16 best boar bristle brushes for shinier, healthier hair

Boar bristle brushes are one of the secret weapons professional hairstylists use to reveal silky, smooth hair, and there’s no reason why it can’t be added to your arson of beauty tools too!

Sure, you may already own a good ol’ hairbrush but trust us when we say that nothing comes close to the power of boar bristle brushes with their remarkable abilities to restore your hair’s health while lending you a shiny, lustrous mane.

Read on for a guide to boar bristle brushes and the best ones to add to your vanity table!

What is a boar bristle brush?

Yes, just as the name suggests, a boar bristle brush is made from the hairs of boars.

It might sound rustic or barbaric, but these handy brushes can be cruelty-free and have been used by countless stylists and celebrities alike for decades.

Similar to how sheep get their coats trimmed, boar hair is removed when the hair is long enough to be trimmed.

There are even vegan options that have “boar-like” bristles for those who may be put off by the thought of a boar bristle brush.

Scientific studies have shown that different hair brushes affect our hair differently and may result in abrasion to our strands, depending on their structure.

Boar hair, which is similar in its structure to human hair, has the same protein keratin in our hair which provides many benefits for our scalp and hair.

Boar’s hair is also known to serve as a natural oil reservoir that can lubricate our hair better as compared to combs or nylon hair brushes.

Boar bristle brush benefits

Boar bristle brushes can boost your hair’s health naturally as compared to hair products with chemicals.

Lauded for their shine-enhancing abilities, each boar bristle evenly distributes your scalp’s natural oil all over your hair.

This also means your mane will be very well-conditioned and your roots won’t be greasy or weighing your hair down.

These nifty brushes’ gentle bristles create tension and unwind tangles all without damaging your tresses too.

Other than that, they also prevent hair frizz and breakage as your scalp’s oil acts as a natural protectant.

And just like how bristle hairbrushes aid in promoting healthy hair growth, boar bristle brushes do the same too! It slowly massages your scalp to unclog hair follicles and increase blood flow.

Next to all the health benefits for your hair, these hairbrushes also have advantages in hair styling. A quality boar bristle brush can help add amazing volume to your tresses.

How to clean a boar bristle brush?

Now that you know all about how great boar bristle brushes are, let’s get to their maintenance. Like any other brush, one with boar bristles needs to be cleaned well every week to keep it dirt and debris-free.

Start off by removing any hair and gunk from your boar bristle brush. Use a rat-tail comb’s thin end to help clear everything in between the bristles.

Next, similar to how your tresses need to be washed, use a shampoo rinse for the brush. Prepare a soapy rinse by mixing a few drops of shampoo and warm water in a container.

If your brush has a wooden handle and soft padding, take note to prevent the brush from completely submerging.

Place the brush face down so that the bristles are in the water to soak it before swirling it a few times. And like how you’d wash your makeup brushes, make sure not to soak the boar bristle brush for too long so it won’t get damaged.

Rinse off with cold water and comb through the brush with the rat-tail comb to ensure no dirt and debris are still stuck. Shake off any excess water, use a dry towel to wipe it, and put it in an airy spot to dry naturally.

Best boar bristle brushes to buy for every budget

Ready to amp up your haircare routine?

Keep scrolling for some of the top boar bristle brushes to give your hair the proper TLC it needs, regardless of what your budget may be!

Best boar bristle brushes under RM70

Cantu Thick Boar Paddle Brush for Long Hair

Cantu’s affordable yet luxurious boar bristle brush is the perfect tool for those with thick, curly hair and coils.

Its long bristles are specially made to reach deep into your hair to ensure you’re left with shiny, tangle-free locks. It also works seamlessly with a hair dryer to create waves or straighter hair.

Cantu Thick Boar Paddle Brush for Long Hair retails for RM55 at lookfantastic.com.

BaByliss Copper Mixed Bristle Brush

Ideal for thicker hair types, BaByliss’ boar bristle brush helps to effectively smooth medium to long hair.

Use this while drying your hair to add shine and volume for a salon-quality blow dry.

BaByliss Copper Mixed Bristle Brush retails for RM60.50 at lookfantastic.com.

Best boar bristle brushes under RM80

KEVIN.MURPHY STYLING.BRUSH

This eco-friendly brush is lightweight and ergonomically designed to eliminate hand and wrist fatigue. Its pure, natural boar bristles ensure that your hair won’t come to any harm.

With KEVIN.MURPHY’s water-proof and high-performance brush, your hair looks will always be in style!

KEVIN.MURPHY STYLING.BRUSH retails for about RM71.23 instead of RM142.46 at woorailoora.com.

WetBrush Shine Enhancer Brush

WetBrush has innovated a detangling hairbrush that minimises breakage and split ends with the combination of their soft IntelliFlex® bristles and natural boar bristles.

You certainly won’t be feeling any pain from brushing through your hair. And it’s also ideal for use after dry shampooing to create sleeker tresses with a healthy gloss.

WetBrush Shine Enhancer Brush retails for RM77 at lookfantastic.com. It also comes in black and purple.

Best boar bristle brushes under RM100

Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Thermal Brush Ci-35

For a good boar bristle brush that offers faster and better styling, reach for Olivia Garden’s hairbrush with a ceramic-coated barrel and unique patented design.

Its latest ceramic technology allows the brush to heat up faster and retain heat for longer. Meanwhile, the tourmaline ion technology hydrates the cuticles, eliminates frizz and flyaways, and adds more shine to the hair.

Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Thermal Brush Ci-35 retails for RM80 at Zalora.

BLACK EGG Boar Bristle Hair Brush

Internationally acclaimed hairstylist Darrius Peace swears by this boar bristle brush because of the versatility it gives when styling hair.

Its tightly bristled brushes are perfect for all hair types and lengths for additional finesse and shine to your mane.

BLACK EGG Boar Bristle Hair Brush retails for RM81 instead of RM109 at Ubuy.

WetBrush Go Green Treatment And Shine

Coming in hot is another ground-breaking hairbrush from WetBrush, the makers of the first detangler, that’s gentle on both your hair and the environment.

This multi-beneficial brush is infused with tea tree oil and treats your hair with every brush by nourishing the strands and eliminating agents that cause dryness, irritation, and build-up.

And, of course, its IntelliFlex® bristles allow for 45% less breakage and up to 55% less detangling effort.

WetBrush Go Green Treatment And Shine retails for RM93.50 at lookfantastic.com.

Best boar bristle brushes under RM150

Fromm The Intuition Glosser Boar Bristle Brush

According to hairstylist Olivia Smalley, Fromm’s boar bristle brush always delivers when it comes to adding natural gloss and shine to the hair.

Other than distributing natural oils evenly, it does the same for dry shampoo too!

Fromm The Intuition Glosser Boar Bristle Brush retails for about RM115.33 at woorailoora.com.

Beauty Works Boar Bristle Brush Large Paddle

With a large paddle design, this boar bristle brush makes styling and detangling your hair even more effortless.

The hairbrush has the finest natural boar bristles paired with nylon pins to retain moisture, evenly distribute the scalp’s oils, and get rid of any knots.

Even those with natural hair extensions can achieve manageable and healthy-looking hair with this brush!

Beauty Works Boar Bristle Brush Large Paddle retails for RM117 instead of RM137.50 at lookfantastic.com.

Vess Mix Cushion Brush SPR-2500

Made in Japan, this boar bristle brush also features 100% natural boar hair with nylon ball tips for better blood flow in the scalp.

Similar to all the other boar-bristled hairbrushes, the Mix Cushion Brush SPR-2500 gives shiny, smooth hair from just gently brushing.

Vess Mix Cushion Brush SPR-2500 retails for about RM113.62 at Trend Supply.

Philip Kingsley Radial Brush

Philip Kingsley’s radial brush has an innovative vented design that quickens your hair’s drying time by allowing heat to be dispersed evenly while offering a soft, volumised hairstyle.

This must-have brush also features rounded pins to protect your hair and scalp from any scratching or damage.

Philip Kingsley Radial Brush retails for RM143 at lookfantastic.com.

Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush

Dressed in adorable lilac is an affordable boar bristle brush from Briogeo, which has many dermatologist-approved hair products too.

Engineered to perfection, this lightweight brush features soft ballpoint tips to gently massage your scalp and multi-layered bristles to help detangle every type and every strand of hair.

Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush retails for RM140 at Sephora.

Best boar bristle brushes over RM150

Denman D82M The Finisher

Denman’s gloss-inducing hairbrush features 100% natural boar bristles and flexible nylon bristles that will respond to your head’s contours and any presence of knots or tangles.

This boar bristle brush is suitable for wet, dry, and fragile hair as well as wigs and extensions. It’ll help you out greatly with gorgeous up-dos, however, it can’t be used alongside a hair dryer.

Denman D82M The Finisher retails for RM166 at Shopee.

BESTOOL Bamboo Dual-Bristle Paddle Hair Brush

Restore your hair’s natural shine with BESTOOL’s natural and cruelty-free brush!

This dual-bristle paddle brush’s soft boar bristles and nylon pins will let you have luscious, frizz-free locks as your scalp’s oil act as a natural leave-in conditioner.

It works with all hair types (safe for wigs, weaves, and extensions too) and comes with a brush cleaner and storage bag.

BESTOOL Bamboo Dual-Bristle Paddle Hair Brush retails for RM264.89 at Amazon.

Leonor Greyl Natural Boar Bristle Brush

This stylish boar bristle brush beautifully detangles hair while smoothing your hair and guarantees a shiny, healthy finish.

It’s great for those with medium to long hair, especially if it’s thick or frizzy too.

Leonor Greyl Natural Boar Bristle Brush retails for RM338.73 at lovelyskin.com.

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Hairbrush

This iconic, 100% natural hairbrush will keep all frizz and flyaways at bay for softer, shinier tresses within seconds.

Made by a Parisian-based luxury haircare brand, your hair will definitely be in great hands with this master detangler that can tame any and all types of hair.

Christophe Robin Boar Bristle Detangling Hairbrush retails for RM570 at Sephora. There’s also a travel size available for RM440.

Feature image credit: @thehealthyhur/TikTok, @abigaillinnn/TikTok