These days, the options are endless when it comes to hairbrushes. From boar bristles and round brushes to vented brushes and detanglers – how do you know which is right for your hair? We’re breaking down some of the most common types of hairbrushes on the market and explaining which you might use for different hair lengths, textures, and styles.
5 Most Common Types of Hairbrushes
Detangler Brush
Usable on both wet and dry hair, detangler brushes are incredibly versatile and useful. Not only do they keep damage to a minimal when brushing through knotty hair, they also feature fine, soft bristles that limit tugging to prevent pain. Wet-dry brushes with these light, flexible bristles are the only brushes that should be used when brushing in the shower or detangling wet hair. Hot tip, these pain-limiting brushes are great to use on kids’ hair!
Curved Vented Brush
The purpose of a vented brush is so that hot air can flow through it when blow drying. The curvature offers a more ergonomic design that easily fits the shape of the human head. While the bristles on these brushes can vary, they’re often fine and soft, similar to detangler brushes. This combined with the lightweight, vented plastic construction and comfortable shape makes them ideal for brushing while drying your hair.
Round Brush
If you’re a Calista fan, you know we love a round brush. Many of our hair tools are created with this construction. Why? Because it’s optimal for styling hair! A round brush is entirely circular, which simplifies the blowout process and can help you create waves or curls when blow drying. While these brushes can be used on damp, they are not designed like a detangler and we would not advise using a round brush outside of styling purposes!
Paddle Brush
With a wide base and large surface area, paddle brushes are designed to smooth a lot of hair at once. The flat shape of the brush encourages a smoothing affect on the hair while removing frizz and helping prevent breakage. This type of brush can work on all hair types, as it smooths hair without disrupting the natural pattern of curls or waves, while also easily working with pin-straight locks.
Comb
We know, we know, this isn’t technically a hairbrush, but hear us out! Combs are equally important when it comes to taming and styling hair. Fine combs with a long, thin stem and tight, fine teeth are great teasing and lifting hair while styling. Wide-tooth combs with thicker teeth can be used to get through even the curliest of manes.
Choosing a Hairbrush by Hair Type
Straight Hair
Paddle brushes are highly recommended for straight hair. The straight line and large surface makes for an ideal choice when detangling and styling naturally straight hair.
Curly Hair
There are several brushes that can work well with curly hair. A boar bristle brush is one of the most commonly suggested types to use on curly hair because it helps shape your curls while preventing damage. A wide-tooth comb is also highly recommended for curly hair, especially when wet.
Thick Hair
A standard hairbrush with nylon bristles will help you control and style thick hair. This can be in form of a vented brush, a standard hairbrush, or a paddle brush. With thick hair, it’s most important that the bristles are firm enough to brush through the hair without damaging or breaking it.
Fine Hair
Finer hair can use a more flexible brush with thinner, lighter bristles. A detangler brush or curved vented brush can both be useful when getting knots out or brushing the hair when wet.
Choosing a Hairbrush by Hair Length
Short Hair
While any of the listed brushes can be used on short hair, it’s best to consider size when choosing a hairbrush that works for you. For instance, going for a largescale paddle brush wouldn’t make the most sense on a bob style with a side bang. Instead, opt for a detangler brush with a smaller surface area or a 1” round brush to help with styling bangs or creating flippy looks.
Long Hair
While the brush you’d choose for your long hair would most likely depend on hair type and texture, a paddle brush, detangler brush, or wide-tooth comb should do the trick for nearly all long styles. To avoid split ends, consider using a detangler brush on long, straight hair when wet or damp and a wide-tooth comb on long, curly hair when wet or damp.
Choosing a Hairbrush by Styling Goal
Volume
For creating lasting volume in the form of voluminous curls or a classic blowout, using a round brush while blow drying is the way to go. Don’t be afraid to overdirect your hair to ensure you really get that extra oomph like you do at the salon. Another great tip is to blast your blowout with a little bit of cool hair to really lock in your look.
Straightening
When smoothing your hair with a flat iron or straightening brush, follow it up with a paddle brush to keep that consistently smooth style throughout. If your hair is prone to knotting, using a detangler brush can also be a gentle way to keep it looking smooth and sleek.
Lift
For extra lift at the crown, we recommend a fine-tooth comb to really tease up your root and give your hair lasting lift!
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