new thread
'Ey everyone, quick question, I grew my hair once before but NEVER used a comb or a brush, now that it is growing again, I'm thinking of starting to use a comb, mainly because I want to redice the volume of my hair. Should a comb help to make the hair lay down on my head a little more? What advice and general info have you guys for combs an/or brushes? I think my biggest hair problem is trying to make it relax and lay down more, so hopefully a comb should help.
Couldn't tell ya. I've never used a comb. Always use my fingers.
I'm guessing that a comb would only help, it should work well for pulling your hair down in all the spots that need it because it is so specialized with all the short small teeth. I know I like the way my hair looks better after a good combing, I'm just curious if it will help lay it down, and whether a brush would be better. Anyone else have any ideas?
Actually, using a comb makes my hair look like it has more volume. Probably by working in a bit of air or something. I also think it's a lot easier to get out tangles with one.
The trick to avoiding the extra volume is to comb your hair while its wet
I've heard from many different people that you should use a wide-tooth comb for detangling, because anything else will end up ripping hair out. I notice that brushing your hair with a boar bristle brush makes it kind of flatter looking.
~Jenn
Wide-tooth comb for me...
A wide tooth detangler comb is what I use. It has outward curved teeth that alternate down the comb from side to side. This formation has a spreading apart effect throught the hair that is really gentle on the hair and eliminates the problem of snagging and ripping through. I have used this style for years and won't use any other kind. Peace!
I don't know your hair type, but usually there's 2 reasons hair doesn't lay flat:
1) hair type as in curly/wavy
2) dry or even brittle & fly-away
The detangling tool choice will not necessarily affect either of these situations.
First, weather. If it's humid some people's hair goes bonkers and poofs a lot (this is particularly true of those with really curly hair). If the humidity is low, static can increase and fly away can be more of an issue. Just something to keep in mind.
Curly or wavy hair tends to have a lot of air in between, and if thick that's another reason for poof.
To reduce the poof factor, one can allow one's natural oils produced by the sebacious glands to build up. Ever notice how Day 2 or Day 3 of a non hair wash the hair lays flatter? That's the oil weighing it down. Many think hair is dirty when this oil is a bit built up, but that's not the case. This oil helps protect hair from damage, provides shine and weight. If washing daily, the sebacious glands go into overdrive and produce a ton of oil, but this can be calmed by gradually "training" the hair to produce less by skipping a day of hair washing, do that for a number of weeks, then skip 2 days, etc. to find the point of no return when it really is icky. Then pull back from that point, and wash a little less frequently. Most can easily train between 2-3 days of nonwashing.
One can also oil their hair length. I do not recommend oiling scalp hair (or the scalp skin) because this can upset the pH balance of the scalp skin. But some are able to do so without adverse reactions. To oil hair, simply use some Jojoba Oil or Coconut Oil (other choices include Sweet Almond Oil or Monoi Oil), and for men with the shorter lengths such as 6 inches (my hair is 51 inches long), take a very tiny amount on the tips of the fingers, rub the fingers together to spread a very, very sheer layer on the fingertips (or palms) and massage into the hair ends or hair length by smoothly downstroking. To make it smell nice, you could use a drop of essential oil in the mixture such as Grapefruit or Lavender or Pine (pine is a nice scent for men). Take care to not apply an essential (the one with an aroma) oil to the skin directly as a reaction can occur. If passing this info along to a woman, take extra caution for those breastfeeding or who are pregnant. Simplers brand of essential oils does have free pamphlets that accompany their essential oil purchases to describe the properties of oils and which ones should definitely not be used on pregnant/lactating women. Also, some do cause sun sensitivities. The oil from the sebacious glands or added oil will assist with helping hair to lay flatter, plus oiling provides a wax-like barrier on the hair to protect against damage (which helps hair to grow longer and assists with vertical volume in longer lengths). Jojoba Oil is most like the oil the body produces: called sebum. Jojoba Oil should be pure and can be purchased from places that sell aromatherapy products, candle supplies, organic or whole food grocery stores or on line. HobaCare is a terrific brand. You may have to apply Jojoba Oil again in the duration after a given hair wash as I find it to be a little bit light. For my hair type (fine) I prefer a heavier oil, so I choose to use Coconut Oil.
Oiling will help with flyaway which is essentially an issue of dryness. Dry hair tends to be dull in color, doesn't show off the natural hues of the color of the hair, and somewhat rough in texture. Oiling will provide weight so hair doesn't fly away, increase the moisture content of hair, a nice sheen, and very soft & supple hair texture. You'll love how it feels, and so will your significant other!!!
To work the oil in, you can initially detangle with a wide-toothed comb which helps prevent breakage. The comb should have no seams, slightly rounded teeth, and not cause static. If you choose to use a brush, that's fine too, but choose one in good repair that has a rubber backing, plastic bristles with small ball tips. Teeth on either a comb or brush that are squirrely or bent should be tossed. Apply oil once hair is detangled. Men with short hair do not need a comb/brush at all! They can use their fingers. Those with a coarser texture (and there is a bit of difference between men & women's hair!!) can probably tolerate detangling with the fingers. Then apply your oil: you will have to do it once or twice to get the hang of it for your hair type in terms of technique and actually how little is required! But once detangled, apply the oil, then, gentlemen: start your engines and employ the use of a Boar Bristle Brush.
The bristles on this brush derive from a real beast (which should help bring out the beast in you, no?! LOL), a hunted animal from whom hairs have been plucked! They are installed in a dense mass on the BBB (Ecco Boar Bristle Brushes (BBB) are excellent and run about $30; also Louise Marie BBB's are also good.) These brushes help to hold on to oil (indeed you should apply a tad of oil to the bristles after initial purchase by rubbing a sheer & teeny amount on the palms and then work it through the bristles). Then brush your hair with it. Those with shorter styles will notice immediately the softer texture of their hair. This brush tends to not penetrate most people's hair thickness, especially with long tresses; therefore, the topside and underside of hair length will need to be brushed separately. The BBB does cause fullness to hair length and if hair is in disrepair or rather dry or worse, brittle, do not use the BBB until hair is much moisture from my oiling instructions. The BBB can cause damage to long hair when used on dry hair. It should never be used on wet hair.
But the BBB will distribute one's own natural oils more evenly, causing built up oils on the scalp to congeal more thus producing a higher shine. This will be very nice for those with short hair and will assist with poofy hair at short lengths to lie a little flatter.
Those men with longer hair lengths will love the texture of their hair, the improvement in the hair health.
It can be a bit dicey for longer haired people to add the BBB to their routine, but a little bit of practice and you'll get it. The BBB must be used carefully at longer lengths and does require patience in its use.
Hope this info helps resolve the poofy hair syndrome, heidi w. (from TLHS)