Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg
Veterinarian, DVM
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
The Maltese is unique in that it lacks an undercoat. These little dogs’ hair mats and tangles rather quickly, and many opt for a professional groomer with these dogs. However, you can reduce the number of visits to a groomer by investing in a good-quality brush that’s safe to use on your Maltese. In addition, brushing your Maltese will help create a bond between the two of you.
Pin brushes work the best for these little dogs. Avoid using raking combs because those are designed for thick double-coated coats and are not ideal for your Maltese’s fine, soft hair and single coat. In this article, we’ve ranked the top ten brushes based on reviews to help you make the best decision for your Maltese.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hartz Groomer’s Dog Brush
Dual-sided
Safety tips at ends of pins
Ergonomic handle
Check Price
Best Value
Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush
Soft, plastic bristles
Detangles well
Gentle on the skin
Check Price
Premium Choice
Safari Combo Brush
Dual-sided brush
Bristle side distributes natural oils
Durable wooden handle
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Burt’s Bees Double-Sided Brush
Dual-sided
Rounded pins to remove hair
Made from hemp, wood, and recycled materials
Check Price
Chris Christensen Dog Brush
Professional grooming brush
100% static-free
Massages and distributes natural oils
Check Price
The 9 Best Brushes for Maltese
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush has stainless steel bristles with safety tips for successfully detangling matted hair. The soft bristles on the other side distribute oils and smooth out the coat for a healthy shine. Its ergonomic handle makes it comfortable while you brush, and it won’t pull and tug the hair. This brush is affordable and gets the job done.
Material: Plastic
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Dual-sided/stainless steel pins
Check Price on Chewy
It doesn’t work as well on short-haired dogs, but it should remove your Maltese’s hair. However, it’s reasonably priced and works well to detangle mats; therefore, we feel this brush is the best overall brush for a Maltese.
Pros
Dual-sided
Safety tips at ends of pins
Ergonomic handle
Affordable
Cons
Doesn’t work well for short-haired dogs
The Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush comes in as our pick for the best brush for a Maltese for the money. It’s reasonably priced, and the plastic pin bristles work well to detangle a Maltese’s hair. It has an ergonomic handle for comfort, and the rounded-tip bristles are gentle on the skin. The bristles also help lift dirt as you brush.
Dual-sided
Safety tips at ends of pins
Ergonomic handle
Affordable
- Dual-sided
- Safety tips at ends of pins
- Ergonomic handle
- Affordable
Doesn’t work well for short-haired dogs
- Doesn’t work well for short-haired dogs
Material: Plastic, rubber
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Pins
The brush is ideal for medium to long coats, and it leaves the coat shiny and healthy. A downside is the plastic bristles may fold downward with each use, which can cause it to be ineffective in removing hair.
Pros
Soft, plastic bristles
Detangles well
Gentle on the skin
Affordable
Cons
Bristles may fold down with each use
The Safari Combo Brush is dual-sided and is ideal for medium to long coats. The pins are rounded and gentle on the skin. It works well to remove mats and tangles, and it lifts dirt and debris along with the hair. The bristle side helps distribute your Maltese’s natural oils, and it’s safe for everyday use. The wooden handle is designed to last, and dogs seem to enjoy being groomed with this brush.
Soft, plastic bristles
Detangles well
Gentle on the skin
Affordable
- Soft, plastic bristles
- Detangles well
- Gentle on the skin
- Affordable
Bristles may fold down with each use
- Bristles may fold down with each use
Material: Plastic
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Pin/bristle/dual-sided
It’s a little pricey compared to its competitors, and the bristles may not penetrate the hair enough. However, using the pin side will result in removing hair better.
Pros
Dual-sided brush
Bristle side distributes natural oils
Durable wooden handle
Cons
Expensive
Bristle side doesn’t remove hair well
The Burt’s Bees Puppy Double-Sided Pin & Bristle Brush is great For the Maltese puppy. The rounded pin bristles will detangle and work out mats, while the soft bristles on the other side will smooth out the hair, leaving it soft and manageable. The soft bristles are made of hemp, and the body is made of wood and recycled materials for extra durability. This brush is designed specifically for puppies, so it’s gentle on the fur and skin. The brush is very tiny, though, and your Maltese puppy will outgrow it quickly.
Dual-sided brush
Bristle side distributes natural oils
Durable wooden handle
- Dual-sided brush
- Bristle side distributes natural oils
- Durable wooden handle
Expensive
Bristle side doesn’t remove hair well
- Expensive
- Bristle side doesn’t remove hair well
Material: Wood
Life stage: Puppy
Bristle type: Pin/Bristle
Pros
Dual-sided
Rounded pins to remove hair
Made from hemp, wood, and recycled materials
Soft bristles smooth out the hair
Cons
Brush is tiny
Not ideal as dog ages
- Chris Christensen Dog Brush
Check Latest Price
Material: Wood handle
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Wood pins
For those looking for a professional brush, the Chris Christensen Dog Brush may be an excellent option. Professional groomers use this brush due to its high quality, and it’s 100% static-free. It won’t pull and tug on your Maltese’s hair, and the real wood pins massage as you brush, distributing the natural oils while delicately detangling the hair.
Dual-sided
Rounded pins to remove hair
Made from hemp, wood, and recycled materials
Soft bristles smooth out the hair
- Dual-sided
- Rounded pins to remove hair
- Made from hemp, wood, and recycled materials
- Soft bristles smooth out the hair
Brush is tiny
Not ideal as dog ages
- Brush is tiny
- Not ideal as dog ages
Check Latest Price
Material: Wood handle
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Wood pins
This brush is easy to clean, comfortable, and durable. It is pricey, but it does a fantastic grooming job. It’s safe to use as needed, and it’s easy to hold. The bristle may fall apart, which is a big downside considering the price. However, it should work great for your Maltese.
Pros
Professional grooming brush
100% static-free
Massages and distributes natural oils
Easy to clean
Cons
Expensive
Bristles may fall apart
- Dog Mat Remover by Hertzko
Check Latest Price
Material: Rubber
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Stainless steel blades
Every Maltese owner knows the frustrations of tangled hair when it comes to this breed, but the Dog Mat Remover by Hertzko can be a lifesaver. It’s designed to remove tangles and mats by way of a 10-tooth design with sharp blades, and it’s painless for your dog. It has rust-resistant stainless steel teeth to de-mat hair, and the ergonomic slip-resistant handle makes for easy grooming. The curved outer edges also protect your dog’s skin and your hand.
Professional grooming brush
100% static-free
Massages and distributes natural oils
Easy to clean
- Professional grooming brush
- 100% static-free
- Massages and distributes natural oils
- Easy to clean
Expensive
Bristles may fall apart
- Expensive
- Bristles may fall apart
Material: Rubber
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Stainless steel blades
It may not work for all matted hair, and it still may pull the hair a bit, and it’s expensive.
Pros
Rust-resistant stainless steel blades for detangling
Doesn’t pull hair
Non-slip ergonomic rubber handle
Won’t harm skin
Cons
May not detangle all matted hair
May pull hair
Expensive
The Bass Brushes Green Dog & Cat Oval Brush has bamboo pins that glide effortlessly along a Maltese’s hair. You can use it as often as needed to reduce matting, and it also removes dander and other particles. It’s lightweight and massages as your brush. This brush is gentle and won’t harm the skin. It’s oval-shaped for easy access to smaller areas, making it perfect for a Maltese’s smaller body. The only drawback we see is that it’s harder to clean the hair out compared to other brushes.
Rust-resistant stainless steel blades for detangling
Doesn’t pull hair
Non-slip ergonomic rubber handle
Won’t harm skin
- Rust-resistant stainless steel blades for detangling
- Doesn’t pull hair
- Non-slip ergonomic rubber handle
- Won’t harm skin
May not detangle all matted hair
May pull hair
Expensive
- May not detangle all matted hair
- May pull hair
- Expensive
Material: Wood
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Bamboo pins
Pros
Reduces matting
Excellent for everyday use
Massages while you brush
Lightweight
Oval-shaped for small areas
Cons
Hard to remove dead hair from brush
The Bass Brushes The Hybrid Pet Groomer Paddle Brush uses alloy pins for comfort while detangling your Maltese’s hair. It’s designed for medium to long coats, and you can use it on cats and horses too. The handle is made of bamboo and has a smooth finish. What’s unique about this brush is that it’s not dual-sided but performs similarly to brushes that are dual-sided. The 2-in-1 system has alloy pins on the outside to separate the hair, and the soft bristles in the middle smooths out the hair and distributes the natural oils.
Reduces matting
Excellent for everyday use
Massages while you brush
Lightweight
Oval-shaped for small areas
- Reduces matting
- Excellent for everyday use
- Massages while you brush
- Lightweight
- Oval-shaped for small areas
Hard to remove dead hair from brush
- Hard to remove dead hair from brush
Material: Wood
Life stage: Adult
Bristle type: Alloy pins
This brush is a little pricey, but it does a wonderful job.
Pros
2-n-1 system
Alloy pins to separate hair
Soft bristles in middle to smooth out hair
Smooth, bamboo handle
Cons
Expensive
- Tuff Pupper Ergonomic Dog Shed Brush For Dogs
Check Latest Price
Material: Rubber
Life stage: All life stages
Bristle type: Rounded plastic bristles
The Tuff Pupper Ergonomic Dog Shed Brush For Dogs is soft and gentle with its rounded plastic bristles. The bristles won’t irritate the skin, and it’s suitable for all dogs of any size or breed. It detangles well and has an anti-slip runner handle with a thumb rest for added comfort. The company offers a 100% money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied, and it works well to comb out tangles and mats.
2-n-1 system
Alloy pins to separate hair
Soft bristles in middle to smooth out hair
Smooth, bamboo handle
- 2-n-1 system
- Alloy pins to separate hair
- Soft bristles in middle to smooth out hair
- Smooth, bamboo handle
Expensive
- Expensive
Material: Rubber
Life stage: All life stages
Bristle type: Rounded plastic bristles
The brush may break easily and even snap in half, depending on the coat type.
Pros
100% money-back guarantee
Rounded plastic bristles for comfort and skin protection
Anti-slip handle with thumb rest
Designed for any breed and coat type
Cons
May not be durable
100% money-back guarantee
Rounded plastic bristles for comfort and skin protection
Anti-slip handle with thumb rest
Designed for any breed and coat type
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Rounded plastic bristles for comfort and skin protection
- Anti-slip handle with thumb rest
- Designed for any breed and coat type
May not be durable
- May not be durable
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Brushes for Maltese
Now that you have an idea of how brushes work, let’s examine even further regarding brushes that work the best for the Maltese’s single, soft coat.
Slicker Brushes/Raking Combs
Picking the correct brush for a Maltese is important because of its delicate coat and skin. Slicker brushes and raking combs are designed for larger dogs with thick, double coats, and the Maltese has a fine single coat. These types of brushes may hurt your Maltese’s skin and pull the hair, making it an uncomfortable experience.
Pin Bristles
Brushes with pin bristles are best for the Maltese. These brushes are gentle and don’t tug or pull, all while still removing dead hair. Pins separate the hair, and they also lift dirt and debris at the same time. For best results, find a pin brush with safety tips at the end to ensure it won’t harm your Maltese’s skin.
Bristle Brushes
Bristle brushes work well to run over the coat after you’ve used a pin brush. Some of our picks are dual-sided, meaning they have pins on one side and soft bristles on the other. The soft bristles help distribute your Maltese’s natural oils, bringing back the softness and shine after getting rid of tangles and mats.
Conclusion
For the best overall brush, we recommend the Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush for its affordability, durability, dual-sided safety pins, and ergonomic handle. For the best value, Frisco Cat & Dog Pin Brush detangles mats well and doesn’t hurt the skin or pull the hair, all at a great price.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading the reviews of the best brushes for the Maltese. We wish you luck in your search and hope we were helpful in your purchasing decision.
Featured Image Credit: Petra, Pixabay
