Beauty
Are you using the right hairbrush?
©iStock.com/shironosov Image by: ©iStock.com/shironosov
Beauty
Are you using the right hairbrush?
Good hair days are elusive. When your mane is misbehaving, it’s easy to blame the hair type we’ve been blessed—or cursed—with, or the shampoo, conditioner and styling products on our shelves. But, while they do contribute to a good or bad hair day, the unsuspecting culprit is often our tools, specifically brushes. We talked to Kristjan Hayden, creative director for Aveda Canada, to break down the most common brushes and the hair type and task for which they’re best suited.
For detangling wet hair
Proceed with caution when using a comb or brush on drenched strands. “Hair is more delicate when wet. The cuticle swells, which makes it susceptible to breakage,” says Hayden. For thick, coarse, long hair, try a square nylon paddle brush to detangle post-shower. Hayden even suggests bringing it into the stall to help evenly distribute a hair mask or treatment. “It’s more effective than using a comb because the number of bristles cover more area.” For fine, thin, medium-length hair, use a comb with wide-set teeth to untangle snarls. Start at the ends and work your way up.
For your blowout
What's the special ingredient in perfecting a bouncy blowout? A round brush. For thick hair, try a ceramic round brush with ball-tipped bristles. Once heat is applied, the tourmaline and ceramic blend emits ions to help flatten, smooth and speed up drying time. For fine to medium hair types, a soft boar-and-nylon bristle brush will provide gentler tension, creating volume without the damage. If you’re looking for a speedy blowout with no bounce, try a vented brush.
For teasing tresses
To create a voluminous updo or bestow a second life on your day-three blowout, you’ll need the assistance of a teasing brush. Using rows of boar bristle at varying heights, these brushes are designed for backcombing. The trick to using this tool is to work it through small sections of your hair with long even strokes. “Start at the mid-shaft and run the brush through hair towards the scalp,” says Hayden. Continue with short strokes until you reach your desired volume.
For everyday and everyone
An all-purpose brush doesn’t exist, but the next best thing is a medium paddle brush with a mixture of nylon and natural boar bristles. The Mason Pearson is a favourite amongst hair pros, including Hayden. This Rolls Royce of brushes never pulls or snags, works on damp and dry hair, and distributes oils throughout the hair, which helps add shine.
Read more:
7 moisturizing hair masks you need to know about
The 5 best hair dryers for every budget
For detangling wet hair
Proceed with caution when using a comb or brush on drenched strands. “Hair is more delicate when wet. The cuticle swells, which makes it susceptible to breakage,” says Hayden. For thick, coarse, long hair, try a square nylon paddle brush to detangle post-shower. Hayden even suggests bringing it into the stall to help evenly distribute a hair mask or treatment. “It’s more effective than using a comb because the number of bristles cover more area.” For fine, thin, medium-length hair, use a comb with wide-set teeth to untangle snarls. Start at the ends and work your way up.
For your blowout
What's the special ingredient in perfecting a bouncy blowout? A round brush. For thick hair, try a ceramic round brush with ball-tipped bristles. Once heat is applied, the tourmaline and ceramic blend emits ions to help flatten, smooth and speed up drying time. For fine to medium hair types, a soft boar-and-nylon bristle brush will provide gentler tension, creating volume without the damage. If you’re looking for a speedy blowout with no bounce, try a vented brush.
For teasing tresses
To create a voluminous updo or bestow a second life on your day-three blowout, you’ll need the assistance of a teasing brush. Using rows of boar bristle at varying heights, these brushes are designed for backcombing. The trick to using this tool is to work it through small sections of your hair with long even strokes. “Start at the mid-shaft and run the brush through hair towards the scalp,” says Hayden. Continue with short strokes until you reach your desired volume.
For everyday and everyone
An all-purpose brush doesn’t exist, but the next best thing is a medium paddle brush with a mixture of nylon and natural boar bristles. The Mason Pearson is a favourite amongst hair pros, including Hayden. This Rolls Royce of brushes never pulls or snags, works on damp and dry hair, and distributes oils throughout the hair, which helps add shine.
Read more:
7 moisturizing hair masks you need to know about
The 5 best hair dryers for every budget
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