How To Choose The Right Brush For Your Hair

You do everything for your hair—using an effective shampoo-cum-conditioner and oiling them often—and yet your hair looks damaged. The culprit could be something that you use daily—a hairbrush.

It is an essential item in everyone’s beauty kit, but receives the least attention—how often do you consider your hair type or the brush’s material before choosing one?

From detangling your tresses to helping you style them to redistributing the oil from your scalp, a hairbrush is a beauty tool with many uses.

Features to consider

Bristles define a hairbrush. Synthetic bristles—think nylon—can detangle thick, curly hair.

Boar bristles are soft and offer a smooth finish. If you have thin hair and want to check hair breakage while combing, you may consider using a brush with boar bristles. “They are also great for massaging the scalp, promoting blood flow, which is important for healthy hair,” celebrity American hair stylist Kim Kimble tells Allure.  

Some brushes come with metal bristles too, but they could be harsh on your scalp and hair. Wooden bristles, on the other hand, are gentle and work well on dry hair.

Choose a brush based on your hair type

It is important that you choose your brush based on the length and texture of your hair. If you have long and thin hair, a paddle brush or flat brush with boar bristles can work smoothly. For straight hair styles, a paddle brush is an ideal choice.

For curly hair, most hair experts suggest using a brush sparsely. Still, if you must, a wide-tooth detangling brush can help you.  

For frizzy hair, a round brush as well as a paddle brush can meet your demands. Round brush can make your hair look voluminous. Look for a brush with boar bristles and nylon pins—it will help detangle your hair gently. 

Some brushing tips

1. While brushing your hair, start from the bottom and then move up to the roots to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your strands.

2. You don’t have to brush 100 times a day. On the contrary, overdoing it can be detrimental—you will end up damaging your hair.

3. Brush your hair before shampooing them. This way you loosen the dirt and grime on your scalp, which can then be easily removed during the hair-wash.

4. A hairbrush won’t last till eternity. Watch out for the tell-tale signs—broken bristles, for instance—to replace it. A hairbrush usually lasts six months.

5. Clean your hairbrush regularly, once a week is ideal. It is important you remove the dirt, dust and product build-up from the bristles unless you want them back on your scalp and hair!