When I was a child, the two tools I used to untangle my hair were, at best, a brush and a comb. Both were my childhood nemesis as my mother desperately tried to loosen the clumps of knots (open with a new tab) that were the natural state of my hair. Round brushes, wet brushes, paddle brushes, wide-toothed combs, boar bristle brushes. But no one ever explained to me what each brush did, or why I needed all of them. So here are some secret words about hairbrushes.

The type of brush you use depends on your hair type and preferred styling. The brush you use when your hair is wet and freshly washed is different from the brush you use for styling. Brushing also has more benefits than you might think: In addition to loosening hair, brushes energize and evenly distribute oil to the scalp, resulting in a healthy head of hair. With the brush market saturated, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your hair's purpose. Use this hair brush guide for all price ranges, hair types, and styles to determine which tool you need for your vanity.

Before we get into the anatomy of a brush, let's briefly discuss combs. The spacing between each tooth will tell you what type of hair that comb is best suited for. For women with curly hair who do not brush their hair except in the shower, a comb with wider spacing between the teeth is recommended. For those with fine hair, a comb with narrower spacing between the teeth will work best. Combs with a spike on one end and narrow spacing between teeth are ideal for use alongside a flat iron.

The word "detangling" may bring back memories of my youth when I was violently attacked by hairbrushes (is it just me?), but the truth is that most brushes are technically detangling brushes. However, brushes labeled "detangling brushes" actually have a unique purpose. Hair is fragile, and tearing, tearing, and breaking are all harmful actions that occur when hair is brushed too aggressively or brushed with the wrong style of brush. This is especially true when the hair is wet or at its most delicate.

Detangling brushes are often gently designed for use on wet hair, but can also be used on dry hair if the hair is not extremely thick. Unless you have a curl pattern that does not respond well to any type of brushing, this is a great staple that most women have. If your hair tends to get tangled and doesn't comb well, bring a detangling brush with you when you shower to eliminate knots and distribute product evenly through your hair.

The paddle brush is the wilder, more specialized sister of the detangling brush. They are best suited for women with long, thick hair, as they are often too large to handle if the hair is short or fine. Most paddle brushes are designed for dry hair and are used as daily detanglers and smoothers (pictured): that scene in "Tangled" where Rapunzel spends an hour on the floor brushing her hair).

For women with straight to wavy hair who are not looking for complicated styling, the paddle brush can be used to blow-dry straight hair. It is also super effective for brushing curls that have been curled with a curling wand after heat styling and keeping the blow-dryer looking natural and not meme (open in new tab) hair.

The round brush may be the most elusive brush of all time. Yes, we see them often and understand that we probably must have one, but there are so many variations that seem to remain a mystery. Let's make it simple: the round brush is perfect for creating the kind of voluminous, classic wavy blowout (opens in new tab) that we all wish we could encounter on our exes. However, round brushes come in different sizes and with different types of bristles, and these two details will determine your style.

This is a general rule, but the smaller the bristles on a round brush, the more curls and waves your hair will have after blow drying. This is because the hair will wrap around the brush more often, making it easier to get waves. The exception to this rule is for pixie cuts and bangs, which should be styled with a round brush with a small barrel for effective styling. A round brush with a large barrel is best for creating a sleek blowout, while a medium barrel is most often used for a classic wavy blowout. Of course, it depends on the length of your hair. Using a medium-barrel brush on chin-length hair will create a smoother finish because the hair does not have the length to wrap around the brush as it does on long hair.

Wild boar bristle brushes have long been considered the most effective and healthy type of bristles for hair care. For women who suffer from breakage and hair loss, it may be worth investing in a boar-bristle-only brush or a brush with a mixture of boar bristle and other materials. For those who have easy hair care needs, choose a brush that will help you achieve your hair goals.