Brushing your hair seems pretty simple, right? It's the same technique, with the same tools, and you do it every morning. But what if we told you that you've been brushing your hair wrong your entire life?
Before you laugh, hear us out, especially if it's healthy, soft, and smooth hair you want. There's a whole lot more to the task than simply running a brush through your strands once in a while.
In this article, we explain how to brush your hair the right way. Read on to find out more.
Highlights:
Benefits Of Brushing Your Hair
Your sebaceous glands produce oil to lubricate the hair and scalp. When you brush your hair, you distribute the natural oils from the scalp to the ends, which results in shiny and healthy-looking hair. Plus, your roots get less oily.
Did you know that we lose up to 100 strands of hair daily? Brushing is an excellent way to remove loose hair.
A good brush-through also helps the scalp. Blood flow is the foundation of hair growth: it supplies oxygen and essential nutrients to the scalp and hair follicle. When you brush your hair, the bristles massage the scalp, which stimulates micro-circulation, and as a result, relaxes the scalp.
SkinKraft Tip:
Flipping your head upside down can improve the flow of blood to your scalp, which can encourage hair growth.
How To Brush Your Hair The Right Way
Brushing hair should start by slowly brushing the tips and making your way to the scalp to avoid breakage.
When you run into knots, dab some leave-in conditioner and work the knot out carefully. Again, from the bottom. Once you undo the tangles, start from the scalp and work your way down. This helps distribute the oils along the way.
It sounds like a lot of effort, but in the end, it's all worth it!
Remember, if you repeatedly put your hair through stress with chemical treatments and poor water quality, it makes your hair fragile. A little effort while brushing hair instead of ripping through, which we're all guilty of, can make a world of difference.
How Often Do You Need To Brush Your Hair?
It’s often believed that brushing your hair with 100 strokes before bed keeps it healthy and soft. But this is not true.
Too much brushing can stress your hair and irritate your scalp, which causes easy breakage and hair fall. So, how often should you run a brush through your hair?
As a rule of thumb, stick to twice a day. Remember, the type of hair you have plays a significant factor here. If you love your texture and curls, lay off your hairbrush as you’ll lose your natural texture, and only brush before you shampoo.
SkinKraft Tip:
Those with curly hair, never brush your hair when it’s dry. Alternatively, loosely pull your hands and fingers through your curls.
Is It Better To Brush Your Hair When It’s Wet Or Dry?
Regular brushing promotes faster growth and stimulates the roots. But when you brush wet hair, it’s terrible news for your hair. When wet, your strands tend to swell, and swollen hair breaks more easily, leaving you with short, frizzy baby hair.
So, should you brush wet hair? No, unless you want to sentence yourself to a life full of frizzy hair.
So, how do you go about brushing wet hair without damaging it? A foolproof way is to towel dry gently, then air dry to about 80% dryness. Next, use a detangling product to smoothen the strands. Lastly, pick the right brush.
Use a brush designed specifically for wet hair. Typically, such brushes come with soft, flexible bristles that are gentler on the hair and help you detangle softly.
Note:
Don’t rough dry your hair with a towel; this causes a lot of damage. Instead, pat your hair with a towel and let it soak up the moisture.
If you have a busy routine and don’t have enough time to wait around for a time-consuming air drying session, then air dry for as long as you can. Even 5-10 minutes of air drying can help minimize damage.
You have more options with brushing dry hair since it’s less prone to damage. Use the right brush and some detangling product to make the process less damaging. When your hair is dry, you can choose from a range of different brushes to suit your requirement.
SkinKraft Tip:
A wide-tooth comb and a tangle teezer are great tools that are gentle on frail strands. Avoid too much brushing. Counting up to 100 strokes is an overkill. Instead, focus on the quality of brushing. This guarantees you address all the knots and tangles with kindness and don’t cause any damage.
What Happens When You Stop Brushing Your Hair?
1. Expect Tangles
You may notice more knots. Don’t tug on these tangles with a brush. Instead, apply a serum, hair oil, or leave-in conditioner and gently work through the hair with your fingers.
2. Oil Builds Up
The oil from your root reaches your tips when you brush your hair. Without brushing, your roots may get greasier faster.
3. You Might Clog Your Drain
Combing hair loosens out your strands, and they fall out. When you don’t brush, the natural hair you lose every day will increase and eventually collect in the shower drain.
What Type Of Hairbrush Is Best For Your Hair?
1. Paddle Brush
Best For:Detangling hair
Hair Type:All
The well-known paddle brush can easily and comfortably detangle hair in a jiffy. You can effortlessly control its wide, flat, and rectangular surface to achieve desired results without harming your hair's natural pattern.
Paddle brushes are made with different bristles. Choose one that works well for you. They are also great for straightening.
2. Round Brush
Best For:Detangling wet hair
Hair Type:Medium to thick
Nail a salon-fresh blowout at home with the right round brush and heaps of practice. A round brush tames frizz and adds extra oomph by providing bounciness.
Round brushes come in an array of sizes. Choose a size based on the curls you desire. Tighter curls need small size brushes while larger ones give you big curls.
Note:
The metal or ionic barrel of the round brush can cause heat damage to weak ends so those with fine to normal hair should steer clear. Instead, opt for one with mixed bristles.
3. Wide Tooth Comb
Best For: Detangling wet hair
Hair Type: All
Wet hair is prone to damage, and this tool is best to brush wet hair as it evenly dispenses leave-in hair treatment.
Tip:
Secure your hair in a loose bun to wake up to tangle-free hair!
4. Detangling Brush
Best For: Detangling wet or dry fine hair
Hair Type: All
Work your way around your unruly hair or those annoying knots and tangles with a detangling brush without causing any damage. Try it, and it’ll soon become your go-to thing. Its super flexible bristles are gentle and perfect for releasing tangles with ease and tug-free styling.
5. Tangle Teezer
Hair Type: All
Best For: Detangling wet or dry medium to thick hair and volume for dry fine to medium hair
If your hair is prone to knots and tangles, meet your new best friend, the tangle teezer. With a dash of serum, its firm, plastic bristles help detangle knots effortlessly. You can also use it to massage your scalp for more volume.
Note:
Brush care is as important as the type of brush you use. It’s vital to clean your brush at least once a week. Depending on the type of brush, you can clean it with the help of an old toothbrush, comb, or cotton swab.
Wrapping Up
Brushing your hair might seem as natural as donning your favorite dress, but there is a right and wrong way to do it. Mix and match styles and routines based on your unique hair type and stick to a hair care regimen, and more importantly, a hairbrush that works for you.
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