Many men and women buy a comb and a brush with little thought on how these hairstyling tools works in either protecting or damaging their crowning glory.
This should not be for several reasons including the fragile nature of hair and the frequency with which these hairstyling tools are used on the tresses.
Educate Yourself on the Types
To paraphrase a popular saying, with the right information comes the right choice. Thus applies to choosing the right hairstyling tools (i.e., combs and brushes) by knowing the right information about their types.
Let’s start with the right type of bristles for the brushes. Keep in mind that each type has a different purpose in terms of creating different hairstyles and caring for different hair types.
• Boar bristles are considered the ideal bristles because of their natural, soft and flexible qualities. These are expensive but the benefits derived from their use more than outweigh the costs.
• Nylon bristles are actually composed of several similar materials including nylon itself, plastic and rubber. Look for closely-spaced bristles for maximum control.
• Porcupine bristles are actually tufted bristles made from a combination of nylon and boar bristles. These are excellent bristles for thorough brushing of thick hair and for controlling fine hair.
• Metal bristles are only good for wigs and hairpieces.
Then, you must also know the types of brushes and their general purposes, as follows:
• Paddle brushes are great styling tools to straighten wavy hair.
• Round brushes are excellent for creating round curls on straight hair although not as curly or as heavy as hot rollers and curling irons can make. We suggest looking for brushes with a good traction and fit in your hand.
• Vented brushes work best in removing tangles from windblown or damp hair. These can also be used for lighter curls albeit not as curly as those provided by round brushes.
• Cushion brushes are used to straighten out curly hair to give it a sleeker look.
As for combs, we can mention the following types:
• Wide-tooth combs are for detangling locks
• Fine-tooth tail comb are used to part and style hair
• Picks are for adding volume, styling hair, and lifting the hair away from the head.
We strongly suggest getting at least one of each type of brush and comb just in case you will require it in the future. Your hair is the only physical feature that you can easily and quickly change according to your mood, after all, and it helps to have the right tools on hand to do the tricks.
Determine Your Purpose
When you have the brushes and combs on your vanity table, your next step is to determine which comb and brush you will use on your tresses. This is where determining your purpose comes in.
From the abovementioned discussion on the types of brushes and combs, we can conclude the following combinations:
• Daily Brushing – Paddle brushes with a combination of natural boar and nylon bristles
• Blow-drying, de-frizzing and straightening – Paddle or cushion brushes are best especially those with boar bristles
• Adding Volume – Round brushes with a small to medium barrels create layered styles while large barrels create sleek hair.
• Styling Hair – Depending on your desired hairstyle, a few of the brushes can be used while the picks are must-haves.
In the end, we suggest using the comb and brush that works best for your desired hairstyles. Just always be sure to be gentle with your tresses.
