If you have fine and thin hair or have started to experience thinning hair or hair loss it's important to use the best hair brush, so a hair brush for thinning hair can help to prevent tugging on the hair follicles. There are plenty of hair growth products out there that can help stimulate growth where you need it and a new brush could be just what your hair needs to bring back its life.
Some of the best brushes for thinning and fine hair can give you back that volume and thickness you’ve been missing, especially when paired with some of the best hair growth serums on the market. Hair loss and thinning are extremely common among women, especially menopausal women, yet we continue to use brushes and products we’ve used for years, even though our hair needs have changed. For all we know, it could be your current brush that is causing most of your hair problems.
Best hair brush for thinning hair at a glance
Invest in a good hair brush that is designed for fragile hair. Avoid brushing your hair when it's wet, instead give it a good brush before you get in the shower to remove the worst tangles. A good hair-drying brush can also add some volume to the root of your hair while styling and drying. You should also consider washing your hair less - yes really! It's recommended that you wash your hair 2-3 times a week at most as washing your hair too much dries it out.
With a great brush and some TLC, your thin hair could return to its bouncy and voluminous ways in no time. Below we’ve highlighted our top tips for regrowing thinning hair, a round-up of the best brushes for fine hair as well as answered some of the internet’s most burning questions in regard to thinning hair and why our hair changes.
The best hair brush for thinning hair
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Best hair brush for thinning hair overall
Bsisme/AmazonBoar bristle brushes, like this paddle brush from Bsisme, help to distribute your scalp’s natural oils from root to tip so your strands always look healthy instead of dry and dull. It’s also gentle enough for everyday use, which is good since using it can increase blood flow to the scalp to encourage hair to grow longer and thicker.
Reviewers appreciate the quality and design of this brush, as well as the fact it's gentle on the scalp and leaves their hair feeling nice and soft. Some customers think this brush is hard to clean though, saying that those with dandruff or dry scalps may struggle to get skin out from in between the boar bristles.
Pros
- Helps to distribute your scalp's natural oils from root to tip
- Gently massages the scalp, stimulating blood flow which encourages hair to grow
Cons
- Some reviewers mention bristles are hard to clean
Best for detangling
Denman/AmazonDenman is a widely known brand in the hair business, so it's no wonder this particular brush is highly rated on Amazon with over 5,400 reviews. This tangle tamer brush gently works through tangles to create smooth tresses, regardless of whether your hair is thick or fine. However, this large paddle brush has bristles that are soft enough for fine hair, and these wide-tooth bristles will help unlock any knots.
This brush just glides through the hair while effectively tackling knots, according to reviewers online, which is why it has an average star rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Some customers did think this brush would be more suited to use on wet hair than dry because they found their hair went a bit frizzy after brushing dry hair. This will all depend on your hair type though.
Pros
- Wide tooth bristles to detangle hair
- Bristles are soft enough for thin hair
Cons
- Some found the brush worked better on wet hair than dry, but this will depend on your hair type
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Best vegan hairbrush
BRIOGEOwww.cultbeauty.co.uk
A boar bristle brush without... well, boar bristles. This vegan alternative, RIOGEO Vegan Boar Bristle Brush, offers the same smoothing and polishing benefits without any animal-derived fibres. Lightweight and thoughtfully engineered, the bristles gently massage the scalp, stimulating blood flow to invigorate roots and promote healthy hair growth.
Customers love how gentle this brush is on the scalp and the fact the bristles are vegan. A handful of reviews mention this brush was smaller than they expected but overall, this brush is great at gripping even the finest of hair say reviewers online.
Pros
- Vegan version of popular boar bristle brushes
- Leaves hair feeling smooth and polished after brushing
Cons
- A handful of reviewers thought this brush was smaller than they expected
Best brush for preventing breakage
Aveda/AmazonThis lightweight, professional wooden paddle brush from Aveda has been specifically developed with extended bristles that stimulate and massage the scalp whilst you brush. Not only that, but the cushioned design also reduces the stress caused on your fragile hair, helps prevent unwanted breakages, and detangles knots.
This brush has lasted for years for some customers online, which is why they say it's of excellent quality. Reviews also mention that it's lightweight and comfortable in your hand while also being gentle on your scalp and hair. As it has longer bristles, some reviewers felt it was better for longer hair types.
Pros
- Cushioned design that helps to prevent breakages and detangle knots
- Extended bristles that stimulate and massage the scalp as you brush
Cons
- Customers thought it was best suited to longer hair types
Best brush for blowdrying
Wet Brush/AmazonAn amazing option by WetBrush, this Smooth & Shine Round Brush will help you to create effortless, pain and damage-free blowouts with ease. With an ergonomically designed handle for cramp-free fingers when styling, it's not just your scalp that’s treated to an ache-free experience!
Perfect for delicate hair is the general consensus in the reviews, with customers also rating it highly for how much volume it helps create and the shine it adds to the hair. The opinions on the weight of the brush are mixed, with some saying it feels a little on the weighty side after using it for a while while others say it's lightweight and doesn't put any strain on your wrists.
Pros
- Ergonomically designed to stop your fingers cramping and strain on your wrists while styling
- Customers feel this brush adds good shine to the hair
Cons
- Slightly weighty according to some customer reviews
Best brush for travel
Tangle Teezer/AmazonThis award-winning, cult-classic detangling brush by Tangle Teezer features innovative two-tiered teeth that are super soft but will confidently detangle and help reduce breakage. The soft-flex teeth gently massage the scalp, for healthier-looking locks with no tugging, pulling or damage to wet or dry hair.
Some customers wished this brush had a handle but it's designed in an ergonomic way to fit in the palm of your hand so you've got a better grip while detangling your hair. Reviewers rated this brush highly for its gentleness and detangling ability.
Pros
- Innovative two-tiered teeth design that is soft on hair to reduce breakage while also tackling tangles
- Works well on both wet and dry hair so you don't have to worry about tugging, pulling or damage
Cons
- Some customers wished this brush had a handle
Best brush for added shine
Moroccanoil/AmazonThe Moroccanoil Ceramic Paddle Brush features ceramic and ionic properties that allow for even heat distribution throughout your hair while blow drying and enhanced shine. Customers have raved about this brush for thinner hair, helping to brush through without breaking, less shedding, and for helping hair to dry faster too.
Customers felt the bristles are a bit scratchy so be careful about applying too much pressure when brushing near your scalp. Despite being a little bit scratchy, customers feel the bristles are of good quality, stating they help to leave hair looking soft and shiny.
Pros
- Ionic properties to ensure heat is distributed evenly throughout hair while blow drying
- Helps with brushing through hair without breaking and shedding
Cons
- Some customers found the bristles to be a bit scratchy
Best brush for comfort
So Eco/AmazonFor use on both dry and wet hair, the So Eco detangling brush ensures that hair stays smooth and tangle-free, with a cushioned paddle that is gentle on the scalp and prevents any breakage of the hair. The wooden pins massage the scalp while brushing, but these also help to distribute natural oils to give your hair a lovely sheen. We love how it's made from fully compostable, bio-degradable material.
Reviews say this brush is soft on your scalp and hair and perfect for brushing through thin and tangled hair. With an average star rating of 4.8 stars out of 5, customers have a lot of good things to say about this brush, but one reviewer felt that using lots of heat on this brush caused the bristles to deteriorate quickly.
Pros
- Wooden pins gently massage the scalp while brushing
- Bristles help to distribute natural oils to add shine while smoothing
Cons
- One reviewer felt bristles may not last long when styling with heat
We've got answers to all your hair thinning questions plus expert advice from Aaron Keegan, Assistant Creative Director for House of Sassoon in London:
Best hair brush for thinning hair FAQs
How do you brush fine thin hair?
"Fine hair should also be detangled from the bottom up", says Aaron. "However, even more care should be given due to the delicate nature of the texture."
What is better for thin hair, brush or comb?
Aaron's recommendation would be a brush consisting of nylon bristles or boar bristles or a combination of both. "These types of bristles are flexible enough to get through tangles and knots with less chance of snapping any hair."
Why is my hair thinning?
Hair fall-out is part of daily life, we lose on average around 80 strands a day. When you start to shed significantly, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing your hair loss. There can be many common factors like; colour damage, harsh hair products, stress, minerals and vitamin deficiency or menopause. Any hormonal changes can also impact your hair, so hair thins for many reasons. We most commonly notice hair thinning as we age. As our bodies no longer produce new hair follicles at the rate they did in our youth.
Can thinning hair be restored?
While you can delay the process of thinning hair, there isn’t much you can do without cosmetic treatment. Some natural remedies may promote hair health and make your hair appear thicker. However, there is no easy way to restore your hair. You can support your hair and encourage a thicker mane with serums, supplements and a great hair brush! You can also clean your hair brush to ensure no extra damage is being caused.
Aaron recommends speaking to a specialist to find the exact cause of your thinning hair to help you determine what can restore your thinning hair. He also says that a healthy scalp environment with good blood circulation is the key for hair to grow at its best. "Regular scalp massages to improve the blood flow and a specialised scalp cleansing range are good starting points."
Which vitamins help thinning hair?
Biotin, iron, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc are some of the best vitamins for hair loss and thinning prevention. If you’re missing some of these important nutrients in your diet, it could be the reason your hair is not as full and healthy as it used to be. Not to worry, there are multiple supplements and hair growth vitamins on the market today that can help promote healthy and thicker hair.
Top tips for thicker hair
Alongside investing in the best hair brush for thinning hair, try following these tips:
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Avoid direct heat on hair – Always use a protective spray or serum when blow-drying or styling.
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Wash your hair less – It's recommended that you wash your hair 2-3 times a week at most. Washing your hair too much dries it out. We recommend when you do wash your hair, though, that you use a hair growth shampoo.
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Scalp massage – When promoting faster hair growth, these exercises stimulate the follicle that helps hair grow and increase circulation around the scalp. It's best to invest in a scalp massager, too.
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Avoid tight up-dos – if you tend to put your hair up a lot, try looser styles overusing tight hair bands and pulling at the follicles of your hair.
Aaron also has this recommendation, "Protein-based products are the way to go and will strengthen fine, delicate hair. Having the right haircut is a big factor to consider for fuller and healthier-looking hair."
This article contains expert advice from Aaron Keegan, the Assistant Creative Director for House of Sassoon in London, Soho. He has been with Vidal Sassoon for almost a decade and has worked across Sassoon salons and academies throughout the UK.
Emma Richardson is a Beauty & Fashion Products Writer for heat, Closer, Grazia and Yours. She covers shopping, lifestyle, celebs and anything trending.