Updated 11 July 2026. ReFa makes over a dozen brushes. Here is how to pick the right one for your hair type and routine.
Featured in this edit: HEART BRUSH, HEART COMB Aira, AILE BRUSH, ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM, HEART BRUSH mini.
If you have been researching ReFa brushes, you have probably noticed the range is, let us say, extensive. Heart Brush, Heart Brush mini, Heart Comb Aira, Aile Brush, Aile Brush Ray, Ion Care Brush, Ion Care Brush Premium, and that is before you reach the Marquise combs.
It is a lot, and these are not throwaway objects, so you want the right one first time. We have tested them all. Here is the breakdown.
The quick answer
Everyday detangling and shine: HEART BRUSH or HEART COMB Aira.
Thick, long or hard-to-reach hair: AILE BRUSH.
Scalp health and a deeper wash: ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM.
Travel and touch-ups: HEART BRUSH mini.
Across the range, these brushes hold between 4.6 and 4.8 stars on our store, from 15 to 25 reviews each. Stock arrives in limited runs from each Tokyo trip, so if your pick shows as sold out, message our Personal Shoppers on Live Chat and we will reserve one from the next shipment.
Now the why.
ReFa HEART BRUSH: the one that started it all
The HEART BRUSH is ReFa's signature and the one that went viral. The heart shape is not decoration. The curved bristle arrangement lets the brush detangle from several angles at once, so it works through a knot instead of dragging it.
The real mechanism is the carbon layer coating on the bristles. It reduces static, which lets the cuticle lie flat as you brush, and a flat cuticle reflects light in one direction rather than scattering it. That is the glass-hair shine people talk about. It is visible from the first use.
Best for: fine to medium hair, daily brushing, anyone who wants a smoother finish without reaching for heat.
Limitations: if your hair is very thick or very long, the compact head means more passes. That is exactly the problem the Aile Brush was built to solve.
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ReFa HEART COMB Aira: the refined option
The HEART COMB Aira takes the same thinking and puts it in a comb. Each tooth is shaped to curve towards the centre, which spreads the load and takes stress off the hair as it passes through. A chrome coating handles the static and cuts friction.
The Chrome version adds a stainless steel tail, which matters if you part and section your own hair.
Best for: comb people, styling and parting, and anyone who finds bristles too aggressive for their texture.
Limitations: a comb does not massage the scalp the way a brush head does. If that is what you are after, keep reading.
ReFa AILE BRUSH: the deep-reach one
The AILE BRUSH exists to solve one problem: the hair at the back and the interior of your head that a flat brush skims straight over. Its round-fit shape hugs the curvature of your skull, so it actually catches that hair rather than riding across the top of it.
The longer bristles cover more area per stroke, which means fewer passes and less mechanical stress on the hair. Like the Heart Brush, the bristles carry an anti-static agent, though ReFa is honest that humidity affects how much you notice it.
The AILE BRUSH RAY is the same idea with an upgraded bristle composition and a smoother finish.
Best for: thick, long or layered hair. Anyone who wears ponytails and updos. If the Heart Brush felt small for your volume, this is the answer.
It is also the highest-rated brush in the range on our store, at 4.8 stars from 25 reviews.
ReFa ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM: the scalp one
This is the one most people have never heard of, and it is arguably the one that matters most over a year. The ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM is made to be used in the shower, while you shampoo.
The idea is simple and the execution is not. Densely packed flexible bristles, in two hardness levels, push between individual strands and lift them at the root, which lets the bristle tips actually reach the scalp surface. Your fingers cannot do that through a full head of wet hair. What comes off is sebum, product residue and dead skin sitting around the follicle.
The Premium version carries roughly twice the bristle density of the standard ION CARE BRUSH, with a curved arrangement and no bristles in the centre, so it contours to the scalp instead of flattening against it.
Best for: oily roots, product buildup, a flaky scalp, or thinning. Also worth it if you lean on dry shampoo and want a proper reset on wash day.
Note: the Ion Care brushes are for wet use during shampooing only. For dry brushing and styling, stay with the Heart Brush or Aile Brush.
So, which one should you actually buy?
First ReFa, average hair thickness: start with the HEART BRUSH in Rose Gold or the HEART COMB Aira in Rose Gold. They give the most immediately visible result, and they cover the thing you do every single morning.
Already own a Heart Brush and want the next step: add the ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM. Scalp cleansing in the shower plus a finishing brush when dry is the ReFa routine that compounds.
Thick, long or unruly hair and only buying one: AILE BRUSH. It reaches volume the Heart Brush cannot, and you keep the shine mechanism.
The pairing our customers keep choosing. The most common ReFa order at SoJan is not one brush. It is the AILE BRUSH for dry styling plus the ION CARE BRUSH PREMIUM for wash days, which covers the full routine: scalp cleansing in the shower, finishing shine when dry. Most people add ReFa Lock Oil to seal the result, and the trio gets you the free shipping threshold with room to spare.
Are they actually worth it?
We wrote a whole piece on that question, Are ReFa Hair Brushes Worth It?, and the short answer is yes, with a caveat.
They are not magic. They will not repair heat-damaged hair or mend split ends. What they will do is make the hair you already have look smoother, shinier and more finished, and the Ion Care range genuinely improves scalp condition with consistent use.
The engineering is real: the bristle composition, the static reduction, the shaping. It is not a marketing story bolted onto an ordinary brush. If you use a hairbrush every day, and you do, owning one that was actually designed on purpose makes a difference you can see.
Where to buy authentic ReFa in Australia
Every ReFa piece at SoJan is bought in person from authorised retailers in Tokyo and arrives factory-sealed. Stock lands in limited runs and the popular colourways close first. Free delivery is available on qualifying Australian and New Zealand orders, with no customs fees on arrival, and we ship worldwide.
Shop the full ReFa collection ✨
Frequently asked questions
Which ReFa brush should I buy first?
The HEART BRUSH for average hair, the AILE BRUSH if your hair is thick or long, the HEART COMB Aira if bristles feel too harsh on your texture.
What is the difference between the Aile Brush and the Aile Brush Ray?
Same round-fit shape and deep reach. The Ray uses an upgraded bristle composition for a smoother finish.
Can I use the Ion Care Brush on dry hair?
No. It is built for wet use during shampooing. Use the Heart Brush or Aile Brush when dry.
Do ReFa brushes work on curly hair?
Yes, but section first. You will get a better result and far less breakage.
Where can I buy ReFa in Australia?
Through SoJan. We buy in person in Tokyo from authorised retailers, and stock ships from Australia.
Not sure which ReFa suits your hair? Message our Personal Shoppers on Live Chat with your hair type and routine, and we will point you at the right one rather than the dearest one.
SoJan Team
