Styling your hair can be an enjoyable and even sensual experience. Not to mention that it’s a highly important grooming ritual for maintaining healthy hair. Hair brushing requires the correct tools as using the best brush for your hair type will ensure its in optimum condition. As well as hair type, you need to consider comfort, convenience and aesthetics. Here is a guide on how to choose the correct brush or comb for your desires.

Your hair type

A few factors determine the condition of your hair. Its growth rate, texture and elasticity is down to nature, however, the overall health of your hair is down to other contributing factors like diet, weather and what products you use.
Hair types can be separated into categories;

Thick – your hair may become knotty easily, have lots of body or become frizzy due to humidity.

Thin – your hair is fine, lacks volume and may become oily quickly.

Normal – this type of hair can use most products and brushes.

Once you’ve identified your hair type, you’ll be able to select the best type of bristles and brush for your needs.

Bristles

Thick hair
Brushes with plastic pins are perfect for those with thick or coarse hair due to the amount of control they offer. They can be used for detangling purposes or for light styling. Regardless of whether you have long or short hair, plastic pins make the ideal everyday hair tool.

On thick hair, cylindrical metal pins are perfect for very long thick hair or thick, curly hair. Metal pins will help to detangle your hair without creating static. Similar to a brush with plastic pins, metal pins can be used daily to detangle any knots and provide a soft, smooth finish, gliding gently through your hair.

For styling wet or dry thick hair, try a wide tooth comb. This type of tool will glide through tough knots without breaking the hair stands.

Normal and Thin Hair

 

Boar bristles are ideal for normal or thin hair as they naturally condition the hair and remove the need to wash it daily. Natural bristles are ideal for daily grooming and particular styling purposes. For parting and sectioning normal to thin hair, opt for combs with two differing degrees of spacing. Such tools will easily move through long or short hair as well as detangling.

 

The brush body

Depending on your styling needs, the body of a brush can have a significant impact. For instance, vented brushes are perfect for blow drying with a hairdryer as air can flow through the body of the brush. A rubber cushioned base helps to polish the cuticles and reduce static as well as reducing breakage. The shape of the brush is also important in terms of styling. Flat brushes work well for straightening and general grooming while round brushes work with the hair for shaping and smoothing. Combs are the best tool for working through wet hair, however, whichever tool you choose, ensure that you brush gently without exerting too much pressure.