Who Knew Choosing a Hair Brush Could Be So Complicated?

Hair Brushes – Tips for Choosing the Best Brush for Your Locks

Choosing a hair brush seems like it should be easy, but there is more to this decision than most of us even realize. In fact, a huge number of hair brush users end up damaging their hair by choosing a hair brush that is wrong for their hair. In this guide, we are going to look at the different styles of brushes and who should be using them, based on their hair type.

The good news is that there are really only around eight types of brushes, and so it is not all that difficult to figure out which you will want to start using right away. Before we dive into the different types, let’s take some time to talk a bit about bristles. This is vital information that will steer you towards the right style of brush for your needs and ensure the best results, pricing, and quality when choosing a hair brush.

Bristles 101

Modern brushes will have bristles made from synthetic materials, natural materials, mixed bristles and even wooden bristles. Here are the top bristles when choosing a hair brush.

• Synthetic – These are going to be a bit rough on your hair, and if you have thinning or fine hair, you may want to avoid brushes using nylon bristles. Though many glide through the hair without pain and don’t make a lot of static, as well as working well for detangling, they can be damaging.
• Natural – The earliest hair brushes were made of boar and natural bristles. They are much softer than nylon and work much better at naturally distributing the oil produced by your hair follicles. This is why brushes with natural bristles often make your hair a lot shinier. This is the bristle for those with fine, straight or relaxed hair.
• Mixed bristles – These may have both synthetic and natural or synthetic and metal bristles. They are a good mid-point between synthetic and natural, helping to prevent damage and making the hair shiny. The mixed bristles are ideal for all hair types.
• Wood – These are relatively new and unique. They are quite strong and pretty gentle on even delicate hair. They do a great job with oil distribution, too. They are a great choice for anyone eager to go green and have “sustainable” beauty products. Most are made of bamboo.

Some brushes also have bristles designed to be “protected”. This means that the ends of the bristles are fitted with rounded balls that cannot irritate the skin of the scalp or cause an undue amount of snagging.

And while we are on the issue of materials, let’s also talk briefly about the handles. Most brushes will be made of plastic or wood. This is an aesthetic and personal choice. The wooden brushes are eco-friendly and sustainable, good-looking, but problematic in the wet environment of a bathroom. Plastic are often less expensive, lighter in weight, less likely to break and able to combat humidity and mold or mildew.

Some brushes are now designed with “ergonomic” handles, and you don’t want to ignore this. Why not? If you have ever experienced a clunky and awkward brush that slips out of your grasp while you are trying to brush your hair, you may understand the benefits of ergonomic handles.

Essentially, they are “designed to be very comfortable, no matter whether you use them for hours a day while at work or just to brush your hair in the morning. By opting for an ergonomic hairbrush, you won’t have to worry as much about whether or not you will hurt your hand or wrist when taking care of your hair.” This can be well worth any added price.

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The Eight Brush Types

Though you might hear that there are more than a dozen different types of hair brushes, we don’t want to go overboard on this issue. Consider the eight styles below as the range that a hair care professional would use.

• The Round Brush – This is for the short haired crowd (both curly or smooth) and it is a great tool for styling bangs. Often made with natural bristles, it is great for creating a sleek look. Experts usually brush in the opposite direction to create height at the roots. If you are going to use this with long hair, though, it should be at least three inches in diameter to help prevent easy tangling.
• Detangling brush – This is designed with bristles that will untangle knots without snapping and breaking a lot of hair. You should be able to use this brush with wet or dry hair and not suffer a lot of discomfort or damage. This is great for kids, but it is also ideal for those who like to style it up with the wet style or finish.
• Paddle brush – They look as the name implies, with a wide base and sturdy handle. They are ideal for long and straight hair, light untangling and drying. This is actually considered a “must have” brush for any sort of hair because it is so effective at detangling wet or dry hair and taming hair of any length. Thin or thick, curly or straight, you will find this useful in many ways.
• Straightening brush – It is often designed to work with heat or a flat iron. It supports the use of a flat iron and smooths out even the most dense and naturally curly hair. They are usually rounded and feature bristles that are widely and evenly spaced to allow your hair to be spread out and straighten quickly.

• Shine enhancing brush – This will help to polish the hair and shape or smooth it. While it does offer comfortable detangling, it has double bristles that do all of the heavy lifting of re-distributing natural oils. It is also called a finishing brush because it can be used to do a final brush out once styling is done.
• Smoothing brush – Designed to stimulate the scalp and smooth the hair. This is also called a styling brush and is great for pulling hair into a bun or giving your hair a sleek look and style. It does not separate hair, so it eliminates the common problem of ridges or bumps.
• Teasing brush – As the name implies, this is a brush that adds volume to the hair and teases it or smooths it out. Experts suggest you use natural bristles for total control, and it is best to choose a handle that has a sharp point as this allows you to easily separate groups of hair and have total control over the styling process. If used correctly, a teasing brush actually does zero damage to the hair.
• Vented brush – Meant to be used when trying to dry the hair quickly with a hair dryer or to create volume as you style. The heads are not very wide and yet they are designed to move air effectively through manageable amounts of hair. Yet, even those who do not use hair dryers may wish to own one because it is useful in styling.

This is a look at the eight most common brushes you will find in beauty supply stores, pharmacies and specialty stores. Owning all of them is not necessary, but most benefit from a detangling brush, a paddle brush, and smoothing brush. A vented brush and teasing brush are also very helpful to have on hand, along with some combs suited to your hair’s texture and type.

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Choosing Your Brushes

Of course, knowing which brushes do what and what sort of hair benefits from their use is great, but if you are not sure about your actual hair type, we’ll review those briefly and explain what sorts of brushes you will want to purchase when choosing a hair brush.

• Fine/Normal Hair – Boar bristle brushes are best as they will not break or damage your hair. They also help pull the oil from the roots to the tips of the hair, reducing flyaway that is so common to thin hair. A medium sized smoothing brush (typically oval in shape with a domed or rounded array of bristles) is going to be your best bet.
• Thinning, Damaged or Delicate Hair – Soft boar bristle brushes are best for you, and you will want to ensure you have good coverage by using a narrower brush with soft bristles. This guarantees that the bristles come into contact with the scalp, which is a stimulating effect that helps improve hair growth and thickness. The softer, natural bristles will also help manage oil and prevent damage.
• Thick/Coarse Hair – If you have thick or coarse hair it is time to step up the bristle game and get a synthetic, nylon brush. It does not matter if your hair is straight or curly, a smaller smoothing style brush (with its domed array of bristles) will work easily through even the most challenging hair. You may also want to consider a paddle brush of nylon bristles to give you optimal control and leverage without causing damage.

• Normal Hair – A mixed bristle brush is for everyone, but especially those with normal to thick hair. The blend of strong bristles with naturally stimulating and oil-balancing boar bristles makes for great results. Whether straight or a smoothing-style brush or paddle brush is a good choice.
• Thick Curly Hair – Have you been told that you cannot brush that curly hair? Well, you’ve been lied to! Curls are a bit of a challenge, but with a wooden bristle brush you can actually do them a lot of good. The hairbrush should have very widely spaced, protected bristles (the type with rounded ends). A narrower brush provides you with optimal control, and the wooden bristles will be very soothing to naturally brittle hair, will not create static, and will not separate the curls too much.
• Very Short Hair (Fine or Thick) – Don’t think short hair needs to be brushed? Guess again. All hair benefits from the stimulation of brushing and if you have either very short hair or wear bangs you need a small, round natural bristle brush. This tames the hair, spreads out those natural oils, and creates just the right amount of tug or tension that lets you easily volumize or sleek your short tresses.

This information should steer you towards the ideal brushes for your hair type and your styling needs. However before we bring this to an end, let’s speak a bit on the subject of combs. After all, most hair styles and hair types can benefit from the use of a comb, too.

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A Few Words on Combs

If you are eager to skip right to the end and find out the one comb everyone should own, it would have to be a well-made, wide tooth comb. It can allow you to comb out even the most tangled hair (wet or dry), it is the best for spreading out any and all leave-in treatments, and is a great post-shower or post-hair washing tool as it runs even less risk of damaging hair than a paddle brush.

However, anyone who styles their hair will want to purchase a fine toothed rat tail comb, too. As one expert explained, “Sometimes the best brush isn’t a brush at all. The rat tail comb gets its name from its long and skinny end, which is used to part the hair in precise, clean sections…This comb can also be used for backcombing your hair.”

Of course, you might also find that brushes and combs are available in sets, and many included the “must haves” we have mentioned here. Take what you have learned from this guide and see if any of the sets available have the ideal brushes and combs for your needs. Typically, you want the round, paddle and vented brushes and that wide-toothed comb would be a great extra.

Hair care is often confusing, and when you are confronted by a wall of different brushes and styling tools it can be tempting to reach for the one with an appearance you like the most. Yet, that might be doing damage to your hair and even your scalp. Instead, purchase your beauty gear with knowledge and start seeing a big difference in your styling skills and the health and looks of your hair.

More Great Resources on Choosing a Hair Brush

Here Are The Perfect Brushes For Every Hair Type

The 24 Greatest Hair Brushes Of All Time

HAIR 101: HOW TO FIND THE BEST BRUSH FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE