Boar bristle, nylon or metal pins?

A brush can look right and still feel wrong for your routine. Before choosing a material, decide what you want it to do: ease out tangles, shape a blow-dry or refine the finished style. Bristles and pins matter, but so do the brush’s shape, cushion and size.

There is no single best material for everyone. Start with the task, then notice how the brush works through a manageable section of your own hair. It should feel controlled and comfortable, without needing to pull harder.

In the EMME range, boar bristle often works alongside nylon rather than on its own. The Classic Oval Polish EL02 combines boar bristle with round-tipped ionic nylon bristles in a vented cushion pad. Its purpose is smoothing and polishing.

Think of this as a finishing step on hair you have already detangled. Use light, controlled strokes to refine the surface. If you have just created a defined wave or curl, remember that brushing through it will change the shape. You may prefer to arrange the finished style with your fingers.

Boar bristle is an animal-derived material. If that affects your choice, check the full product specification rather than judging a brush by its appearance or collection name.

Nylon appears in several EMME shapes, each with a different purpose. The Lagom Paddle EL04 has round-tipped ionic nylon bristles and a broad, vented cushion pad; it is designed for detangling and drying. The slimmer Iconic Styler EL03 uses removable ionic nylon pins for styling and shaping.

That difference matters: the word “nylon” alone does not tell you how large a section the brush will hold or how it will sit in your hand. Choose the shape around the work you do most often.

For detangling, begin at the ends and work gradually upwards, supporting the hair above a knot. If the brush catches, pause and ease out the tangle rather than dragging through it. Your natural texture and usual styling routine should guide when you brush.

Nordisk Blå Oval EN01 pairs rounded metal pins with a vented cushion pad for everyday detangling and scalp contact. The Nordisk Blå Styler EN02 brings rounded metal pins to a slimmer styling shape.

Try gentle strokes and pay attention to how the pin tips feel. Rounded pins are a design feature, rather than a reason to press harder. Choose comfortable contact and let the brush do its work without scraping or tugging.

Metal pins are not the same thing as a thermal barrel. One describes the parts moving through your hair; the other describes the body of a round brush used for blow-drying. Do not assume they have the same styling purpose.

The EMME Pro Styler 32 mm, for example, combines natural boar and double ionic nylon bristles in a V-shaped arrangement, with a ceramic-coated solid thermal barrel. The materials work together within a brush designed for shaping with a hairdryer.

The current Pro Styler barrel diameters are 14 mm, 22.2 mm, 32 mm and 38 mm. The 22.2 mm brush is labelled 22 mm on pack. Choose the diameter around hair length, section size and the amount of bend you want; our round-brush guide explains the options.

For everyday detangling and drying, start by comparing the nylon Paddle with the metal-pin Nordisk Blå Oval. For polishing an already detangled style, look at the mixed-bristle Classic Oval Polish. For a shaped blow-dry, consider a round brush in a suitable size.

You do not need a brush in every material. Our brush wardrobe guide helps you build a small collection around your routine. Check the individual specification, ask your stylist to demonstrate, and choose tools you enjoy using.

Whichever material you choose, remove trapped hair regularly, avoid soaking wooden bodies and let the brush dry fully after cleaning. Read our EMME brush-care guide for the full routine.

Beautiful tools. Thoughtfully simple.