Best Luxury Hair Brush: Mason Pearson and 5 Other Brushes Worth Keeping for Years

The best luxury hair brush for most people is the Mason Pearson Popular, a boar bristle and nylon cushion brush that has barely changed in more than a century. For blow-drying straight hair, the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush is the one stylists and editors keep coming back to. For knots, wet or dry, get the Drybar Super Lemon Drop.

A good brush is one of the few beauty buys that lasts for years, which is why a splurge here is easier to justify than on a shampoo. But "luxury" covers very different tools: boar bristle cushion brushes that smooth and add shine, paddles for blow-drying, and detanglers for wet hair. We picked six from Reviewed, Expert Reviews and SheerLuxe and from the brands' own guidance, and we've matched each to a hair type.

Quick picks

Mason Pearson Popular Bristle & Nylon Hair Brush (BN1)

Best for: long hair, medium-textured to thick, that you want to look smooth and glossy.

What we love

• It mixes boar bristles, to spread your hair's natural oils, with nylon tufts to detangle. Mason Pearson calls this mix its "best of both worlds combination."
• The rubber cushion flexes against your scalp. Mason Pearson says the Popular suits long hair below the shoulder blades and comes with a small cleaning brush.
• Expert Reviews named Mason Pearson its best luxury hairbrush, noting the design hasn't changed in over a century.

Keep in mind

• It isn't for everyone. Jessica Kasparian at Reviewed tested the smaller Handy Mixture and called it "a fine hairbrush," but found it "really flattened my roots" and argued there are now plenty of good brushes for less.
• On Amazon, the listing we found is sold by a third-party seller (Beauty Essentials Inc.), not by Mason Pearson itself. Check the seller name before you buy.
• It's a brush for dry hair. For wet hair, use a detangler.

Made from: boar bristle and nylon tufts, natural rubber cushion, cellulose acetate handle.

How to use: brush from scalp to ends to spread your scalp's oils along the hair, and clean it with the included brush.

Check price on Amazon

Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush

Best for: blow-drying straight or wavy hair smooth, and everyday detangling on dry hair.

What we love

• Expert Reviews named it the best paddle brush for smoothing and said "Aveda's Wooden number is the best of the bunch." The wide head lets plenty of hot air through the bristles while you dry.
• Aveda says its extended bristles make detangling easy and reduce stress on hair and scalp while you blow-dry.
• It's a wooden paddle that suits all hair types, according to Aveda.

Keep in mind

• It's big. On short hair or for travel, it's more brush than you need.
• No boar bristle, so it won't give the polished shine of the Mason Pearson.

Made from: wood paddle with extended bristles.

How to use: rough-dry your hair, then brush down each section with the dryer following the brush for a smooth, straight blowout.

Check price on Amazon

ghd All-Rounder Paddle Brush

Best for: long or thick hair that takes forever to blow-dry.

What we love

• It has a broad, flat base and a large surface area. SheerLuxe recommends it for thick or long hair.
• ghd says it leaves hair "sleek and static-free," with a soft cushion and a non-slip handle.
• ghd's directions are specific: dry hair until it's about 80% dry, then brush from root to tip with the dryer following the brush.

Keep in mind

• It's a smoothing and blow-dry brush. Very curly hair will lose its pattern.
• The Amazon title also mentions ghd's Dresser brush. Check the photos so you know what you're getting.

Made from: cushioned paddle with a soft-touch handle.

How to use: blast-dry to about 80%, then brush root to tip in sections, aiming the dryer down the brush.

Check price on Amazon

Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Supreme Styler Cushion Paddle Brush

Best for: people who want boar-bristle shine in a paddle shape, including on extensions.

What we love

• It combines boar bristles, which Olivia Garden says spread natural oils for shine, with ionic bristles in a cushion paddle.
• Olivia Garden says it works on every length, from short to long, and on all hair types, including extensions.
• It's lightweight, with a soft cushion that's gentle on the scalp, according to the brand. There's also a 100% boar bristle version.

Keep in mind

• We found no independent review of this exact brush.
• Paddles with boar bristle are for smoothing dry hair, not for pulling through wet knots.

Made from: boar and ionic bristles, cushioned paddle base.

How to use: brush dry hair for everyday smoothing and touch-ups.

Check price on Amazon

Drybar Super Lemon Drop Detangling Brush

Best for: knots, wet hair, and hair extensions.

What we love

• Drybar says it works on wet or dry hair, with flexible bristles that move through tangles without pulling.
• SheerLuxe says "the flexible bristles work well on both wet or dry hair to prep strands for styling," and recommends it for knots.
• Drybar's directions are the right ones: start at the ends and work up to the crown.

Keep in mind

• It detangles; it doesn't smooth or shine like boar bristle. Many people own one of each.
• The bright yellow isn't for every vanity.

Made from: flexible bristles with a soft-touch, non-slip finish.

How to use: brush the ends first and work up to the crown. With extensions, hold the hair below the attachment point while you brush.

Check price on Amazon

Kent CSGM Classic Shine Soft White Boar Bristle Brush

Best for: fine or thinning hair, shoulder to mid-length, and a delicate scalp.

What we love

• It's a pure boar bristle cushion brush with soft white bristles. Kent says it's made for shoulder to mid-length fine or thinning hair.
• Kent explains that the softer bristle tips suit fine hair and a delicate scalp, while root-cut bristles are stiffer and better for thick hair.
• Kent has been making brushes since 1777, according to the brand, and it's a fraction of the cost of the Mason Pearson.

Keep in mind

• This is our one non-luxury listing. On Amazon it's sold by The Bayside Brush Co. under Kent's brand store.
• Kent says the soft bristle tips are for fine hair, so this isn't the brush for thick or knotted hair. Use the Drybar for knots.

Made from: boar bristle on a cushion, resin wood base.

How to use: brush gently from root to tip on dry hair. Kent's own advice: "don't twist and tug it."

Check price on Amazon

How to choose a luxury hair brush

Choose the job first, then the bristle, then the size.

Boar bristle, nylon or a mix?

Mason Pearson gives the clearest rule of thumb:

• Pure boar bristle: for shine.
• Boar and nylon mix: shine plus detangling. The safe choice for most hair.
• Nylon: "Thicker hair needs tougher love," Mason Pearson says.

Boar bristle brush for fine hair

Choose soft, pure boar bristle: the Kent CSGM. It smooths without dragging, and soft bristles are gentler on a fine-haired scalp. Reviewed's Kasparian found the mixture brush flattened her roots, so if volume matters, brush gently and lift at the crown. Our guide to adding volume to fine hair has more.

Best brush for thick hair

A wide paddle (ghd or Aveda) for blow-drying, plus a boar and nylon mix (Mason Pearson Popular) for everyday smoothing. Kent says stiffer, root-cut bristles are the ones for thick hair, so a soft pure boar brush is the wrong tool here.

Best hair brush to prevent breakage

No brush prevents breakage on its own; how you brush matters more. Detangle from the ends up with a flexible brush like the Drybar, and don't tug. The AAD lists "brushing your hair 100 strokes a day or tugging on your hair to style it" as a habit that can damage hair.

How to brush without damaging your hair

1. Detangle first, from the ends up. Hold a section and work out the knots at the bottom before moving higher.
2. Go easy on wet hair. The AAD says straight hair should dry a bit before you "gently comb it with a wide-tooth comb," while textured hair or tight curls should be combed while damp.
3. Skip the 100 strokes. The AAD calls it "a myth." A few passes are enough to smooth and spread oil.
4. Blow-dry with a paddle, finish with boar. Our take: dry with a paddle, then a few strokes of a boar bristle brush for shine. For volume and bounce, see our guide to blow-drying with a round brush.
5. Clean it every week or two. Pull out the hair, then wash it gently. Mason Pearson includes a cleaning brush for this.

Comparison table

FAQs

Is a Mason Pearson brush worth it?

If you have long, medium to thick hair and want a brush that lasts, many people think so. Reviewed's tester called it "a fine hairbrush" but said lower-priced brushes can do a similar job and that it flattened her roots. Expert Reviews named it the best luxury brush. Our take: it's a treat, not a necessity.

What is the best boar bristle brush for fine hair?

A soft, pure boar bristle brush. The Kent CSGM is made for fine or thinning hair, and its soft bristle tips are gentler on a delicate scalp.

Can you use a boar bristle brush on wet hair?

It's better not to. Use a detangler like the Drybar Super Lemon Drop on wet hair, or follow the AAD's advice and use a wide-tooth comb.

Paddle brush or cushion brush?

A paddle brush is wide and flat, made for blow-drying and smoothing large sections. A cushion brush, like the Mason Pearson, is for everyday brushing and shine on dry hair. Many people keep one of each.

How often should you clean a hair brush?

Our rule of thumb is every week or two, more often if you use a lot of styling product. Pull out the trapped hair, then wash the bristles gently and let the brush dry bristles-down.

Pick one brush for the job you do most, brush from the ends up, and keep it clean. A good one will last you years.