Best Beard Combs and Brushes For Fine and Coarse Beard: Ultimate 2021 Buyer’s Guide

New beard owners don’t usually consider brushes and combs necessary grooming tools, but combing and brushing your beard can make a huge difference since they’re designed to exfoliate the skin, tame coarse hair and can turn a messy looking beard into a well-groomed one. The best beard combs and brushes are built tough, feature a design that will capture each and every hair, and can help to tame even the most unruly beard.

Since there are literally hundreds of combs and brushes on the market, picking one that works for you may seem like a challenge, especially since the bristle or tooth design can have an impact on how well these grooming tools work, and whether it’s tough enough to work with your beard depending on how long or thick your beard is. I’ve created a buyer’s guide and included product recommendations that feature grooming tools that are designed to reach deep down through even the coarsest, thickest facial hair, leaving you with a well-groomed look, while also exfoliating the skin and stimulating new growth.

Below, you’ll find a comparison chart with five of the best-selling grooming tools and a list of their standout features and how they rated. This will make it much easier for you to choose the right grooming tool, based on beard thickness, material type, and overall quality.

Beard Combs and Brushes Comparison Chart

Product	Material	Type	Beard Length	Rating
Grave Before Shave Shop On Amazon!	Wood/Boar Bristle	Brush	Short-Long
Beard Brush by ZilberHaar Shop On Amazon!	Wood/Boar Bristle	Brush	Short-Medium
Beardilizer Beard Comb Shop On Amazon!	Horn/Wood	Comb	Short-Long
Folding Wooden Comb Shop On Amazon!	Wood	Comb	Short-Long
Airisland Dual Action Shop On Amazon!	Stainless Steel	Comb	Short-Medium

Grave Before Shave Beard Brush

Our Rating: (5/5)

This compact, durable brush by Grave Before Shave is made out of one hundred percent bamboo. This boar bristle brush is designed to exfoliate and massage the skin while stimulating new hair growth. It works to distribute beard care products along the hair shaft, in order to polish, seal, and condition your beard, for improved shine and health. The durable design, combined with high-quality bristles will ensure this brush lasts year after year, with proper maintenance. It’s perfect for all types of growth lengths ranging from fine to thick and short to long beards. Versatile, easy to clean, and a tool that’s been proven to work on any type of beard, this brush may be pricey, but it’s a worthy investment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a boar bristle brush that’s top of the line, then your search is over. This model earned high points for its longer handle, thick bristle design, and low maintenance needs. However, it can struggle to reach the skin for coarse, thicker beards, yet it still does a great job of evenly distributing natural oils and beard care products.

Beard Brush by ZilberHaar

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

If you’re looking for a tough boar bristle brush, one that can keep your beard looking tame and well-groomed, then this model by ZilberHaar may be your best bet. However, it’s not as versatile as some boar bristle brushes on the market since it can only handle fine to medium-thick beards. This can be an issue for the beard wearer with serious growth. In terms of design, the brush consists of one hundred percent boar bristles, which have been carefully selected to ensure the bristles offer the type of stiffness needed to work through coarse and fine hair. The handle is longer than what you’ll find on the average boar bristle brush, so you can get a good grip and tackle that wild mane. The high-quality pearwood features a delicate, smooth texture, and a beautiful finish.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that this is one beautiful brush, but the fact that it cannot handle thicker beards will be a big drawback for some potential buyers. The elegant design, combined with the one hundred percent boar bristles, ensures this is a brush that will last year after year, but if you’re struggling with mats and tangles, and a thick stubborn beard that’s difficult to care for, then you may want to pass this model by.

Beardilizer Beard Comb

Our Rating: (5/5)

This best-selling comb by Beardilizer is easy to use and made out of a wood and horn design that improves durability and overall quality. It features thirty-six teeth which are made out of one hundred percent black ox buffalo horn, with a handle that’s made out of a beautiful, rich sandalwood. The shape of the teeth will easily adapt to all types of beard thicknesses and lengths. This is a gorgeous, all-natural comb that can easily work out mats and tangles while reaching deep down to the skin under the beard to distribute both natural oils and beard care products. The comb is designed to prevent static buildup while preserving keratin proteins that will keep your beard strong and soft to the touch.

Conclusion

This comb consists of one hundred percent natural materials. It’s designed to prevent static buildup, so your beard will look smooth, tame, and shiny. The horn and sandalwood design gives you the best of both worlds, although, bristles are prone to breaking, if you’re not careful during use or when cleaning out the comb. The length of the teeth is designed to reach deep down to evenly distribute oils, while the thick sandalwood handle allows you to easily grip the comb and run it through even the thickest, toughest beard.

Folding Wooden Comb by Striking Viking

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This foldable wooden comb allows you to take it with you wherever you go, which is crucial if you have one of those beards that need to be combed throughout the day. The comb is made out of one hundred percent sandalwood and it’s designed to handle even the thickest beards, easily working out mats and tangles. The switch flip design is perfect for storing the comb in your pocket. The rounded smooth teeth will easily glide through short, long, curly, and thin beard hair. The company also offers a hassle-free thirty-day money-back guarantee, which gives you every incentive to buy and give this travel-friendly comb a shot.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a travel-friendly wooden comb, one that has durable teeth that won’t break off even in the thickest beard, then you’ll love this comb’s unique, solid design. While the comb cannot be used on a wet beard, it can easily handle working through all types of beards and does an excellent job of distributing natural oils and beard care products.

Airisland Dual Action Stainless Steel

Our Rating: (4/5)

For beard wearers who are looking for a comb that’s more versatile and durable, a model made out of stainless steel may just be the ticket. Unlike wooden combs, a comb made out of metal can be used on wet hair, which makes it a great buy for those who prefer to work their beard care products into a damp beard, or those who struggle with a beard that easily becomes tangled. The compact design allows you to fit the comb into your wallet, in one of the credit card slots, making it highly portable and convenient to carry. It also features an anti-static design so your beard will not look wild and frizzy. The fine-tooth design is perfect for thin and medium-thick beards, however, the shorter tooth length makes it a bad choice for thicker beards.

Conclusion

This comb is perfect for the beard wearer in search of a comb they can use on the go. It’s designed with portability in mind, but it’ compact build makes it a poor choice for thicker beards since the teeth cannot reach deep down. Overall, it’s durable, lightweight, low-priced, and a great choice if you have a beard that needs to be combed throughout the day.

Beard Combs and Brushes Buyer’s Guide

An experienced barber will tell you that combing and brushing your beard can make all the difference in terms of future hair growth and health. Using these grooming tools can keep your beard looking smooth, can work out any unwanted knots, mats, and can help to encourage new growth. These tools will allow you to tame your mane and get all of the hair going in the same direction, taking care of any flyaway strands, keeping every hair in place.

Aside from keeping your beard looking smooth, using certain types of brushes can help to exfoliate the skin beneath the beard, which is hard for a regular brush or comb to reach. Brushing or combing out your beard will help to evenly distribute the natural oils in the facial hair and skin.

Using a comb or brush daily, with a few drops of the beard oil can turn even the scruffiest looking beard into a well-groomed one.

Essentially, these grooming tools are crucial when it comes to keeping your beard looking shiny and healthy. With frequent combing and brushing, the texture of your beard will improve and become soft, instead of coarse. Additionally, using these grooming tools can also create a natural shine that’s caused by the even distribution of the natural oils. Since beard follicles are denser than the hair on your head, you need grooming tools that have tougher teeth and bristles than what you’ll find on combs and brushes that are meant for the hair on your head. Combing or brushing can also remove loose hair, grime, debris, and dirt.

Grooming Tool Options

Do you prefer to brush your beard, or comb it out? There are pros and cons for each type of grooming tool, but in the end, it’s really a matter of personal preference and the type of beard you have. Combs tend to do a better job of distributing oils and working out mats and tangles, however, they are also prone to pulling out hair and can be uncomfortable to use if you have a beard that becomes tangled or matted easily.

Brushes are definitely the more comfortable option, but they’re not able to reach deep down like a comb can. However, they’re a much better choice if you’re looking for a more gentle approach to beard grooming.

Whether you choose a brush or a comb for your beard, or both, there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration before you buy, such as tooth or bristle type, length, handle design and length, durability, maintenance needs, and which type of tool will work the best for you based on how thick and long your beard is.

Brushes

Brushes work to exfoliate the skin under the beard and can evenly distribute natural oils in the beard. They’re a great choice for thicker, bushy beards and do a great job of catching all of those stray hairs. Additionally, brushing your beard is a simple trick that can instantly thicken your beard. A brush is more gentle on a beard than a comb, since the thick, compact bristle design won’t easily get stuck in tangles and mats like the long thin teeth of a comb can. But if your beard is prone to tangles and mats, a brush may not be the right option since these mats and tangles must be worked out in order to prevent ingrown hairs, stunted beard growth, and to remove debris. There are many different styles of brushes on the market, so you can find the perfect one that will work for your specific beard type.

Boar Bristle

The most common type of brush used for beards is the boar bristle brush. This type of brush features bristles that are made out of animal hair. In terms of price, they’re usually more expensive compared to synthetic bristle brushes, but they’re definitely worth the investment. This type of natural brush is more efficient compared to synthetic brushes because it works like a membrane. When it comes into contact with oils in the beard it absorbs excessive moisture and releases oils in dry areas. For these reasons, most barbers will recommend this type of brush for all beard types.

Synthetic Bristles

Synthetic bristles are prone to falling out of the brush, and some may even get caught in your beard. If you use oils or other types of beard care products that have a greasy finish, then you’ll need to clean these brushes out often since they can quickly accumulate buildup. Brushes with this type of bristle are usually more affordable than a boar bristle brush, but they need to be cleaned and replaced more often.

Combs

When you comb your beard, not only are you distributing the natural oils evenly throughout your facial hair, but you’re also taking care of tangles and mats. Combing can also reach deep down to the skin under your beard and can be a better option for thicker beards compared to brushes.

Combs are made out of a variety of materials including plastic, wood, and metal.

Plastic

These combs are relatively inexpensive, but they’re not quite as durable as combs that are made out of wood or metal. If you have a thicker beard, you’ll want to avoid using a comb that’s made out of plastic since the teeth can break off in your beard, especially if your beard is prone to tangles and mats. However, combs made out of this material are easier to clean and very affordable.

Wood

Combs that are made out of wood look great and do a great job of working out mats and tangles. They provide a performance that’s similar to horn combs, but they’re not as expensive and easier to clean. They’re more durable than plastic combs, but you cannot get these combs wet, which can be a drawback for some potential buyers, especially those who prefer to comb out their beard right when they get out of the shower.

Metal

Metal combs are very tough, easy to clean, and can last for years, and they’re a better choice for the beard wearer who wants to comb out their beard when it’s wet. The only drawback is static electricity buildup, which makes them a poor choice for shaping long beards.

Horn

If cost isn’t an issue and you want to use the type of comb that most barbers use, then I recommend a horn comb. These combs are naturally anti-static, so you can comb your beard all day, without causing your beard to frizz up. These combs also contain a type of material called keratin, which is basically like Teflon to facial hair, so the comb will not get stuck, even in the coarsest beard. Unfortunately, it can be very fragile, so you’ll need to be extra careful when you’re cleaning it since the teeth are prone to snapping off.

Hand-Cut or Tamp Press?

Low-quality combs are typically produced on a large press, which stamps one comb after another. And the result? Combs that come with very small jagged edges on each of the teeth. When you run one of these combs through your beard, you risk tearing out the hair follicles. Additionally, it can also cause split ends, not to mention static build-up, which can be a hassle to fix.

These combs can also break very easily. So, while you may be saving some cash by buying one of these cheaply made combs, in the end, you’ll end up replacing them often, and you may have to deal with a beard that’s full of tangles, ingrown hairs, and split ends. As you can see, it’s always worth it to pay more for a high-quality comb, one that won’t damage your hair and can last for several years.

Combs that are hand-cut or handmade are a whole different story. These combs are made out of tougher materials such as horn or wood and have teeth that are individually saw cut. This will eliminate the jagged edges that are often found on the stamp pressed models. Once the teeth have been cut, the ends are then polished, for a smoother surface that results in a combing experience that’s aggravation-free. When you buy a handmade comb, run your fingers over the edges of the teeth. You’ll notice that they barely move, but if you tried the same thing with a stamp pressed comb, you’ll notice that the teeth are able to move freely and easily.

Tooth Width

Tooth width is another big consideration. Basically, you’ll need wider teeth the thicker and longer your beard is. During the first growth phase, a fine-tooth comb will be a better option. If you want to save money and avoid having to buy another comb once your beard starts coming in thicker, then choose a comb that has multiple teeth widths.

The teeth on these combs will have various spacing, so it can be used depending on the coarseness and thickness of your beard. For a softer beard, a comb that has closely spaced teeth is often the best option. A coarser beard or a curly beard will require much wider spacing between the teeth. Basically, the best comb for your beard will depend on the coarseness and the length.

Best Grooming Products

If you’ve just started growing your beard out, you’re probably pretty clueless about styling it, shaping your beard, or how to keep it tamed and looking tidy and well-groomed. As your beard grows longer, you’ll need to begin using certain types of beard care products that can keep your beard looking great while encouraging new growth. If you have a very thick beard, then using a comb with beard oil may be a better option, since the longer teeth can reach deep down and evenly distribute the oil. Most types of brushes are not able to reach as deep as a comb. If you have a thicker beard and you’ve been using a brush with your beard oil, and you’ve noticed that your beard still feels brittle and dry, then this is why. Once you switch to a comb, you’ll notice a major difference in the texture of your beard, not to mention it feels more hydrated and much softer.

However, when it comes to working with beard balms and oils, some types of combs will be a better choice than others. As an example, horn and wood are very good at combing beards and working the products deep down into the hair follicles. Unfortunately, metal and plastic will not be quite as useful. Fuller and longer beards will require more balm and oil to look their best, so a horn or wood comb will be a much better option as your beard grows out.

Maintenance

Both combs and brushes will need to be cleaned out and washed regularly. Some brushes and combs are more high maintenance than others. Boar bristle brushes, horn combs, and wood combs, can be more difficult to clean than grooming tools that are made out of plastic or metal materials. As I mentioned earlier, horn can be very fragile, especially if you’ve had the comb more than a couple of years. While wood is a bit tougher, it tends to struggle with exposure to moisture. While grooming tools that are made out of plastic or metal are not the best choices, they are easier to care for and more versatile.

Keeping your grooming tools clean is important, especially if you normally use beard care products such as balms, oils, and creams. These products can cause gunk to build up in the bristles and teeth, making it difficult to remove debris, dirt, and food from your beard, and well as introducing old products back into your beard. As you can see, this can easily lead to hygiene issues. Depending on how much product you use, you may need to clean out your brushes and combs as often as once or twice a month. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to learn the correct way to clean your grooming tools.

Final Thoughts

The best beard combs and brushes will keep your beard free of mats, tangles, will work to evenly distribute the natural oils in your beard, and can help to keep your beard looking shiny, healthy, and well-groomed. These product recommendations include some of the best-selling models on the market, grooming tools that have been proven to work for a variety of beard thickness and length, so you’ll have no trouble finding a model that will work for you, whether you’re just growing out a beard or you have some serious length.