For years, A wide-tooth comb was my ONLY detangling tool. Combs with lots of teeth, or combs with teeth close together looked damaging, so I wouldn’t dare attempt detangling with them…I was wrong.

Wide-Tooth combs are great for gentle detangling between wash days, but they are not effective at removing shed hair. To properly detangle kinky curly hair a detangling comb is required.

I’ve used a few detangling tools over the 10 years I’ve been natural.

Better than A Wide Tooth Comb

Okay if no wide tooth comb then what? I need smooth detangling tools that won’t snag tight coil strands, but effectively remove shed hair. I need lots of sturdy bristles/teeth to navigate my curls and coils. These are a few tools that I’ve used over the years.

Quick overview of some of the detangling tools that I’ve used over the years. More of the details about how and why I use these tools will be in the section below.

Felicia Leather Wood Detangling Brush	Rows of bristles that Separate. My choice for detangling in the shower
Denman 38 Detangling Brush	A Paddle Brush with flexible bristles, a good option for pre-shampoo detangling
Tangle Teezer	Unique handheld design. I don’t have this in my stash at the moment I’ve tried it in the past and it is a favorite among some naturals.

Salon Detangling Tool better than a widetooth comb

The first time I visited a stylist for a natural hair salon for a curly cut, she recommended that I grab a Felicia Leatherwood brush and use that for detangling on wash days.

Felicia Leatherwood is a celebrity natural hairstylist. She was behind the hair on the set of the TV Show Insecure has been the stylist behind red carpet natural hair looks

So when my stylist demonstrated the brush at my Salon visit, I grabbed one to take home.

The Felicia Leatherwood brush is my go-to recently. The Felecia leatherwood has several sections of bristles that separate as you comb through your hair.

How I use the Felicia Leather Wood Brush

I use the Felicia Leatherwood Brush in the shower while it is while my hair is soaking wet with conditioner. II work in small to medium sections working my way up from the ends to the root of my hair. I hold the section so it is stretched out while I am working on it, this helps keep my hair from curling upon itself.

New Classic Detangling Tool alternative to a widetooth comb

The Denman D3 brush has been popular in the natural hair community for over 10 years. However, this brush is for curl definition and was not a good choice for me for detangling.

The Denman D38 Brush, however, was designed for detangling. It is larger than the classic D3 brush so you can cover a wider section. The bristles are also more flexible allowing for gentle detangling. The base under the bristles has an air pocket, that softens and allows the bristles to flex when it encounters a tough tangle.

How I use the Denman D38

I use D38 for quick gentle detangling and smoothing outside of the shower. I like this brush because I can work quicker and in larger sections. It is great for distributing products through the hair.

Unique No Slip Detangling Tool

The tangle teezer (the original one) is designed to fit in the palm of your hand. I owned a tangle teezer many years ago, but lost track of it while moving and never grabbed another one. I’ve seen parents who love this tool for getting through the heads of squirmy little ones.

I owned this one while I was still afraid of damaging my hair with proper detangling tools, but it is an option and popular among naturals.