A brush drawer eventually needs more than one thing in it. I keep a few different shapes, each with its own job, and I reach for them depending on how the hair feels that day.

Mane's Ready or Knot is a detangling paddle, good on dry hair that has gone a little wild overnight. Crown Affair's Dual-Bristle Boar Hair Brush No. 001 is designed for all hair textures, and the boar bristles are the classic route to a smooth, glossy finish. Oribe's Flat Boar Bristle Brush is the more classic, flatter take on that idea.

Pattern Beauty's Shower Detangling Brush is made for wet hair with conditioner in it, and the shower is honestly where most of my knots come undone. Moroccanoil's Ceramic Paddle Brush is a paddle for blow drying, and ghd's Paddle Brush belongs to the same family, with a broad face for smoothing long hair.

Here is a small test. If a brush gets stuck halfway down, stop and go back to the ends instead of forcing it. Tugging from the top is how you end up with broken hair and a sore scalp. Clean the bristles every week, because trapped hair and product make any brush drag. Pull the caught hair out with a comb, rinse in lukewarm water with a little mild shampoo, and let it dry bristle side down so water does not sit in the base.

Brushing goes better when hair has slip, and slip comes from a leave-in. I use one whenever I know a knot is coming, which is after a swim, a long flight, or a night in a bun.

amika's Hydro Rush is a moisturizing leave-in with hyaluronic acid. Ceremonia's Guava Hydrating Leave-In is a hydrating leave-in conditioner. Olaplex's No.5L is a leave-in for split ends, so I use it on the lower half of my length. Melanin Haircare's Multi-Use Softening Leave In is a softener that works on curls and coils as well as straighter textures.

Kérastase's Gloss Absolu is an all-in-one anti-frizz spray. dae's Mirage Mist is a leave-in in mist form, and I would pick it if a heavier cream tends to weigh your hair down.

What I would skip: brushing hair that is soaking wet with a fine-tooth tool and no product, and any leave-in sprayed heavily on the scalp. Wet hair stretches and snaps, so start at the ends, comb through the conditioner first, and only then let the brush follow. A spray works best in small amounts, misted from a hand's length away and worked through in sections. If your hair feels sticky or coated by the second day, you used too much, and a rinse fixes it.

Choosing between all of these comes down to your hair and your habit. Curly and coily hair usually likes a wet brush with lots of slip. Fine straight hair likes a light mist and a gentler shape. Thick, long hair often wants a paddle.

I would keep one brush in the bag, one at the sink, and one spray that you actually like the smell of, since the routine only works if you do it. Take your time with knots, and work from the tips up. A slower two minutes in the morning saves you the breakage that quick, frustrated pulling causes, and it makes a braid or ponytail sit much more smoothly afterward. If you find your hair is breaking a lot or thinning, mention it to a doctor or a good stylist before blaming the brush. Whatever you pick, use it gently and keep it clean, and it will last far longer than the first burst of enthusiasm.