What kind of brush is best for thin hair

If you have thin or fine hair keeping your hair protected from unnecessary damage is your biggest concern. Fine hair is particularly susceptible to damage while using heat styling tools and shampoos containing sulfates. These are well known to cause hair trouble.  Also causing problems are sub-par hair brushes. The best brushes for fine hair are gentle on the hair, won't tug on strands or tangles, and help evenly distribute your scalp's natural oils along the hair's shaft.

What kind of brush is best for thin hair?

1. GranNaturals boar bristle paddle brush
2. Denman D4 - Large 9 row styling brush
3. Denman D1 Medium soft styling brush
4. Denman D82L - Large boar bristle grooming brush
5. Mason Pearson Sensitive Boar Bristle Hairbrush - Soft
6. Harry Josh Pro Tools Round Brush – 2.25 Inch
7. Kent LBR1 spiral radial brush 45mm 
8. Kent LBR2 spiral radial brush 55mm 
9. Kent LBR3 spiral radial brush 75mm 
10. Tangle Teezer Salon Elite
11. Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Finishing Hairbrush

Best for thin hair

What type of brush should I use for thin hair? The golden standard is a pure boar bristle brush to be used on dry hair. The bristles will spread natural oils of your hair, remove debris, and help your scalp every time you brush. If you have tangles you can try a paddle brush that has a large head and a mixture of nylon and boar bristles. The nylon will help to separate hair and detangle while the boar bristles smooths them.  

A pure boar bristle brush is not a detangling brush, but if you have thin or very fine hair boar bristles combines with nylon can be used to detangle your hair. A regular boar bush works best for people with thinner hair. The bristles with each brush stroke can penetrate to the scalp and distribute oils along the shaft. These brushes are going to distribute oils better than the brushes of the nylon mix. The biggest drawback is that more static and frizzy can be produced. Most people use a pure boar brush to tame any fizz are using a little oil. I recommend using a little Argan oil to tame the frizz.  For more reading see my post on do boar bristle brushes damage hair and boar brushes.

Check out my article on "Should you brush fine hair". Did you know damaged, thin hair can benefit from an extra-soft boar bristle brush? Check out my best brushes for fine hair recommendations in this article and more...

Thinning hair and brushing

Does brushing help thinning hair? Yes.Brushing your hair with a boar brush makes sure the natural oils from your scalp are distributed along your strands of your hair. Additionally, brushing your hair stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which helps to provide follicles with more nutrients to promote hair growth.

For more reading refer to my post on are boar bristle brushes good?

GranNaturals boar bristle paddle brush

According to Meesh, Hair Product Analyst, "Having a brush that helps redistribute oil from your roots to your ends is vital if you have dry, brittle, and very fine hair." The boar bristles on this paddle brush do just that, massaging and helping to lubricate each hair strand with natural oils to add volume and restore shine. 

Denman D4 - Large 9 row styling brush

According to Stacey, Hair Research Analyst, "This large cushion brush with nylon bristles is a popular styling tool for people of all hair types, but it also works well on fine hair because its soft rubber base and flexible bristles will not pull on hair. Instead, this static-fighting brush is like a gentle scalp massage that helps shape and smooth long hair."  There are eight rows of round - ended ultra - soft nylon pins that shape hair.

Brush Length: 8.27 inches
Brush Width: 1.57 inches

Denman D1 Medium soft styling brush

The ultra - soft pins of this brush deliver gentle styling to fragile, thin or fine hair. Denman's unique sculpted pins provide the ultimate in controlled styling and natural curl definition. Do not use with a hair-dryer.

Brush Length: 8.15 inches
Brush Width: 1.38 inches

Denman D82L - Large boar bristle grooming brush 

Air - cushioned for comfort, our natural bristle finishing brush will bring out your natural shine, smooth and refresh your hair. Prefect for curls up styling or brushing out, the brushes reduce frizz and add the final polish to your style.

Brush Length: 8.86 inches
Brush Width: 2.76 inches

Mason Pearson Sensitive Boar Bristle Hairbrush - Soft 

This is a soft bristle brush. It's not going to dig in and penetrate like a stiffer brush. Developed and patented over 100 years ago, our Mason Pearson hair brush is the ultimate grooming tool. Only the finest, premium-grade boar bristle, gentle to the hair and scalp, is used. Brushing with a Mason Pearson hair brush is the best way to distribute natural oils while exfoliating the scalp and stimulating hair follicle circulation. The patented pneumatic cushion conforms to the scalp contours, which optimizes brushing with minimal effort. All Mason Pearson hair brushes are handmade in England and carry a one-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. In the collection of the boar bristle, the animals are not harmed. Make sure you don't purchase a knock-off. 

Harry Josh Pro Tools Round Brush – 2.25 Inch 

Ideal for short hair. This brush makes it easy to achieve a high-gloss blowout by mixing luxurious boar and nylon bristles to eliminate frizz while maximizing vibration and shine. Thanks to a concave bristling pattern, this must-have tool grips the hair with increased efficiency, resulting in better control and reduced styling time. What's more, its lightweight wood handle provides a beveled design to ensure a non-slip grip. Even the coarsest and curly hair types are left smooth, silky and gorgeous. 

Kent LBR1 spiral radial brush 45mm 

A 45 mm diameter spiral filled radial brush made of beech wood and filled with the finest stiff black bristle. The bristle grabs the hair and encourages shine. Brushing hair is the simplest treatment for beauty, relieving tension and stress from the head and neck. Brushing stimulates and encourages essential oils in the scalp to flow through the hair strands nourishing and protecting each hair, leaving it smooth and naturally shiny. For fine or thick hair, the strength of the bristle varies, and it is important to use the right strength of the bristle for best brushing performance. All brush designs are suitable for traditional brushing or blow - drying.

Kent LBR2 spiral radial brush 55mm 

Same as above but in the next size up. Ideal for longer fringes, mid - length hair and layers of styling.

Kent LBR3 spiral radial brush 75mm 

Same as the Kent LBR1 but in a much larger size. Well-made brushes and some of the best you can buy.  It is ideal for creating volume and loose curls in long, thick hair. Filled with the finest pure black natural bristle, our LBR3 promotes natural shine while distributing natural oils and prevents split ends without damaging the hair.

Tangle Teezer Salon Elite

Whether your hair is wet or dry, in minutes and with just a few strokes, you can have smoother, shiner hair with less fly away. Tangle Teezer Straightening Hair Comb is highly recommended for separating fragile hair strands right out of the shower, protecting thinning, fine, and color-treated hair and is gentle enough for your wigs, weaves, and hair extensions.

Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Finishing Hairbrush

Created for dry styling, the innovative hairbrush features specially aligned teeth that glide effortlessly through strands without snagging or discomfort, while smoothing the cuticles of the hair for a frizz - free, ultra - glossy finish.

Its longer teeth and softer tips enable you to create a salon do or perfect ponytail. Ergonomic and lightweight, the hair brush fits perfectly into the hand for ultimate control. Great for fin curly hair that tangles badly.