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Best Brushes for Thinning Hair to Prevent Hair Loss

Brush up and help thinning hair!

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If you’re suffering from hair loss, there are plenty of products you can try to help stimulate growth. The simplest, however, just may be a new brush. Believe it or not, the best brushes for thinning hair can give you back the volume and thickness you’ve been missing in your life.

As common as it may be for menopausal women to experience hair thinning (the Hair Society says the condition affects roughly 21 million women), many continue to use their same old brushes they’ve used for years in a move that can easily exacerbate the problem. 

Thin hair requires a special type of brush — as we’ve outlined below. Now, on to those brushes! 

Best Deals on Brushes for Thinning Hair:

What are the best brushes for thinning hair?

  1. Best boar bristle Brush For Thinning Hair: Mason Pearson Handy Bristle Brush
  2. Best brush for fine damaged hair: Raincry Restore Large Reinforced Brush
  3. Best Paddle Brush for Thinning Hair: GranNaturals Boar Bristle Hair Brush
  4. Best Brush for Thinning Damaged Hair : Spornette DeVille Cushion Boar Brush
  5. Best detangling brush for thinning hair: Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Paddle Hairbrush
  6. Best Blowout Brush for Thinning Hair : Wet Brush Epic Pro Blowout Brush
  7. Best wet brush for thin hair: The Yves Durif Brush
  8. Best hair brush to prevent breakage: Drybar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush
  9. Best Brush for Thinning Curly Hair: Wet Brush Pro Epic Quick Dry 
  10. Best Ceramic Brush for Thinning Hair: Olivia Garden Ceramic and Ion Thermal Brush
  11. Best round Brush For Thinning Hair: Cortex Professional Boar Brush
  12. Best vegan boar bristle brush for thinning hair: Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush
  13. Best travel size brush for thinning hair: Sephora Collection Mini Gloss Dual Boar Bristle Brush

What hair brush is best for thinning hair? 

When buying hair brushes for thin hair, you should pay special attention to bristle material, brush size, and shape. 

Finding a soft brush bristle made from natural materials is definitely in your best interest. Boar bristle brushes are popular because they won’t tear or split your hair. They’re also thought to increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which in turn stimulates growth. 

When it comes to size, go for a smaller brush that can work closer to the root to create more volume. Small brushes work well with any hair type and length, but are ideal for short hair that lacks oomph

As for brush shape, round or vented brushes make it easy to bulk hair up while blow-drying. Even better, go for a vented round brush, which has holes in the center to allow heat to pass through. This makes it easier to get lift when blow-drying, and lift equates to big volume. 

Is brushing bad for thinning hair?

Like many things in life, going overboard can sometimes have negative effects, and brushing one’s hair too often — and too roughly! — can do more harm than good. Excess brushing can lead to breakage and even hair loss, so you’ll want to keep that in mind to help maintain strong, healthy locks.

That said, there are ways to brush your hair while keeping it healthy. Gently brushing with the right tools for your hair type is perfectly fine, and even encouraged, as long as you don’t overdo it. Rather than vigorously brushing throughout the day, try limiting it to only when it’s truly necessary — and resist the urge to pull and tug at pesky snarls! Brushes with boar bristles are often recommended for thinner hair, as the bristles are actually quite similar to human hair, allowing them to distribute the scalp’s oils and glide through the hair more easily. We love the classic Mason Pearson Handy Bristle Brush ($233.75, Saks Fifth Avenue), which has been crafted with premium-grade boar bristles for over a century.

It’s also recommended that you try to avoid brushing your hair when wet whenever possible, though for those times when it’s unavoidable, we found a gentle brush that works wonders on wet hair ($95, Violet Grey). Finally, you want to be sure you keep your hair brush clean in the right way — dirty bristles can hasten fall-out.

In addition to the right brush, there are dozens of products you can use to give you the appearance of thick, voluminous locks. Hair-thickening shampoos cause the hair shaft to swell, which in turn can make each strand appear fuller. A hair-thickening spray, like this Tea Tree Lemon Sage shampoo from Paul Mitchell ($18, Amazon) will coat the shaft with tiny particles of powder to give the appearance of heftier strands. But it all starts with the brush: Keep scrolling for Woman’s World’s picks for the best hair brushes for thinning hair.

Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Best Brushes for Thinning Hair

Best Brush For Thinning Hair
Best Paddle Brush for Thinning Hair

GranNaturals Boar Bristle Hair Brush

$10
  • Description
  • Pros

Boar bristle brushes, like this paddle brush from GranNaturals, 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 a good thing, since using it can increase blood flow to the scalp to encourage hair to grow longer and thicker. 

More than 2,000 people gave this brush a five-star rating on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. One reviewer in her 70s said it’s helped bring her dull, limp hair back to life, while another happy customer with ‘baby fine hair’ said it’s so soft that she no longer experiences breakage.

  • Massages the scalp and stimulates blood flow
  • Prevents oil build-up
  • Naturally conditions hair
Best Hairbrush For Thin Fragile Hair
Best Brush for Thinning Damaged Hair

Spornette DeVille Cushion Boar Brush

$31
  • Description
  • Pros

Are you sensing a boar bristle brush trend here? This model from Spornette DeVille can be used for blowouts, but it’s also a great everyday brush for all hair types. A protective rubber cushion absorbs the shock of brushing to prevent painful pulling and tugging, and the combination of boar bristles with ball-tipped nylon bristles makes this a double-duty tool that is a great addition to any hair regimen.

One pleased reviewer said this brush is soft and gentle on the hair, while also strong enough to stimulate the scalp, and that it adds much-needed volume to her thin hair.

  • Porcupine bristles help control thin, flyaway hair
  • Cushion helps prevent breakage
  • Distributes your hair’s natural oils
best brushes for thinning hair
Best detangling brush for thinning hair

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Paddle Hairbrush

$77
  • Description
  • Pros

This 100 percent natural boar bristle brush from Christophe Robin is our pick when it comes to gently detangling thinning hair. Less aggressive than other types of bristles, these multi-length boar bristles are designed to reach every strand as you brush for a smoother, softer look and feel. And because boar bristles are similar to human hair in their structure and make-up, they’re great at distributing the scalp’s natural oils to help hydrate the hair and remove excess grease from the roots.

Satisfied users love how delicate and gentle this brush is with their hair, and some even say it’s so good at keeping their scalps from feeling greasy that they don’t have to wash their hair as often!

  • Made with 100% natural, cruelty-free boar bristles
  • Gently detangles hair
  • Works with all hair types and textures
best brushes for thinning hair
Best wet brush for thin hair

The Yves Durif Brush

$98
  • Description
  • Pros

Not only does this Yves Durif brush look luxe, it’ll have your hair feeling like a million bucks, too! Made from Italian resin, this brush is safe for both wet and dry hair, and can even be used while showering to help distribute shampoo and other hair products more evenly. Brushing very wet hair can lead to more breakage, so it’s best to make sure hair is free of tangles while it’s dry, prior to showering, to ensure any big knots are taken care of beforehand. The retailer also recommends brushing starting at the tips and working up to the roots, which will prevent pulling and tugging — a gentle touch is key! Because it’s made without glue, it’s also ideal for smoothing the hair during heat styling, and its included velour pouch makes it great for packing on trips.

One hairstylist loves that it’s both lightweight and sturdy, and calls it ‘essential’ for wet hair brushing. Others say it’s great for detangling wet hair without tugging, and that it works really well for thinner hair.

  • Gentle enough for wet hair
  • Made from Italian resin
  • Includes a velour travel pouch
best brushes for thinning hair
Best hair brush to prevent breakage

Drybar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush

  • Description
  • Pros

Buy from Sephora, $85

Buy from QVC, $85

There are many factors that can contribute to hair breakage — dyes, heat, and even the type of shampoo we use — but finding the right brush can help prevent further damage. The pros at Drybar know what they’re doing when it comes to fabulous blowouts, so it’s only natural they would create a boar bristle brush to have your hair feeling (and looking) its best. The perfect combination of gentle with just a bit of tension for getting through all types of hair, this cruelty-free brush massages the scalp and stimulates the hair follicles for stronger, smoother hair, whether you’re rocking straight locks, curls, or anything in between!

One happy customer said she had noticeably smoother hair after just one week of use, while others love that the boar bristles massage the scalp without scratching or irritating.

  • Made with cruelty-free boar bristles
  • Works with all hair types and textures
  • Helps manage frizz and maintain shine
Best brush For Thinning Curly Hair
Best Brush for Thinning Curly Hair

Wet Brush Pro Epic Quick Dry

$20
  • Description
  • Pros

Despite its name, this popular brush works well on both wet and dry hair. The Wet Brush is able to painlessly detangle even the curliest of hair thanks to its IntelliFlex bristles, which won’t place unnecessary pressure by pulling or tugging — a major bonus for ladies with thinning locks. 

With over 7,000 five-star ratings, this brush is a sure-fire Amazon hit. Reviewers love everything from its seemingly magical taming effect on unruly curls, to the fact that it easily glides through hair like butter.

  • Works on wet or dry hair
  • OmniFlex brush head flexes in every direction to contour to scalp
  • Heat resistant to 450 degrees
Best Hairbrush For Thin Fine Hair
Best Ceramic Brush for Thinning Hair

Olivia Garden Ceramic and Ion Thermal Brush

$28
  • Description
  • Pros

Another easy-to-use round brush for adding add volume is this Olivia Garden ceramic and ion thermal brush. It’s available in three sizes, so you can add as much height as you’d like. The vented barrel design, which features holes in the center shaft, makes for fast and even drying. 

One reviewer with thin hair raved about the fact that her hair never gets stuck in this brush — not an easy feat, which those of us with fine, quick-to-tangle hair know all too much about!

  • Use on wet or dry hair
  • Faster styling
  • Ion-charged bristles hydrate hair cuticle
best brush for thinning hair
Best round Brush For Thinning Hair

Cortex Professional Boar Brush

$14
  • Description
  • Pros

Buy from Amazon, $20

This professional-grade boar bristle brush works wonders for thin hair. Its sturdy handle makes it easy to grip during your morning blow-dry, and the large round barrel is perfect for adding volume throughout. Best of all, it’s safe for use with all hair types — including wigs, weaves, and extensions!

Many reviewers love that this firm, yet gentle brush doesn’t hurt their scalp, and that its shape and size are great for blow-drying.

  • Provides scalp stimulation
  • Promotes hair health
  • Different sizes and diameters
best brushes for thinning hair
Best vegan boar bristle brush for thinning hair

Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush

$28
  • Description
  • Pros

Not only is this vegan boar bristle brush cruelty-free, it also delivers the same detangling and smoothing action as the real deal, so you can feel great about using it without sacrificing quality. Whether your hair is curly or straight, it’ll feel and look healthier after using this lightweight brush, thanks to its gentle bristles and soft ballpoint tips, which help massage the scalp to evenly distribute oils for a shiny glow. Oh, and you can also use this brush on wet or dry hair, so it’s a real two-in-one!

Reviewers praise this brush for both its detangling and softening properties, and many say it’s much less painful than their previous brushes.

  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Great for all hair types and textures
  • Can be used for wet or dry hair
 
best brushes for thinning hair
Best detangling brush for thinning hair

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Paddle Hairbrush

$97
  • Description
  • Pros

This 100 percent natural boar bristle brush from Christophe Robin is our pick when it comes to gently detangling thinning hair. Less aggressive than other types of bristles, these multi-length boar bristles are designed to reach every strand as you brush for a smoother, softer look and feel. And because boar bristles are similar to human hair in their structure and make-up, they’re great at distributing the scalp’s natural oils to help hydrate the hair and remove excess grease from the roots.

Satisfied users love how delicate and gentle this brush is with their hair, and some even say it’s so good at keeping their scalps from feeling greasy that they don’t have to wash their hair as often!

  • Made with 100% natural, cruelty-free boar bristles
  • Gently detangles hair
  • Works with all hair types and textures

More brushes for thinning hair we love

More tips for thinning hair: 

6 Dermatologist-Approved Ways To Outsmart Thinning Hair. . . Naturally

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