The 11 Best Combs for Curly Hair, No Pulling or Tugging Required

The 11 Best Combs for Curly Hair, No Pulling or Tugging Required

hair care, beauty and woman brushing her curly hair with a wooden comb during her self care routine beautiful, young and hispanic girl combing her clean natural locks in a studio with copy spaceDelmaine Donson//Getty Images

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Welcome to frizz season, folks, which means it’s high time to arm yourself with haircare products that will reduce frizz and breakage. It’s key to find a comb specially designed for your specific hair texture and curl pattern to avoid damage and end up with silky, healthy hair. We asked Mia Santiago, celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist, for her advice about finding the best combs for taming unruly curls and coils.

"A comb helps prevent breakage by removing knots and tangles," says Santiago. "It also works to reduce frizz and define curls." If you have curly hair, she recommends looking for a wide-tooth comb or hair pick with long teeth, as they’re the most versatile for detangling wet or dry hair. Some traditional brushes, on the other hand, can create tugging and pulling and further exacerbate frizz. She also notes that you want to look for a comb with rounded ends, which tend to be more gentle on the scalp and reduce any hair tearing or breaking. Remember: Take it slow to enjoy the scalp massage, reduce breakage, and evenly distribute your oils, detangling sprays and creams, and other styling products.

Keep reading to find the best comb for curly hair, whether you’re looking for one to use in the shower, a high-quality pick for for your coils, or an everyday gentle detangler. We found great, budget-friendly options from brands like Pattern, Ouidad, Conair, Wet Brush, and more. Whether you’re a 2A or a 4C, you’re on your way to bouncy, defined curls.

1Best Afro Comb

PATTERN Hair Pick

Hair Pick1Best Afro Comb

PATTERN Hair Pick

$9 at Sephora$9 at Ulta Beauty$9 at Macy’sCredit: PATTERN

Tracee Ellis Ross’s Pattern Beauty knows a thing or two about creating voluminous Afros, coils, and even looser curls. This hair pick is ideal for refreshing your curls in the morning, and it has a thumb grip for more comfortable styling.

2Expert Pick

Ouidad Double-Row Detangler

Double-Row Detangler2Expert Pick

Ouidad Double-Row Detangler

$18 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Ouidad

Santiago personally recommends this double-row comb from Ouidad, which helps to dentangle curls more efficiently than a traditional single-row comb. "This is an amazing comb for curly hair," she says. "Its long teeth pull through the curls without pulling or snagging, and the end result is shiny, frizz-free hair." Its chrome pink color is eye-catching on any vanity, too.

3Best Wide-Tooth Comb

Conair Curl Collective Curly Hair Comb

Curl Collective Curly Hair Comb3Best Wide-Tooth Comb

Conair Curl Collective Curly Hair Comb

$5 at Ulta Beauty$14 at WalmartCredit: Conair

Here’s a funky-looking comb from Conair made specifically with curls in mind. The teeth are curved and rounded to keep your curls intact without snagging. Reviewers note that it does take longer to comb through your hair with this, but they’re left with weightless curls.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below4Best Detangling Comb

Tangle Teezer Double-Sided Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

Double-Sided Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb4Best Detangling Comb

Tangle Teezer Double-Sided Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

$13 at AmazonCredit: Tangle Teezer

Get the best of both worlds with this dual-sided comb, which has 3C to 4C hair in mind but works for all hair types. The tips of all the teeth are rounded, and while one side has long, wide teeth for initial detangling, the other has short, two-tiered teeth for small tangles and finishing up the job.

5Best Anti-Static Comb

Onedor Green Sandalwood Wide-Tooth Hair Comb

Green Sandalwood Wide-Tooth Hair Comb5Best Anti-Static Comb

Onedor Green Sandalwood Wide-Tooth Hair Comb

$10 at AmazonCredit: Onedor

This popular wooden comb features rigid, sturdy wide teeth with rounded edges for pain-free detangling. Wood is a good option to reduce static, which leads to frizz.

6Best Shower Comb

The Hair Edit Tame & Condition Comb

Tame & Condition Comb6Best Shower Comb

The Hair Edit Tame & Condition Comb

$5 at Ulta BeautyCredit: The Hair Edit

Hang this top-rated large comb on your shower caddy to work in your deep conditioner or hair masque on wash day. Reviewers say that the base is sturdy and easy to grip in the shower, too.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below7

Wet Brush Detangling Comb

Amazon’s ChoiceDetangling Comb7

Wet Brush Detangling Comb

$7 at Amazon$13 at Walmart$7 at JCPenneyCredit: Wet Brush

Despite the name, this comb will detangle wet or dry hair with ease. The squiggly teeth work to evenly distribute hair across the entire length, which helps prevent snagging.

8

Briogeo Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb8

Briogeo Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

Now 50% Off$7 at BriogeoCredit: Briogeo

Designed for all hair types and textures, Briogeo’s wide-tooth comb does double duty as a post-shower detangler and an in-shower treatment. Even people with the tightest coils will find that this glides right through wet hair.

9

PATTERN Wide-Tooth Comb

Wide-Tooth Comb9

PATTERN Wide-Tooth Comb

$15 at Sephora$15 at Ulta Beauty$15 at Macy’sCredit: Sephora

Another pick from Pattern, this sleek comb will look beautiful among your haircare products. For dry hair, it works to separate and fluff, and for wet hair its wide-set teeth gently work out tangles.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below10

Olivia Garden Fingerbrush with Ionic Bristles

Editor’s ChoiceFingerbrush with Ionic Bristles10

Olivia Garden Fingerbrush with Ionic Bristles

$24 at oliviagarden.comCredit: Olivia Garden

Though technically not a comb, our beauty editor (who has thick waves) can’t get enough of this wide-tooth brush from Olivia Garden. Beloved by professionals and consumers alike, it has a grippy base and a curved head to "hug" the scalp. The bristles are rounded for a scalp massage, and it glides through hair rather than tugging. Since it’s a brush, it’s ideal for loose waves and curls.

11

Kristin Ess Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb11

Kristin Ess Wide-Tooth Detangling Comb

$8 at ASOSCredit: Kristin Ess

Kristin Ess’s stunning wide-tooth comb is more than just pretty: It stimulates the scalp without tugging for tousled waves and smooth curls. It can be used in the shower for getting knots out post-conditioner as well.

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