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Relaxed hair is chemically straightened, which makes it more porous and prone to breakage than natural or untreated hair — the wrong brush strips moisture and snaps strands at the point of tension. The consensus among stylists is boar-bristle or boar/nylon blend brushes for smoothing and shine, plus a genuinely gentle detangler for wash day. Here are six real, currently sold brushes that fit that brief.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denman D81M Style & Shine Brush | $12-$18 | Amazon |
| 2 | GranNaturals Boar Bristle Hair Brush | $10-$15 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Fromm Intuition Glosser Boar Bristle Brush | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | The Original Bass Brush (Boar Bristle/Wood) | $15-$25 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Denman D3 Styling Brush | $8-$12 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Brush | $150-$220 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Denman D81M Style & Shine Brush
A boar-bristle brush from the brand most cited for relaxed and straightened hair, purpose-built for smoothing, slick-back styles, and shine — gentle enough for extensions and wigs too.
- Natural boar bristles
- Designed for smoothing/slick-back styles
- Safe for extensions and wigs
- Purpose-built for relaxed/straightened hair specifically
- Most-recommended brand in this category
- Pure boar bristle needs regular cleaning to stay effective
GranNaturals Boar Bristle Hair Brush
Wide, soft boar bristles that glide through hair with less tugging, aimed at sensitive scalps — a common budget alternative to the Denman.
- 100% boar bristle
- Wide-spaced bristle pattern
- Wood handle
- Gentler on sensitive scalps
- Lower price than salon-brand options
- Less structured/rigid than a dedicated styling paddle brush
Fromm Intuition Glosser Boar Bristle Brush
A salon-brand boar bristle brush built to distribute scalp oils evenly down the hair shaft for shine — the step up from drugstore boar brushes.
- 100% natural boar bristle
- Professional salon-brand construction
- Oval cushion base
- Salon-grade bristle density and finish
- Effective oil distribution for shine on relaxed hair
- Priced above the drugstore boar brushes here
The Original Bass Brush (Boar Bristle/Wood)
A long-established wood-handled boar bristle brush line, often recommended alongside Denman as a durable option that lasts years with proper care.
- Wood handle and cushion
- 100% natural boar bristle
- Multiple bristle-density options
- Known for long product lifespan
- Classic construction favored by stylists
- Wood/boar construction needs more careful cleaning than synthetic brushes
Denman D3 Styling Brush
Denman’s 7-row cushion brush — while best known for curl definition, it’s also widely used on relaxed hair for detangling and blow-out styling with a round-brush finish.
- 7-row nylon-pin cushion brush
- Vented cushion base
- Wide detangling pins
- Doubles as a detangler and a styling brush
- Handles thicker relaxed hair without excess pulling
- Nylon pins are firmer than pure boar bristle — less shine benefit
Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Brush
The premium end of this category — a handmade boar bristle brush with a reputation among users for lasting decades of daily use.
- Handmade boar bristle construction
- Cushioned pneumatic base
- Multiple bristle-mix options
- Exceptional reported longevity (users report 20+ years)
- Considered the reference-quality boar brush
- By far the most expensive option in this list
Buying tips
- For relaxed hair specifically, prioritize boar bristle or boar/nylon blends over pure nylon or plastic — boar bristle’s keratin structure is closest to human hair and distributes natural oils rather than pulling at chemically weakened strands.
- Use a detangling brush like the Denman D3 on wash day before the hair is fully dry, then switch to a pure boar-bristle brush (Denman D81M, Bass, Fromm, or Mason Pearson) for the finishing smooth/shine pass.
- Clean boar-bristle brushes weekly — trapped product buildup on natural bristle reduces the oil-distribution benefit that’s the whole reason to choose boar over synthetic.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.