Boar-Bristle Brushes: A Prickly Path to Hair Perfection

Many stylists will use a boar-bristle brush during blowout sessions. Learn why they turn to this natural tool with Groupon's quick guide to boar bristles.

Boar-bristle brushes work as sort of a public transit system of the head, transporting natural oils from the roots down to the ends of the hair and thereby a healthy shine throughout your locks. This has the added benefit of fending off static electricity and balloon-animal herds. The motion of the bristles can also fight frizz by sealing up cuticles against outside moisture, making them a go-to tool for blowouts. And their texture contains microscopic scales, which can yank dirt and other contaminants away from stands as you brush. (For this reason, boar-bristle brushes need a little more cleaning than synthetic hair tools do.)

Tufts of all-natural boar bristle—taken from the skin of boars, and often sheared or just collected after shedding from living farm animals—are ideal for hair that's of fine or medium thickness, though a mix of boar and nylon bristles can help tackle tough tangles in thicker hair. Although high-end models can set you back more than $100 (and up to $150 for a coveted Mason Pearson brush), it's not difficult to find them at a drugstore or beauty supply shop starting at around $10.