Hair Brush 101

With so many hair brushes on the market, it can be very confusing to know which is the best one for your hair, and your pocket. Every hair stylist I know says the best hair brushes are a mixture of boar bristles and nylon bristles. These two materials weaved together, create the perfect hair brush, which will also promote minimal frizz!

So what’s so great about a boar bristle brush anyway? They are much gentler on the hair than plastic ones and redistribute your natural oils throughout the hair shaft, assisting in keeping your hair nice and healthy.

The best way to care for your brushes is to wash them from the build up of hair products. You first want to remove the hair that has left your head and has gotten tangled in the brush bristles. I actually use the tail end of a rat-tail comb and lift them off of the brush. Then I fill a basin with warm water , add a few squirts of clarifying shampoo, which will dissolve build up, and soak them in their for an hour or so. Then simply rinse and allow to dry, until your next use!

A great hair brush is an investment. For something decent, expect to pay upwards of $20.

The most famous, and considered the absolute best paddle brush is the handcrafted Mason Pearson. At $68-$215, it’s quite amazing if you can afford it. They are the best at smoothing out your hair.

Some consider the Denman Grooming Brush with Natural Bristle & Nylon Pins as a great alternative, at a more affordable price.

The Spornette G-36 is a favorite for blowouts! The porcupine & nylon bristles can grip even the kinkiest of curls and help you blow out to smooth, shiney goodness! Here’s a no frizz blow out tip. If you wait to blow out your hair until it is 80% dry, you will achieve little to no frizz. If you can not wait around for it to air dry a bit, using a paper-towel, sqeeze out the excess water from your hair, apply hair serum, and finger-blow dry your hair until it is 80 % dry. Then blow it out in sections with your new boar bristle hair brush! When doing this, I actually find that I need less hair product as well. This is also less damaging to the hair.

If you are detangling your hair in or out of the shower, you want to use a wide tooth comb. Hang one in the shower, and gently comb your hair before you step out. The gentlest way to comb your hair while it is wet is to start at the ends of the hair, slowly de-tangling it, working your way to the top. Using a brush while it is wet can actually cause hair breakage.

Some of my favorite hair serums that protect both protect, nourish and add shine to the hair are Morrocan Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Serum, Biosilk Silk Therapy, Global Goddess Shine Coconut Amla Revitalizing Hair Treatment, Carol’s Daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixir.