Tangles and knots can be painful and detrimental to hair health, which is why it is so important to find the best hair brush to prevent breakage. Brushing your hair is a part of everyday life, but the way you do it and the brush you choose to use can lead to split ends and damage over time.
One of the main causes of hair breakage is how you style your hair. Things like excessive heat styling, not using heat protection, aggressive brushing or combing hair or in fact, lack of brushing hair can affect your hair health. Sleeping on wet hair or rough fabrics that create friction and wearing your hair in too tight styles can also cause hair breakage.
Amazon Prime Day is running from the 16th-17th July, bringing with it two days of epic deals - including the hair brushes to prevent breakage - exclusively for Prime Members. The big event features personalised deals and offers on top brands, so it's always a great opportunity to do some low-cost summer shopping and get your hands on items you've had your eye on for a while, as well as stocking up and saving on household essentials or even prepping early for Christmas. Shop our favourite Prime Day Deals on hair brushes to prevent breakage above or keep scrolling to find fantastic brushes from other brands.
Prime Day is a shopping event for Prime members only - if you don't want to commit to a year subscription for £95, you can sign up now to snap up the deals with a 30-day free trial.
Best hair brush to prevent breakage at a glance:
• Best for thick hair: Cantu Longer Bristle Paddle Brush - View now on Boots
• Best for thin hair: Wetbrush Custom Care Thin Hair Detangler - View now on Boots
• Best Overall: Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Hairbrush - View on Amazon UK
Even though we're all guilty of the above at times, choosing specific style hair brushes can help to minimise hair breakage. Detangling brushes are some of the best, designed to detangle hair with minimal breakage with flexible, widely-spaced bristles. Ball-tipped paddle brushes are also a great choice, with the wide surface area covering more hair, making it easier to brush, while the ball-tipped bristles are gentle on the scalp. And with boar-bristle brushes providing natural conditioning, this variety of brush is ideal for fine hair and caring for fragile locks.
You can scroll down to read more about the different types of hair brushes suitable for preventing breakage, but for now, we've rounded up the best hair brushes and have considered all the hair types from thick hair to thin hair. We've also included the best type of hair brushes that are eco-friendly and suitable for achieving your dream bouncy blow dry without causing too much harm to your hair.
Best hair brush to prevent breakage
Best overall
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The Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Hairbrush has made headlines as one of the best hair brushes to help reduce breakage and damage. It has 36,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with shoppers raving about how it 'brushes through it like a hot spoon through butter' and has 'transformed their hair'.
Customer review: "I usually have a rough, tangled up, curly mess on my hands by day2. This one went through it, made it look nice, and no tugging. Minimal hair loss. I don't think I would have believed it was possible. I need to tell people about this...oh wow."
Pros
- Lightweight
- Thousands of good reviews
- Use on wet and dry hair
Cons
- Hard to clean
Best paddle brush
www.lookfantastic.com
Paddle brushes are great for detangling hair, especially if you have medium or long-length hair. This Moroccanoil Ceramic Paddle Brush features ceramic and ionic properties that allow for even heat distribution, enhancing drying time and leaving hair shiny.
Customer review: "Love it!! Genuinely the best brush I’ve ever used!! Leaves you’re hair feeling and looking amazing."
Pros
- Lightweight for the size
- Looks great
- Sectioning clip stored in the handle
Cons
- Too big for shorter hair styles
Best value
If you're after an affordable option to help detangle your hair, this Ninabella anti-split-end detangler brush can seamlessly eliminate tangles without pulling or tugging on your ends. At the same time, it will protect your hair from any other pain or damages. This unique brush is available in lots of colours and is suitable for all different hair textures and lengths, making detangling quick and easy for everyone.
Customer review: "This brush is by far the best I’ve ever owned. I have very long but fine hair which usually breaks easily. I thought this brush might not detangle but it does, like a dream! It’s gentle on the scalp as it moves to the shape of your head. I’ve had far less breakage and it just glides through my hair effortlessly. It’s very light to carry in your bag. I just love it and might even buy a second one in case they ever stop making them!"
Pros
- Gentle on the scalp
- Lightweight and comfy handle
- Great price
- Clever design that allows the brush to mould to your head shape
Cons
- One review said it felt flimsy
Best for thin hair
www.boots.com
Fine hair is especially vulnerable to breakage, so it is vital that you find a hairbrush that won't agitate the strands. This Wetbrush Custom Care Thin Detangler carefully loosens tangles and has 78 ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles which uniquely bend and flex for blissful detangling from root to tip. You are able to use the brush on wet or dry hair.
Customer review: "Bought this a few months ago, it is a game changer, for my thin/fine hair which it is perfect for. However started using it on my 7 year old daughters fine easily knotted very curly hair, it detangles her knotty hair more easily and painlessly than ANY detangler brush I have used and as the bristles are spaced out it doesn’t destroy and frizz up her curls, brush through, bit of a spritz with conditioner spray and her hair looks truly amazing! Love this brush. Found the regular wet brush to harsh for both of us."
Pros
- Specially made for thin hair
- Able to use on wet or dry hair
- Soft and gentle
Cons
- Soft bristles can struggle on thick or coarse hair
Best for thick hair
Perfect for blow-dry and stretched-out styles and to detangle long, thick hair, the Canty Longer Bristle Paddle Brush has recieved rave reviews from those with thick and long hair that is tricky to detangle.
Customer review: "I've used several of these for a few years, I wouldn't use anything else. I have waist length, thick tangle prone hair and this gets any and all knots out without hurting my scalp or damaging my hair. Its really durable and easy to wash, I wash my brush weekly and its still in amazing condition. I can't rate this brush enough especially if you get a lot of tangles and find regular paddle brushes uncomfortable."
Pros
- Solid and sturdy
- Easy to clean
- Durable
Cons
- Some reviews say that some bristles were missing
Best for blow dries
If you love a weekly blow dry but still worry about the effect heat and excessive brushing can have on your hair, this Bruce Natural Bristle Radial Brush from evo helps prevent breakage, and the lightweight, non-slip wooden handle makes blow-drying a dream.
Pros
- Great quality, will last a long time
- Made with wood from environmentally conscious forests
Cons
- No reviews yet
Best eco-friendly
www.thebodyshop.com
This Large Bamboo Paddle Hairbrush from The Body Shop will help keep your hair smooth and tangle-free. The pins help stimulate the scalp and distribute natural oils, for healthy hair that shines. Suitable for use on all hair types and lengths.
Customer review: "Wanted a more eco friendly brush and I’m very happy with this one."
Pros
- Massages the scalp
- Eco-friendly
- Great for thick hair especially
- Good value
Cons
- Not amazing on curly hair
What is the best hair brush to prevent breakage?
Choosing the right hair brush can help prevent breakage and promote healthier hair. Here are some types of brushes that are often recommended for minimising breakage:
Wide-tooth comb: Best for detangling wet hair, this can help reduce tension and breakage, especially for curly or textured hair.
Boar bristle brush: Ideal for fine to medium hair, the boar bristles help to reduce frizz and breakage by distributing natural oils from the scalp to the ends of the hair, providing natural conditioning.
Flexible bristle brush: Suitable for all hair types, the flexible plastic or nylon bristles are gentler on the hair.
Detangling brush: Specifically designed to detangle hair with minimal breakage, it usually has widely spaced and flexible bristles.
Paddle brush with ball-tippled bristles: The wide surface area covers more hair, making it easier to brush. The ball-tipped bristles are gentler on the scalp, helping to reduce breakage.
What causes hair breakage?
Hair breakage can be caused by a number of reasons, here are some common ones:
Excessive heat styling: Frequent use of heated styling tools such as hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons can damage the hair cuticle, leading to breakage. High heat weakens the protein structure of the hair.
Chemical treatments: Chemical processes like hair colouring, bleaching, perming, and relaxing can weaken the hair shaft, making it more prone to breakage.
Overwashing and harsh shampoos: Washing your hair too frequently or using shampoos with harsh detergents can strip the natural oils from your hair, making it brittle and more susceptible to breakage.
Tight hairstyles: Wearing your hair up in tight hairstyles such as plaits and ponytails can exert excessive tension on the hair leading to breakage at the roots or along the hair shaft.
Lack of moisture: Dry hair is much more likely to break. Not enough moisture in the hair can result from a lack of conditioning, exposure to dry or low-humidity environments, or certain hair care products.
Nutritional deficiencies: A diet lacking essential nutrients, especially protein, biotin, and vitamins, can lead to weak and brittle hair.
Environmental factors: Exposure to harsh environmental conditions like strong winds, UV rays and extreme temperatures can damage the hair cuticle and lead to breakage.
Age: As people age, the hair naturally becomes more fragile and susceptible to breakage.
Medical conditions: Certain health issues, such as thyroid disorders and alopecia, can contribute to hair breakage. Some medications, including those used for chemotherapy and certain acne treatments can have side effects that cause hair breakage.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle, three cats and a tortoise called Bobby.