Poor hair brush. If we were to create our ultimate hair tool wish list, brushes would likely rank last. We get it \u2013 that fancy new supersonic blow dryer with complete styling powers is a way more exciting addition to our hair tool family. Besides, what magical hair powers can come from the humbled hair brush? It could mean the difference between a good hair day or a hair-tastrophy.<\/p>\n
Since there\u2019s a hair-raising amount of brushes out there, it can be tricky to find the best one for your hair and scalp needs. We\u2019re cutting out that legwork with the most common brushes, what hair types they\u2019re best suited for, and how to use \u2013 and clean \u2013 these hair essentials!<\/p>\n
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Just like hair textures, not all brushes are the same \u2013 or will play nice with certain hair types. That\u2019s why it\u2019s super important to find the right brush for your hair type. Contrary to the Little Mermaid maintaining her red, gorgeous locks by brushing with a fork, that\u2019s not going to work too well for the rest of us.<\/p>\n
It can be daunting to pick out the perfect brush without a mountain of varieties. But if you brush off your hair type and pick the cutest one, it could be the underlying reason for your hair woes instead of whoas. But with a few tips, you\u2019ll be well on your way to a healthier scalp and locks.<\/p>\n
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1. Paddle Brush<\/b>
Hair Type: Fine and breakage-prone
Best for: Long hair<\/p>\n
Paddle brushes are usually square or round with nylon bristles attached to a soft cushion. They are designed to bend with the scalp, to prevent damage when brushing. For fine hair types looking for detangling, smoothing, and anti-static abilities, paddle brushes will be your BFF.<\/p>\n
To get more voluminous hair, flip your hair upside down when blow drying or brush from roots to ends. This will also help to distribute good scalp oils throughout your tresses for shinier strands.<\/p>\n
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2. Smoothing Brush<\/b>
Hair Type: All
Best for: Smoothing and straightening<\/p>\n
Want an all-around styling tool that\u2019s suitable for any hair type? Look no further than a smoothing brush! As its name implies, this type of brush smooths, straightens, and adds shine to strands. Pair this brush with our Pro-Vitamin B5 Smoothing Hair Serum<\/a> for a helping hand at taming flyaways and smoothing frizz.<\/p>\n The bristles distribute natural oils from root to tip, creating a polished look. So, if you\u2019re looking for a tight, smooth ponytail or a sleek bun, a smoothing brush will be a total gamechanger.<\/p>\n Use it to blow dry your hair out quicker by sectioning and running the dryer over the brush root to end.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Vented Brush<\/b> Got wet hair and you\u2019re strapped for time? Use a vented brush while blow drying your hair to speed up drying time. The spacing between the bristles allows the heat from your dryer to reach your strands faster. Thick, heavy hair types would benefit from a vented brush with large spacing, so hair doesn’t become easily tangled in the brush.<\/p>\n For styling, start at your ends and work your way up the head so that the brush is not forced through each section. Dry your hair thoroughly before using this brush, since wet hair is more prone to damage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. The Wet or Detangling Brush<\/b> The detangling brush is great for detangling wet hair without breaking it. The bristles are gentle for tug-free styling, while their sparse placement helps curly or wavy hair retain its shape. This brush is ideal for all hair types \u2013 even kids \u2013 and is likely the most pain-free brush option you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Round Brush<\/b> To create a professional-looking blowout at home, use a round brush! They\u2019re great for straightening curly hair, adding lots of volume, and creating a sleek, polished look. These brushes come in different sizes: The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl; the bigger the barrel, the more volume and less curl you\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n Looking for a little extra shine or bounce? Our Glossing Shampoo<\/a> and Conditioner<\/a> gently removes any dulling product residues that could be weighing down curls. This duo is also our go-to for achieving ultra-smooth hair.<\/p>\n For best results, section off small areas of your hair when blow drying. By doing this, you\u2019ll also avoid entangling your hair around the barrel!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6. Ceramic Round Brush<\/b> Are you looking for a brush that can heat up like a curling iron, sans the heat damage<\/a> from actually using one? A ceramic round brush will be your go-to for wonderfully shaped tresses. It\u2019s great for adding volume and lift to most styles and textures of hair.<\/p>\n Its ceramic base helps it retain heat more efficiently, which helps to smooth hair and dry your hair faster. Choose larger barrels for more voluminous hair, or smaller barrels for tighter curls and waves. Remember to section off small areas of your hair when blow drying for the best benefits, and to avoid tangling your hair around the barrel.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for more va-va-voom<\/em> hair, our Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo<\/a> and Conditioner<\/a> will do the trick (while gently purifying your scalp with tingly peppermint)!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7. Rat-tail comb<\/b> A staple in salons, this peculiar looking comb should definitely earn a spot on your vanity. Featuring a long, pointy handle and finely-toothed comb, this multi-functional styling tool is a beauty must-have!<\/p>\n The narrow tail of the comb is used for parting, straightening, sectioning, and teasing the hair for different styles. If you\u2019re wanting to nail that perfect part, this comb will come in handy. They\u2019re also great at teasing the hair towards the scalp for a fuller look.<\/p>\n PRO TIP: Need help getting a straight part? Hold the spear end of your rat-tail comb against your hairline, pointing it towards the back of your head. Move the point against your scalp with a slight wiggling motion, allowing hair to naturally fall to either side until you reach the back of your head. Do this 1-2 more times to cleanly divide hair on either side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. Wide-toothed comb<\/b> Can a simple comb hanging from your shower caddy be a hair gamechanger? If it\u2019s a wide-toothed comb, it sure can! It will not only help detangle your hair while you\u2019re scrub-a-dubbing, this multi-functional hair tool can also distribute conditioner from roots to tips aiding in tangle recovery.<\/p>\n A wide-toothed comb also works well for curly-haired types, since hair is fragile and needs to be handled with TLC. Since tangles are arch enemies of curly hair, it\u2019s important to apply a conditioner like our Honey & Virgin Coconut Conditioner<\/a> in the shower before detangling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp! It\u2019s important to gently exfoliate our scalps to remove the build-up of dead skin and help keep the hair follicle pathway clean and healthy. That\u2019s where a scalp exfoliation brush comes in handy; this type of brush is great for stimulating circulation for a healthy, functioning scalp. Otherwise, this build-up can spell trouble for hair growth.<\/p>\n Although you don\u2019t need to use a scalp exfoliation brush daily, it\u2019s great to incorporate it into your hair routine once a week. In addition to this brush, our Burdock & Neem Healthy Shampoo<\/a> and Conditioner<\/a> is the perfect clarifying duo to purify your scalp and stimulate circulation for healthy hair growth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How often do you clean your hair brush? You\u2019re probably not cleaning it \u2013 or disinfecting it \u2013 as often as you should.<\/p>\n Hair brush cleanliness goes strand-and-strand with hair health. That\u2019s because what\u2019s used on your strands can transfer back onto your brush and vice-versa. This can affect the overall health of your hair. A New York City dermatologist told Allure<\/em><\/a> that \u201cresidue, dead skin cells, and oil colonize the brush and can be a nidus for bacteria and yeast, which in general is not good and can smell unpleasant.”<\/p>\n Experts suggest cleaning your brush every one to two weeks. Here are some tips for cleaning and storing your hair brush:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Step 1:<\/b> Remove the hair<\/p>\n You can use the nifty point of the rat-tail comb to pull hair out from your brush. Pulling a fine-tooth comb through the bristles also works well!<\/p>\n Step 2:<\/b> Wash and rinse<\/p>\n
Hair Type: Wet hair and thick, heavy hair
Best for: Drying hair quickly<\/p>\n
Hair Type: All (even kids!)
Best for: Detangling wet (or dry) hair and curly\/wavy hair<\/p>\n
Hair Type: Fine to medium
Best for: Drying wet or damp hair<\/p>\n
Hair Type: Fine to medium
Best for: Bouncy blowouts, adding volume and lift<\/p>\n
Hair Type: Wet hair and thick, heavy hair
Best for: Smoothing flyaways, detangling<\/p>\n
Hair Type: Wet hair, curly hair, and natural hair textures
Best for: Detangling<\/p>\n