.” It’s a mix of boar bristles, which Thompson says is ideal for wanting to smooth fine hair and boosting hair’s natural radiance, and nylon to give that gentle tension when you need to work through tangles and boost your scalp’s blood circulation. And yes, it being one of the prettiest brushes out there (the pastel colors and the curved raised edges were designed to be seen on a vanity) is a huge bonus in our book.
- Shape: Oval
- Bristle Material: Boar and nylon
- Wet or Dry: Dry
- Best For: Scalp
