new thread
In reading this message board and other articles, I know one of the secrets to keeping long hair looking good is to brush it often. I have extremely fine and extremely thick hair. I read everywhere about the importance of brushing the hair, but no advice is given on what kind of brush is appropriate for what type of hair. I have a boar's bristle brush, but my hair is so thick that it takes forever to get to the scalp with it and it feels like I am pulling (stretching) my hair. Anybody have any suggestions for me on this one? Being a newbie, I want to start out right! Any help would be appreciated.
Bill B.
the longer your hair gets the more time it's going to take to brush it. i suggest using a coarser brush (fewer bristles) to start with. then there's technique...
begin by finger-combing to remove big snarls, then use the coarser brush. start at the ends and work your way toward the scalp. be patient and don't try to rip tough tangles out with the brush... use your fingers. finish with your regular brush or a comb. also... when you shower, use a good conditioner- even when you don't shampoo.
hair worn loose tends to tangle more... consider tying it into a ponytail.
To brush or not to brush is a controversial and constantly debated topic in the long hair world.
I personally feel that the key to a good brush is determined by the tips, end or spokes of the brush. The Battalia brush is my personal favorite because there are no bulbs or knobs on the end of each brush spoke. The little knobs or bulbs can be rough and can tear the hair.
I have never had as much luck with the Boar's bristle brushes althought I have always heard that Mason Pearson makes the best. The key is in how much of the brush contains actual boar's head bristles. Sometimes there is a very limited percentage.
Karen
Karen certainly knows more about brushes than I do, but I want to put in my opinion anyway. I think a distinction should be made between different kinds of nobs. There is one kind of brush with plastic bristles, the ends of which look like they have been melted into little disk shapes. IMO, these should be avoided completely.
The kind of brush I use most often is one with metal bristles with nobs. For me the nobs are extremely useful in detangling. I have a theory that I'm just beginning to test, that the detangling technique I use with this kind of hair is most appropriate for hair whose individual strands are flat. Getting back to the brush, the nobs on the end of the bristles are made of a smooth, hard material. An individual nob is shaped like a tear drop, the intersection between it and the bristle itself being very slight. A steeper angle will damage the hair.
The brush I use second most frequently is called a Porcupine brush. It is available in at least two brands. There are two kinds of bristles, white, hard plastic bristles and shorter, black, plastic bristles. The longer ones work like my first brush. The shorter ones work like a boars hair brush. The nobs are very slight and thin compared to my other brush. The result is that you get two different brushing styles in a single brush (detangling/smoothing).
My daughter has fine, thick hair, and a Porcupine brush frequently has trouble getting all the way to her scalp. I've found that the best way to deal with her hair is to brush small sections at a time and DO NOT BE IN A HURRY. I start from one side and work my way piece by piece to the other side.
Speaking of ends, if you have a boars hair brush, make sure the ends are not just hacked off. These sharp edges can damage your hair and scalp.
One final comment. If you hair is stretching when you brush it you are most likely using a brush that damages your hair. Alternatively, your technique needs work.
Hi Victor,
You are right about taking your time brushing. I recently watched a young woman at the airport brush a handful of hair out of her scalp because she was brushing not only damp hair, but she was brushing really fast. It was all I could do to not tell her to be careful (but who am I to stick my nose in).
Yes...you are right...the nobs can help detangle. It is just so important to take your time and be careful.
I can not believe how many times I have seen people posting about brushing their WET hair. EEEKKKK..
Regards,
Karen