Best Boar Bristle Brushes in the UK

Hair brush

Hair brushes are a part of our everyday routines and many of us are guilty of using the same brush for years and years… and years (without washing them)!

If you are looking to change your hairbrush of choice, why not try a boar bristle brush?

There are lots of great benefits to using this natural material to brush your hair.

What Are Boar Bristles?

Boar bristles are the coarse hairs of wild boar pigs, which are usually reared in China or India. The hair is sheared off the pigs to use in hair brushes, which makes the practise relatively animal friendly. This all depends on how the boars are reared.

The bristles are very similar to human hair which makes them effective in a brush. They actually contain keratin, the protein that is found in human hair, and if you look very closely-you can even see the scales upon each bristle.

The likeness to human hair makes it very gentle for use on fine and baby hair.

 

Why Use a Boar Bristle Brush?

Boar bristles have been the material of choice for hair brushes for literally centuries!

The relatively coarse texture of boar bristles can help to not only detangle your hair effectively but make it look better too!

The natural oils (sebum) in your hair are important for maintaining healthy locks.

Sebum is produced by your scalp but some basic brushes will not help to disperse it properly.

Boar bristle brushes spread these natural oils, meaning your hair will look glossy and soft, not greasy. You might even find that you need to wash your hair less often.

We’ve all been there when your brush makes your hair look like you just rubbed a balloon all over your head… not a good look.

A boar bristle brush will help to remove static and will help you to maintain strong, supple and shiny hair.

These naturally bristled brushes could also help to reduce fall out after brushing.

You could end up cutting down your beauty bills – boar brushes could mean that you don’t have to use as much (if any) conditioner and the effects might mean that you don’t need to splurge on that smoothing hair treatment.

As we mentioned earlier, you might not be needing to wash your hair as often, so you don’t need to buy shampoo as often either!

 

Why a Boar Brush Over a Synthetic Brush?

Boar bristles are similar to human hair and because of the scales upon the shaft of the bristle-they will spread the sebum (natural oils) collected at the scalp to the rest of the hair. Devotees of the boar brush, particularly note the improved condition of the ends of the hair.

A synthetic brush will not be able to distribute the sebum like a boar brush will do.

Boar brushes are also more natural and use a resource that is relatively renewable. This is similar to using wool from sheep for clothing. Less nylon and synthetic material used can be only a good thing.

Nylon is hugely damaging for the environment, made out of coal and petroleum, causing emissions of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide happens to be 300 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Nylon and other synthetic materials also do not biodegrade. In other words, they do not break down.

If you’re looking for a hairbrush to last you a lifetime, then you may want to invest in one of these natural brushes – no nasty chemicals involved.

QUICK TIP: When buying your new hairbrush, look out for this statement: “Reinforced boar bristles”. This means that the brush does not use 100% natural boar bristles. Therefore, if the boar bristles are real, look out for “100% natural boar bristles” and look at the colouring of the bristles. Boar bristles range from blonde to black in colour. Of course, you need to consider whether they may have been dyed.

Let’s take a look at some of the best boar bristle brushes in the UK at the moment.

 

Best Boar Bristle Brushes in the UK

1. Sosoon Boar Bristle Paddle Hairbrush

Hair Brush, Sosoon Boar Bristle Paddle Hairbrush for Long Thick Curly Wavy Dry or Damaged Hair, Reducing Hair Breakage and Frizzy No More Tangle, Giftbox & Hair Comb Included

This boar bristle paddle brush from Sosoon comes with a little bamboo comb for gently detangling the hair before brushing (this little comb also doubles up as a beard comb, so you could gift it to your bearded bestie).

Made using a mix of 100% natural boar bristles and nylon pins, this hairbrush will help to massage the scalp as well as create a smooth, shiny finish. If your hair is prone to breakage and flyaways, adding a boar brush into your beauty bag will do you wonders.

Suited to all ages and all hair types, this boar bristle brush and comb set would make a great present for someone – the smart box it comes with means it looks even more giftable!

Pros

  • Comes in a set with a comb
  • 100% natural boar bristles
  • Suited to all ages
  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Good for detangling

Cons

  • Bristles may be too soft for some people
  • Not vegan-friendly

 

2. Urtheone Boar Bristle Hairbrush

Hair Brush Boar Bristle Hairbrush for Thick Curly Thin Long Short Wet or Dry Hair Adds Shine and Makes Hair Smooth, Best Paddle Hair Brushes and Comb Set for Men Women Kids

The beauty about this brush is the price and the recommendations. 100% boar bristles meet partly handmade nylon pins, to provide a brush for all hair types.

Thick, thin, frizzy, falling out, long, short hair-you name it, it is a brush for everyone. Like most boar brushes, it is best used on dry hair, which it is made for.

It is also a paddle style brush, similar to the Sosoon brush, so perfect for a large surface area. Great for thick or plentiful hair.

Another great feature of this brush is the handle, which is wooden and helps towards reducing the plastic load.

Even though it does have nylon pins, we think this adds to the effectiveness of the brush, since the pins stimulate the scalp, ensuring the whole hair shaft is brushed.

The company even gives recommendations on how to maximise the brush to get the best results. To clean your brush, it recommends the use of a tweezer.

Pros

  • Comes with a comb
  • 60 day returns and 12 month warranty
  • Easy to use
  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Pain free detangling (dry hair)

Cons

  • Not suitable for smaller heads
  • Uses nylon
  • Manufacture unknown

 

3. Gainwell Boar Bristle Hair Brush

This slightly more compact paddle brush from Gainwell is very well suited to the guys – their packaging has a bearded dude on the front and their styling is overall more masculine.

Gainwell actually has a smaller brush designed specifically for beards, which could be an additional purchase to the hairbrush (perfect stocking-fillers).

This brush is made using natural rubber for the bristle cushion, wood for the handle and a mixture of boar bristles and nylon pins to make up the brush element.

Nylon pins are almost always tipped with a small ball to help to massage the scalp and stimulate blood flow, therefore helping to promote healthy hair growth.

Pros

  • Smaller design – better for shorter hair and for carrying around
  • Good for all hair types
  • Good for all ages
  • 100% natural boar bristles
  • 3 years money back guarantee
  • Comes in a nice display box

Cons

  • Not vegan-friendly
  • Quality may not be up to some people’s standards
  • Boar hairs may be too short in comparison to nylon pins

 

4. Marbeian Boar Bristle Hair Brush

This boar bristle hairbrush from Marbeian has an oval-shaped head as opposed to a paddle brush design, which makes it easier to pop in your bag or pack for travelling – this shape will be well-suited people who have shorter or thinner hair too.

This brush is actually made entirely from boar bristles, meaning there are no nylon pins in sight – perfect for those who want to eliminate plastic from their beauty/care routines.

The bamboo handle means that this brush is antibacterial, extremely lightweight and easy to use, which is great for children and older people alike.

As we know, boar bristles are great for conditioning hair and keeping it looking shiny, so an entire boar bristled brush is the perfect option for anyone who wants to smooth their hair, reduce split ends and add a healthy shine.

Pros

  • 100% natural boar bristles
  • Completely boar bristled (no nylon/plastic pins)
  • Smaller size – suited to travelling/carrying around
  • Comes with a wooden comb and brush cleaner
  • Suited to all ages
  • Good for most hair types

Cons

  • Will need to detangle with the wooden comb before brushing
  • Not vegan-friendly
  • May not be suited to very thin hair
  • Bristles may be too soft for some
  • One of the most expensive on the list

 

5. BFWood Pure Boar Bristle Hair Brush

This little set from BFWood would make a lovely gift with the nicely considered packaging – this brush comes in a nice box with a fabric drawstring bag. It has been designed specifically for fine and thin hair with short natural boar bristles of around 1.2cm.

The lightweight beech wood handle has been designed to be easy to hold, so would be a great choice for kids or for granny and grandad!

The ergonomic design of the comb makes it perfect for keeping a beard nice and neat as well as for detangling tresses.

Oh, and it can be used to clean loose hairs from your boar bristle hairbrush.

The smaller, oval design makes it great for chucking in your handbag or suitcase and of course, lightweight beech will mean it doesn’t weigh you down.

Pros

  • 100% natural boar bristles
  • Completely boar bristled (no nylon/plastic pins)
  • Comes with a wooden comb
  • Suited to all ages
  • Good for most hair types
  • Smaller size – suited to travelling/carrying around

Cons

  • Not Vegan-friendly
  • Not suited to thicker hair
  • Might be too soft for some people

How to Use a Boar Bristle Brush

The best way to use one of these naturally bristled brushes is to tip your head forward and brush from the base of your neck and behind your ears down towards the tips of your hair.

This ensures an even distribution of sebum down the entire length of your locks.

Be careful not to stand near any furnishings or obstacles when tilting forward – we don’t want any unnecessary injuries!

Once you have brushed the underside of your hair, stand upright again and part your hair where you want it to sit before brushing from root to tip.

It is recommended that you don’t use a boar bristle hairbrush on wet hair since the job of the bristles is to help distribute oils throughout the hair and we all know oil and water don’t mix.

 

Cleaning a Boar Bristle Brush

It is super important to keep your hairbrush clean! The nature of boar bristles means they spread your natural hair oils through your tresses, so you need to make sure you don’t let oils and dirt build up.

Loose hairs should be removed after every use and when it comes to giving your bristles a good wash, it is best to use a natural detergent and lukewarm water to gently clean the brush.

When it comes to drying, you should leave it to dry, bristles down, in a ventilated area, or you could opt for using a hairdryer (make sure this is from a decent distance though).

 

Boar Bristle Brush FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about boar bristle brushes.

Are boar bristle brushes vegan? Do boar bristle brushes hurt boars?

The bristles used in boar bristle brushes can be sheared humanely from pigs, so animals aren’t hurt or killed in the process.

However, boar bristle brushes can’t be considered vegan since they contain boar’s hair.

Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any vegan alternatives that have quite the same effect—if you know of any, leave a comment below!

Hairbrush manufacturers usually don’t provide a lot of information on exactly where their boar’s bristles are sourced or how the animals are treated.

Often the bristles are bought from China, which has less stringent animal welfare regulations than Europe and the USA.

Can you use boar bristle brush on wet hair?

Using a boar bristle brush on wet hair can cause breakages, so it isn’t recommended. The brush will distribute your hair’s natural oils much more effectively when your hair is dry.

Do boar bristle brushes help hair grow?

Boar bristle brushes massage your scalp, increasing blood flow to it which could help stimulate hair growth. However, it’s unlikely to speed up the growth of hair to a noticeable degree.

 

Conclusion

If we had to pick just one boar bristle brush to recommend it would be the Sosoon Boar Bristle Paddle Hairbrush as it uses 100% natural boar bristles, is suitable for all hair types and comes in a stylish box, so it would make a great gift.

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