This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

How to Choose the Right Brush

How to Choose the Right Brush

The hair brush is an essential tool in everybody’s beauty cabinet. And yet, more often than not, very little thought is given to which type of brush to invest in.

There are round brushes, paddle brushes, detangling brushes, and straightening brushes… and that’s just scratching the surface. Of course, you want the best for your hair, but it’s hard to narrow down exactly what you need when there’s so much on the market.

We’ve all got different hair types, too, which opens up all new areas of consideration.

But we promise it doesn’t have to be complicated. Everyone deserves to have a brush that works for their hair type, and that’s why we’ve compiled this article to help figure out the best brush for you.

 

Hair brush considerations

When you’re choosing a new brush, there are two main things to consider: your hair type, and what stage of styling you’re using it for.

Hair type

  • Long, thin hair: This is best groomed with a paddle brush or flat brush with boar bristles.
  • Straight hair: Keep it sleek and smooth with a good-quality paddle brush.
  • Curly hair: A wide-tooth detangling brush is best. Though those of you with curly hair should be brushing less regularly anyway!

Styling stage

  • Detangling straight wet hair: Reach for a brush that’s specifically designed for detangling — these will have flexible bristles to prevent hair breakage.
  • Detangling curly and wavy wet hair: Stick to a wide-tooth comb to not damage your curls.
  • Blow drying: A paddle brush is your best friend here, for smooth results. For thick hair, try to find a brush with sturdier bristles, like nylon or synthetic, which will run through your locks better.
  • Blowouts: A round brush is the right tool for a salon-quality blowout at home. This will help to tame frizz and add bounce to your hair, particularly for medium to thick tresses.
  • Adding volume: A teasing brush is essential for volume, no matter your hair type. Doing this too often isn’t great for your hair, though, particularly if you have fine or thin hair.

 

Brush types to consider

Alright, let’s talk bristles!

A bristle’s material makes a big difference when it comes to the outcome and care a hair brush can provide.

Boar bristles

More than just a name, boar bristles are made from boar hair — and before you get grossed out, it’s important to know that boar hair is similar in structure to human hair and also has keratin in it. The boars from which boar bristle brushes are made are raised primarily in China and India, and the hair is removed completely humanely, like shearing a sheep.

There are two types of boar brushes available. Natural boar bristles are soft and flexible, making them an excellent choice for fine, thin, or baby-soft hair. They glide through locks without snagging or causing damage.

Meanwhile, if you have thicker or more wild hair, it’s essential to find a boar brush with reinforced bristles. These will be sturdier and run easily through your hair. 

Boar bristle brushes are the gold standard for creating silky, shiny tresses that look like they’ve just come out of the hairdresser’s chair. The fine, sturdy bristles actually lift away dirt, dust, and debris from your hair, helping it get that healthy shine we all covet. The boar bristles also redistribute your scalp’s natural oils from root to tip, adding to the shine factor. It’s a good idea to wash these brushes once a month with shampoo to remove residue and product buildup.

If you have delicate or thinning hair, be sure to choose a softer boar bristle for added protection.

Metal bristles

The thought of a metal bristle sounds pretty full-on –– and kinda painful –– but don’t worry, you’re not going to be dragging blunt needles through your hair. Metal bristles are capped with soft plastic tips to keep everything feeling comfortable.

Metal brushes are perfect for all our curly-haired friends. The bristles work with your hair, not against it, to gently work out tangles without compromising the integrity of your curls.

But… metal bristle brushes are not just for curly hair! Metal brushes are actually great for detangling no matter what style of hair you’ve got. The metal bristles are sturdy enough to work through any knots big or small. Plus, the plastic tips act as a scalp massager as you brush your hair, helping to stimulate blood flow –– which in turn promotes hair growth. How good is that?!

When you’re choosing a metal brush, be sure to feel the bristles and make sure they’re firm to your touch: they shouldn’t be flimsy. If you’re buying online, it’s definitely worth doing your research and investing in a good brush.

Wooden bristles

These can be made from a variety of different woods, including bamboo, neem, sandalwood, or sheesham.

Wooden bristle brushes are ideal for curly hair. They’re extremely gentle, even when taming wild tangles. There are two major drawcards that have the curlies among us worshipping wooden bristle brushes: they don’t separate curls and they don’t cause static.

In fact, because wood is an insulator, it absorbs any static charge in the air, reducing static even more.

Wooden bristles work to detangle but don’t actually pull at the hair, which is the key to avoiding breakages. Plus, they stimulate hair growth in the same way that metal bristles do, by gently massaging the scalp as you brush.

 

Find love at first brush

If you’re looking for the perfect hair brush for your hair type, then check out the Wet Brush range where all hair vibes are welcome.

Newer Post →