By C S
If you’re like me, picking a hairbrush is like picking a toothbrush. Yes you know the basics (brand names, durability, price point all factor into the equation), but do you really know what you want? Or is the process a treasure hunt, filled with mysterious clues and perhaps a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
We spoke to a few hair gurus. This is what they told us about picking the perfect hairbrush:
There are specific types of brushes for specific uses. A round brush is good for styling. A paddle brush (the thing that looks like a paddle with cushioning, bristles and a bare back) is great for everyday brushing.
Good things come in threes. Most brushes have three types of bristles: boar, nylon and metal, or a combination thereof. Boar brushes tend not to go too deep into the hair, but stay on the surface. But they are used by stylists because they smooth the cuticle of the hair and help it glow like tinsel.
“Most styles start with a paddle brush” says Sandy Taylor Furst, Master Colorist and Stylist at the Raymond Marc Salon in Walnut Creek, CA. “If you want more body, then graduate to the round brush.” Before you start to dry your hair and brush with a paddle brush, put some hair cream or oil on your hair (a light spritz will do). “Don’t put oils on your scalp, “says Taylor Furst. “Only mid shaft and at the ends of your hair.’
Some good paddle brushes include the Oak Styling Collection Brush from Creative Hair Tools ($23.90), which detangles hair easily and is great for long hair. This one has boar bristles and added nylon which protects the scalp while stimulating it.
A less expensive but good detangler is the new “Ouchless” brush by Goody, which is great for thick, full hair that needs a little streamlining. The embedded cushion also prevents hair from collecting at the bristle’s base.
When choosing a round brush, always choose a ceramic barrel because this helps even out the heat when styling. Part your hair in sections and blow-dry each section out with a round brush.
A good round brush would be the Industrie Thermal brush (it comes in various sizes including 33mm, 38mm and 44mm: the smaller the diameter, the more shape or curl you can give the hair). Industrie Ceramic Thermal round has lightly sanded bristles so they are not so abrasive on the scalp, and the liquid-gel grip is great for styling in comfort and conforms to your hand. Brushes are priced around $45.
Cesare Safieh, owner of the Hotheads Hair Salon in Pasadena, CA, says that he has been using the Spornette brushes for 23 years. In particular, he recommends the Italian line and says that these brushes help reduce hair static. Prices range from $7 upward.
The bottom line is: choosing a good hairbrush is like choosing a doctor. You want something reliable and healthy for your cuticle and scalp. Pay a visit to your stylist and ask him or her for recommendations (each person’s hair is as unique as a thumbprint). So that, unlike the wives of yore, you don’t have to brush your hair 100 times each night.
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