The Best Beard Brushes of 2023

When men grow their hair out, you can always tell the difference between those who put effort into upkeep and those who don't. The same rules apply to the hair on your face: You’ve got to trim your beard at every stage to keep things looking intentional and shapely. Furthermore, for guys who choose to live the long-bearded life, regular brushing is part of daily care. By using one of the best beard brushes, you’re not just investing in the longevity and health of your facial hair, but also the whole face.

Contrary to popular belief, a beard brush is not a styling tool, but rather a maintenance one. “Beard brushes help detangle hair, exfoliate the skin beneath the beard, and pull dirt and natural oils out,” says Dale Grinstead-Mayle, owner and barber at Goodfellow's Tonsorial Parlor, with barbershops in White Salmon, Washington, and Columbus, Ohio. Our favorite brush, the Bossman 2-in Boar & Nylon Bristle is a comfortable and maneuvers deftly during our morning beard routines.

“Beard brushes are also fantastic for evenly distributing beard oil into the beard and working it down to the follicles and skin where it's most effective.”

Read on to learn more from Grinstead-Mayle about how to wield your own beard brush, the best materials to look for, and more top beard brush recommendations.

How We Tested Beard Brushes

At Men's Journal, we’re constantly testing the latest products, some of our team with more than a decade of grooming coverage under their belt. Whenever something enters the marketplace, it’s also at our desks, and quickly being tested. Think of us as grooming lab rats; we get to enjoy the spoils when something is really great, and endure the agony when a product isn’t up to par.

How to Use a Beard Brush

Ideally, you’ll be starting with a clean, dried beard. You should rub a couple drops of beard oil or cream through the mane first, or directly into the brush bristles themselves, depending on your chosen tool. Adjust the amount for especially bulky beards. Note that a brush may not be the first tool you use, either: “For thick, coarse, or curly hair, you may want to use a wide-toothed beard comb first to help untangle, then introduce a brush,” Grinstead-Mayle says.

As for the brushing itself, you can start by sending the hairs in every possible direction—in other words, brushing it all out. In this way, you’re more or less having a go at all the hairs, not just those on the outermost parts of the whole bush.

Next, brush everything back into place, using a calmer, steadier hand than when you brushed it all out. For bulkier beards, you can do this in layers, bringing the inner, lowest hairs down first, then the next layer, then the upper cheeks. Follow the curvature of your face, take it easy around the mouth, and sculpt the entire thing into its final place, at which point you can also apply some heavier styling balm, or use a beard comb to tame remaining strays.

Related: 10 Bald Actors Who Prove Less Is More

What to Look for in a Beard Brush

When shopping for a beard brush, you’ll want to factor things like materials, design, and size into your decision. These variables will determine which brush is best for your beard or regimen, namely when it comes to size and design. As for materials, it might be more of a personal decision.

Bristle Material

Boar bristle brushes are the industry standard. “Boar hair is rigid but soft, and still retains a little moisture, which reduces frizziness and static while brushing,” Grinstead-Mayle explains. However, if you want your products to be vegan, then he says most synthetic options are sufficient these days, too. Luckily, many boar brush makers source the bristles from animals that were already being raised for meat; still, if that disinterests you, go synthetic. Brands might also note if their boars were raised humanely, so it’s worth looking out for that.

Body Material

Grinstead-Mayle prefers using wood-bodied brushes, given the weight they have in your hand—and because they feel classic. “However, plastic is easier to clean, while wood can hold moisture or even mold,” he says. “Store it in a dry location, but safe from dust.”

Shape/Design

Of all the beard brushes out there, you’ll most commonly notice oval and rectangle options, though odder shapes exist. You’ll also see beard brushes with handles as opposed to palm-held ones. Grinstead-Mayle, who sports a shorter beard, recommends a thick, oval, or brick-like brush that you hold with the palm of your hand, as opposed to narrower brushes with a handle. “[With thick palm-held brushes] there's more coverage that allows bristles to pull out the tangles,” he says. For longer beards that may require more effort, having a strong-handled brush helps dig deep into the layers to detangle, shape, and style, especially if blow-drying.

Size

While pocket brushes seem like a convenient alternative to a standard size, Grinstead-Mayle advises against using them as your everyday option. “They're too small and carrying them with you will cause the bristles to bend and break,” he says. A pocket brush might get a pass while traveling, but there are better options for at-home use. That said, if you do take a brush with you on the road, no matter its size, make sure it's stored safely in a case, a Dopp kit, or a pocket that won’t inflict damage.

Related: 27 Best Beard Growth Oils in 2023

How to Care for a Beard Brush

The topic of safely storing a beard brush begs the question: How do you care for a beard brush in order to extend its optimal use? Here are a few of Grinstead-Mayle’s tips on using, washing, and storing your brush.

• Usage: “I've found that combing a little beard oil back into the brush (after it's dried) keeps the bristles from getting brittle.”
• Washing: “Don't use hot water; warm is best with a little shampoo. Also, don't use your brush while your hair is wet. It can pull a lot of hair out this way.”
• Storage: “Always store your brush in a dry place, bristles up. This will keep them from bending and warping over time.”

The Best Beard Brushes for Men of 2023

Best Beard Brush for Everyday Use: Bossman 2" Round Boar & Nylon Bristle Hair Brush

Best for medium-to-long beards, this two-inch round brush from Bossman is the ideal everyday solution for beard maintenance. Crafted with a wooden handle and a combination of boar and nylon bristles, this beard brush handles smoothly, making it easy to detangle, straighten, and maneuver while blow-drying. The combination of bristle types is both soft and rigid and works as a one-two punch for evenly distributing product throughout the beard while simultaneously shaping it for the day.

[$12; amazon.com]

Best Beard Brush for Short Beards: Live Bearded Premium All-Natural Boar Bristle Beard Brush

Because shorter beards have less volume and sit closer to the skin, a shorter, denser beard brush is the best option to use. This oval-shaped beard brush from Live Bearded is right out of the Grinstead-Mayle playbook, featuring a more ergonomic grip and a short, dense pallet of boar bristle. The boar bristle penetrates down to the skin to massage and exfoliate while carrying any product applied underneath in the process. These types of beard brushes also work well on longer beards to clear out crumbs after meals.

[$20; amazon.com]

Best Beard Brush for the Shower: Tooletries Beard Scrubber Silicone Facial Hair Exfoliator & Brush

In the shower, you should be using a quality beard shampoo and a conditioner to keep the facial hair healthy and nourish the skin underneath. But battling dry skin, especially during the colder months, can be challenging. That’s why it’s best to exfoliate in the shower with a beard brush like this one from Tooletries. This scrubbing beard brush works in two ways—as an applicator for beard product as well as a deep, gentle exfoliator for the chin, cheeks, and neck. The dull, conical bristles are made from silicone and help bust dry skin while bringing hydration from the shampoo or conditioner down to the skin level to prevent future flakes.

[$17; amazon.com]

Best Beard Brush for Detangling: Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush

For guys with curly, wavy, or generally disheveled beards, a detangling brush is a must-have. Though marketed as a brush for regular hair, this brush from Crave Naturals is a perfect option for beards. It’s specifically designed to eliminate pesky tangles and knots with its semi-dense brush pad packed with flexible bristles. The bristles are arranged in a way that allows individual strands of hair to gently separate with each flowing pass. While detangling even the longest of beards, rest assured knowing hand fatigue won’t set in thanks to its ergonomic grip.

[$20; walmart.com]

Best Beard Brush for Travel: Maxlink Travel Hair Brush

Travel beard brushes are highly sought after, but as Grinstead-Mayle explained above, sometimes storage can be an issue. However, this travel brush from Maxlink has just enough of the right ingredients to make the perfect concoction. Boasting a combination of nylon pin and boar bristles next to a foldable hinge that creates a protective canopy for the face of the brush, this may just be the ideal travel beard brush. Fully extended, it measures about 6.5 inches, and while collapsed, it’s just over 3 inches—totaling about half the size of an iPhone. This is the perfect shape to store in a Dopp kit or any of the zip pouches of a backpack. Above all, it still has the same components essential in a full-sized brush.

[$8; amazon.com]