new thread
I've seen both boar bristle brushes and wide-toothed combs mentioned many times on this site. I recently got a boar-bristle brush and I don't really understand what all the fuss is about. It's so thickly packed that I can't even really use it. I'm basically just brushing the outermost quarter inch (about 6 mm) of my hair.
My hair is about a foot long (straight with a little wave), so most of my brushing is still against the head and not holding my hair over my shoulder or anything. That could have something to do with it.
What I really don't understand is why boar bristle brushes and wide toothed combs seem to be the two biggest things you guys recommend. They are basically opposites. One has short, closely packed bristles, and many rows of them for hair to pass through. The other has a single row of very long, very loosely spaced fingers (bristles? tongs?)
Which of the two (or others) do you prefer and why? Is it because of your hair type, length, style, or just personal preference? Did you use a different kind when you had shorter/differently styled hair?
I use a wide tooth large comb to untangle after first using my fingers. I use a boar brush after untangling to help move the oils down the shaft and keep the hair clean. These methods I use a lot when on the road or camping and such. I also use them, but less, at home. What I use most is my fingers and a Revlon brush. This one.
I use both, boar brush and the wide toothed comb. I use the boar brush first to de-tangle the top layer if you will. The bristles tend to give and bend more when they hit a snag. A brush with plastic bristles might tend snap the snags. Then I gently comb with the wide tooth. It tends to identify snarls that can be loosed by finger. A finer comb would just pull up too many at a time. I never just yank the comb through a snarl. Then back to the boar brush to finish. The brush also helps to take some of the oil that accumulates at the scalp and spread it further down on the hair. This is my routine, others may have a different twist on it.
Bruce
It really does seem that the two are complete opposites, but in fact they are for two different purposes.
The wide-toothed comb is for gentle detangling, after you finger comb first. On dry hair.
The boar bristle brush is used to polish the hair and help to distribute the oils evenly throughout the hair. It's not meant to be used as a regular brush, and it's true that it doesn't penetrate all of the hair. That's normal.
....I have never really understood the purpose of boar bristle brushes. I have fine hair and they just seem to create frizzies for me.
(OK, I've learned something new today.....time for a nap !)
WWT
I prefer to use a Kangha, the small wooden comb used by Sikhs to take care of long hair. They come in various sizes. The small ones are to be be worn in the hair under a turban as an article of faith. For grooming, I use a Kangha that is about 3 inches wide with moderate teeth spacing. I hand comb my hair to detangle it (especially when arising from bed in the morning, and after my hair is dry after swimming or showering), and then use the Kangha to comb it straight. My hair is just south of my nipples on my chest, and just south of my shoulder blades on my back--about mid-back length.
Kanghas are often sold by vendors outside of Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) on Sundays.