Why Your Brush Is Messing Up Your Hair Game, And How To Fix It

Source: Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

If there’s one beauty tool we always overlook, it’s the hairbrush! If you’re anything like us, you have at least three brushes you’ve accumulated over the years for different purposes, and most of the time you’ll just grab any of them and tug it through your locks. But by using the wrong hairbrush, you could be damaging your mane – we’re talking follicle breakage, increased dandruff, even hair loss! It might be the reason why your mane is lacking the glossy shine your hair oil promises. And unfortunately, even if you’ve splurged on a good brush, if it doesn’t suit your hair type, it could still be hindering your hair game. But don’t worry, we’re here to help with the perfect grooming tool for every hair type and hair problem. Finally, you’ll have tresses Jen Atkin would be proud of.

For Fine Hair: Boar Bristles 

Source: Denman

Ideal Brush: Denman 100% Boar Bristle, $21.

A boar brush is perfect for thin hair as the boar bristles are super delicate and will glide gently through your hair, reducing any breakage or follicle damage. This is really important as most fine hair is super fragile. When used on dry hair, it’ll also boost shine as the bristles will gently massage the scalp, boosting blood circulation and triggering natural oils to be released from root to tip, leaving your hair glossy AF.

For Thick Hair: Nylon Bristles

Source: Harry Josh

Ideal Brush: Harry Josh Pro Tools Detangling Brush, $20.

If you have thick hair, you’ll know the struggle of trying to manage your mane without turning it into a frizzy situation! This is why you need to use a nylon brush as the flexible bristles will be able to detangle your hair, without adding any unwanted volume. For a sleek AF finish, apply a couple of pumps of your fav nourishing hair oil to your hair when it’s still wet – our go-to is argon oil – and then brush through your locks gently, starting at the ends of your hair, working upwards towards the root.

For Medium Thickness: Nylon and Boar Bristles

Source: Denman

Ideal Brush: Denman Medium porcupine-style grooming brush, $18.

If you have neither thick or thin hair, you should look for a brush that has both nylon and boar bristles. This is the perfect combination for your mane as the boar bristles will disperse natural oils throughout your hair, adding shine, while the nylon bristles won’t add too much volume or leave your hair looking frizzy.

For Curls: Nylon Or Synthetic Bristles

Source: Diane

Ideal Brush: Diane Dual Bristle Aqua Brush, $6.

For curly hair, look for a brush that’s made with nylon and synthetic bristles as they’re really flexible, so they’ll be able to work through your curls without causing any stress to your hair follicles. The nylon bristles will also help to reduce the static that curly hair is prone to. This Dual Bristle Aqua Brush has an extra row of bristles to cut down your grooming time.

For Tight Curls: Plastic Bristles 

Source: Tangle Teezer

Ideal Brush: Tangle Teezer, Thick and Curly, $13

This Tangle Teezer is perfect for tight curls, and if used on natural hair it’ll give you the most boujee ‘fro possible, without exposing it to any heat damage, so it’ll retain its natural shine. The plastic bristles are evenly packed, and because it fits so comfortably into the palm of your hand, you’re less likely to tug and damage your hair.

For Natural Afro Hair: A Wide Tooth Comb

Source: Ultra

Ideal Brush: Ultra Smooth Detangler Comb, $6

A wide tooth comb is ideal for natural hair as the widely spaced teeth will be able to detangle your hair without pulling at your tresses. Alternatively, the Denman Classic Styling brush $12 is another great option as the red rubber base will reduce static while the nylon bristles will brush through your hair smoothly, which is essential, as natural hair is finer and therefore prone to breakage.

For Wet Hair: Nylon or Plastic Bristles 

Source: Wet Brush

Ideal Brush: Wet Brush Shower Flex, $7.99.

Although some hairstylists would argue that you shouldn’t brush your hair when it’s wet, as it’s more vulnerable to breakage, we understand that this isn’t always practical. So, when you do detangle wet locks, you need to make sure you’re using the appropriate brush that’ll minimize breakage. So, look for a flexible nylon or plastic bristle brush, that’s densely packed, and always begin brushing your hair at the ends, and work your way upwards towards the root. We’d also recommend wrapping your hair in a large cotton t-shirt (instead of a towel) as this will prevent any extra knots from forming and will help tame frizz.

For Extensions or Wigs: Metal Bristles 

Source: Sheila Stotts

Ideal Brush: Sheila Stotts Removal Brush, $28.00.

When you’re combing through faux hair, you should always use a brush with sharp metal bristles as metal bristles will be able to detangle any stubborn knots (extensions are more prone to knotting). Although to prevent your faux locks from tangling, or collecting dust, you should stow them safely away in a shoe box, ziplock bag or hair extension bag.

For A Quick Blow Dry: Vent Brush

Source: Olivia Garden

Ideal Brush: Olivia Garden Ceramic +Ion XL Pro Vent, $20.

Vented brushes are often disregarded as majorly retro, but if you need to blow your hair and you’re seriously pressed for time, a vented brush should be your go-to. Because vented brushes have gaps in the base, it speeds up drying time as the heat is able to reach more hair from multiple angles. And, because you’re reducing heat exposure, you’ll lessen heat damage in the long run. Plus, a large paddle brush helps give your blow dry a majorly sleek finish!

For more hair grooming tips check out this post.