Everyone who has hair, brushes their hair, though you may never have given much thought to the kind of brush you use. Finding the right hair brush may sound like an unnecessary task for some, but because this is one beauty tool you’re expected to use every single day, making the switch just might be one of the biggest favors you’ll ever do for your hair. Choosing the right hair brush and using it correctly can make all the difference in achieving your perfect hair look. Using the right hair brush for your hair and your styling needs can make a difference in your hair’s health and appearance.
There are so many types of brushes to choose from, yet many people don’t give much of a thought to the kind of brush or comb they use. Some are best for styling, and others are made specifically for detangling, reducing static, or adding shine. The appropriate brush for someone with long, curly hair will be drastically different than the best brush for fine or thinning hair. Here we’ll cover different types of brushes and what they can do for your hair.
Detangler brushes are good for all hair types - even the thickest, curliest hair - and they can be used on both wet and dry hair. They minimize damage from brushing knotted hair, and their thin flexible bristles make it easier to painlessly get knots out of kids’ hair. If your hair is breaking because it’s knotted, it’s best to opt for a detangling brush that has flexible bristles designed to bend with the hair without causing damage or breakage.
The original wetbrush is an affordable option. Its fine, soft bristles are strong enough to work through the toughest knots, and soft enough not to cause damage to wet hair. This is the best tool to use to brush wet hair, as wet hair is most prone to breakage. The American Academy of Dermatology Association warns against brushing wet hair because it’s more prone to breakage. However, if you have very textured or curly hair, brushing when wet is a good idea. They typically have heat-resistant bristles that won’t melt or break when blow-drying hair.
A shower hairbrush is a wet hairbrush with vents for fast drying. Its flexible design and soft bristles are perfect for sopping wet hair. Many come with a hooked bottom for easy hanging off your shower caddy.
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Sometimes the best brush isn’t a brush at all. If you don’t already own a wide tooth comb (although we don’t know why you wouldn’t), here’s why you should: The wide tooth comb is great for safely combing out wet hair and distributing leave-in hair treatment. Wide-tooth combs have thick teeth with space between them. They can be used on thick or curly hair when wet.
For high-shine Hollywood waves, you’re going to want to try the boar bristle brush. Boar bristle brushes are popular because of their ability to redistribute the natural, healthy oils in the scalp, which enhances hair health and creates smooth, shiny locks. Although they might not look the most delicate on the scalp, the boar bristles are designed to gently glide through the hair (like the paddle brush) without snagging or pulling on roots, making it the go-to brush for women who have fine hair. Because of its ability to evenly distribute natural oils from the scalp through the hair, we recommend using the boar bristle brush after heat styling. Every type of hair can benefit from a boar bristle brush, but a 100-percent boar bristle brush with soft bristles is a good choice for people with fine, thinning, or aging hair. The best brushes for fine hair are extra-soft boars’ bristle hair brushes, which are gentle on the hair and scalp and maximize natural shine. For hair that is weak or brittle, use a soft boar bristle brush (or a similar synthetic version) that has soft bristles that are gentle on the hair.
Nylon bristle brushes are made from a synthetic material that reduces static and effectively detangles thick hair. Some brushes combine nylon bristles with boars’ hair bristles to both reduce static and detangle while also getting the health benefits and natural shine that boars’ head bristles offer.
Mixed bristle brushes combine the shine-enhancing effects of boar bristles with the scalp stimulation and easy detangling of nylon or wire bristles. This combination can be most effective for those with long or thick hair. A paddle brush is best for thick hair. Try one with a mix of boars’ hair and nylon pins; the nylon pins are tough enough to brush thick hair quickly and boars’ hair increases shine by redistributing the natural oils.
Owned by many, the paddle brush is known for its ability to glide through your hair while blow drying or just brushing generally. Not only does its flat, wide, rectangular surface allow the brush to move with your control but it also provides exceptionally smooth results without breaking the natural pattern of wavy and curly hair. Paddle brushes can be good for long hair, because they allow you to brush through a large portion of hair at once, eliminating knots and redistributing oil. The wide base of paddle brushes enable them to cover a lot of ground quickly while smoothing hair. They’re a great choice for people with long, straight hair. Paddle brushes work well on straight, long hair, because they are able to work through a lot of hair at once while evenly distributing oils. Keep in mind, paddle brushes are made with different types of bristles. A brush with a rubber pad works well for straight hair that is prone to static.
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A soft bristle brush is best for thinning hair because it’s gentle and won’t rip out your hair.
Curved brushes are ergonomically designed to fit the shape of a human head. Most are made of lightweight plastic and contain vents, which make them a good choice for travel, the gym, or anytime you want to dry your hair quickly.
Curly-haired people may prefer to use a sturdy, wide-toothed comb while in the shower. This can help prevent frizz and breakage that can come with combing dry curly hair. Detangling brushes with stiff bristles also work well.
With the proper round brush and a lot of practice (and lots of upper body strength), you can nail a salon-fresh blowout at home. Typically, round brushes are made with a metal or iconic barrel which heat up when used with a blow dryer (it works pretty much like a curling wand). The round brush helps tame frizz and delivers the desired amount of bounce to your hair. If you have fine to normal hair, we don't recommend using a round brush with a metal or ionic barrel, as it may cause severe heat damage to already weak ends. Instead, we suggest trying something more gentle like a mixed bristle or natural boar round brush. Not only are there tons of bristle options when it comes to round brushes, but they also come in a variety of sizes. There are two things to consider when choosing the size of your round brush: the length of your hair and the size of the curl/wave you want to create. Round brushes are ideal for creating that volume and body in your hair. This is the brush you want to use when you are blow-drying your hair. Small size brushes create tighter curls, while brushes with larger barrels are known to straighten hair and create subtle waves. Round brushes are a good choice for blow drying hair and styling loose waves. They’re fully circular, which makes it easier to blow the hair under, resulting in curls or waves (depending on the size of the brush).
Pressed for time? Don’t sweat it! The holes on the back of a vented brush allow the hot air to pass through during a rough blow dry to help speed up the drying process. There’s not much to it: with one hand in control of the blow dryer, use the other to brush your hair from root to tip. Voila! A vented brush is the best choice for quickly blow drying soaking-wet hair. The vents allow hot air to flow through, reaching all layers of hair. Vented brushes can reduce static during blow drying because they allow heat to flow through the brush, helping to illuminate static and frizz.
Read also: Achieve Voluminous Hair
Using a teasing brush is the easiest way to lift your roots to create the illusion of fullness. This brush is perfect for teasing your hair and creating texture to support your lovely updos, adding texture to ponytails, or create a firm base at the roots when clipping in hair extensions. Keep in mind, you shouldn’t be teasing your hair too often as this process can be a bit harsh on your hair. Teasing brushes are small and designed to be used at the crown to add volume and texture to fine or limp hair, and it can create the illusion of fuller hair, which may be attractive to those experiencing hair loss.
Next time you want to wear your hair in Double Dutch Braids, part your hair into two equal sections with this hair comb. Rat tail brushes and combs are teasing brushes with a long, thin stem that can be used for separating and lifting sections of hair to tease and create more volume. The rat tail comb gets its name from its long and skinny end, which is used to part the hair in precise, clean sections.
Straightening brushes are a mix between a hot iron straightener and a paddle brush. They heat up, can quickly straighten and smooth hair, and are less damaging than a traditional hot iron.
Smoothing brushes are paddle brushes with soft boar or nylon bristles. They can be used for creating sleek styles and eliminating bumps when pulling hair back into a ponytail or bun.
Cushion brushes have soft rubber bases and stiff wire or plastic bristles. The stiff bristles are effective at stimulating the scalp and are good for brushing out dandruff or buildup from hair styling products, and possibly for stimulating hair growth.
Thermal brushes are round or paddle brushes with a barrel made of a material that conducts heat, such as ceramic, tourmaline, or titanium. This can speed up drying. These are generally used by hair stylists, or people who frequently use a blow-dryer.
Ionic brushes are said to reduce static and frizz by adding negative ions into hair, and metal combs may fight static.
If you wear hair extensions, the loop brush is a must-have. This brush features unique looped bristles that allow the brush to glide easily over wefts without getting caught, or pulling them out.
For vegans or anyone who wants the benefits of a boar bristle brush without using animal products, some brushes combine other natural fibers, like agave, with synthetics to achieve a bristle that looks and feels like boar bristle.
Brushing your hair has more benefits than just simply detangling knotted strands. Brushing distributes oil from the scalp down the hair shaft, which helps condition dryer ends, it stimulates the scalp and gives it a massage, which may boost hair growth, and it helps remove any loose hairs from your head (which is why it’s normal for hair to end up stuck in your brush).
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