Do you know if you’re using the right type of hair brush for your desired hairstyle and hair type? If not, then girl… you’ve come to the right place!
I mean… think about it. There are SO many different types of brushes. Round brushes, bristle brushes, paddle brushes…
And the brush you use can literally make or break the style you’re going for.
Things like the bristle-type, the brush shape, and even the material it’s made of are all important factors to consider when choosing the perfect hair brush.
So with millions of brushes on the market, how will you ever know which one will best suit your needs?
Let me break it down for you…
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Brush Shapes
When choosing the perfect brush, the first thing you should consider is the shape and size of the brush. Oval, square, and rectangle paddle brushes are suitable for straight, sleek styles, while round brushes add some bend to the hair.
Oval and square paddle brushes are best for straighter hairstyles; they help distribute oils and detangle hair without adding too much tension. Rectangular brushes can add some volume to the roots while keeping the hair straight.
Flat brushes are best for someone that wants to smooth down and deflate their big hair. On the other hand, round brushes add bend, bounce, volume, and curl to the hair.
Bristle-Types
The next thing you should consider is what type of bristles you should be using.
- Boar bristles add the most shine to the hair. They help distribute oils from the scalp to the ends of the hair and are the best option to smooth unruly hair.
- Nylon bristles are good for detangling hair, penetrating thick hair, and molding styles into place.
- Mixed bristle brushes combine nylon and boar bristles to allow detangling, styling, and smoothing.
Different types of Hair Brushes and their uses
Now that you know the basics, let’s jump into some of the most common names of hair brushes found on the market.
1. Paddle BrusH
Paddle brushes are square or oval brushes with nylon bristles that lay in a soft cushion. The cushion is designed to bend with the scalp to minimize damage from pulling.
These types of brushes are good for detangling, smoothing straight hair, and massaging the scalp. They’re a good option for smooth, low-maintenance styles without much volume.
BEST FOR: Long, thick, and straight hair without a lot of volume.
2. Vent Brush
The vent brush is perfect for a rough blow-dry.
Vents, or hollow parts between the bristles, allow a heated stream of air to flow through the brush and disperse water molecules from the hair. This encourages a faster dry time and helps add volume at the root.
However, because the bristles are spaced far apart and made of a harder material, this brush doesn’t create a polished look.
BEST FOR: Shorter or medium-length hair with a fine or medium texture.
3. Round Brush
Round brushes are commonly used with blowouts since they can work wonders on your hair. They’re great for straightening curly hair, adding volume and shape to the hair, and creating a polished look.
The bigger the brush, the more volume and less curl you’ll get.
Bigger round brushes aren’t the best choice for someone with fine hair that’s prone to breakage. But they’re the perfect hair brush type if you want a bunch of volume and larger curls.
On the other hand, smaller diameters are great for adding curl to shorter hair.
💡TIP: Break out the round brush when your hair is 80-90% dry to save time.
BEST FOR: Creating a finished look on any hair type with a hair dryer.
4. Looped brush
Looped hair brushes were designed to detangle delicate hair extensions and wigs. The looped bristles glide through the hair without breaking it or ripping it out of the base.
Using this type of hair brush will prolong the life of your expensive hairpieces.
BEST FOR: Hair extensions, hairpieces, and wigs.
5. Boar Bristle Brush
Boar bristle brushes are exactly what they sound like – brushes with bristles made with hair from wild boars (is that a tongue twister, or what?)
These hair brush types smooth and add shine to the hair. The bristles help distribute natural hair oils from the scalp to the ends, reducing the need for excess washing or using hair products. Additionally, they encourage blood flow to the scalp and promote hair growth.
They’re excellent for taming curls and reducing frizz.
Since the bristles are densely-packed, they provide maximum tension in a blowout. This makes them the best choice for smoothing coarse hair textures.
💡TIP: Use caution on wet hair since the bristles may rip through. If possible, only use on dry hair, and make sure to detangle before using this type of brush. When using for blowouts, only use towards the end, when your hair is 90% dry.
BEST FOR: All hair types. They encourage a healthy environment for fine or damaged hair and help smooth out coarse hair textures.
6. Mixed Bristle Brush
A mixed bristle brush is a wonderful combination of the previously mentioned types of hair brushes.
The stiffer nylon bristles can better penetrate thick hair and are better for detangling. The soft boar bristles smooth the hair, distribute natural oils, and add shine. They’re the best of both worlds.
7. Detangling Brush
These hair brushes are designed to detangle wet (or dry) hair without causing breakage.
The flexible bristles gently separate and loosen knots, instead of pulling on them like other brush types. They work on all hair types and are game-changers for kids (I have one of these bad boys for my daughters’ frizzy, curly hair).
Last, but not least, they’re strong enough for thick, coarse hair types but gentle enough for fine, damaged hair.
8. Teasing Brush
These brushes were designed to tease hair and provide maximum volume.
The varying bristle heights provide the perfect amount of tension to rat the hair thoroughly. On the other hand, the bristles are soft enough to smooth and hide the teasing. Oh, and we can’t forget the “rat tail” on the end – it makes it super easy to lift and section the hair.
If you tease your hair, this brush is a must.
9. Thermal Hair Brushes
Thermal brushes are made of materials like ceramic and aluminum that heat up with the blow dryer to act as a hot iron. Additionally, they’re typically vented to allow air to pass through.
These types of brushes can be used to create specific looks and speed up the drying process. They smooth and shape the hair into the desired style with ease. Using big hair brushes will add loads of volume and bounce to your hair.
Tip: Don’t forget to use a high-quality heat protectant to prevent damage.
10. Denman Brush
In all honesty, my dad has used one of these brushes for… well, pretty much my whole life.
I would think they were just basic hair brushes, used for anything, but the internet thinks differently. It turns out that Denman brushes work wonders with curly hair and natural textures.
The perfectly spaced bristles are perfect for detangling and defining natural curls.
General FAQ
Boar bristle brushes, nylon bristles, mixed bristle brushes, vent brushes, thermal brushes, round brushes, Denman brushes, paddle brushes, looped brushes, teasing brushes and detangling brushes are all common types of hair brushes used in the hair industry.
You should determine what type of hair you have and what your desired result is. This will help you find the perfect brush for your needs.
A teasing brush will help you add volume to your hair. A round brush can be used to add extra volume while blow drying your hair.
Combs are good for detangling and are much gentler on your hair than a brush. However, you have more control and can do a lot more with a brush when it comes to styling.
Final Thoughts
When considering what type of hair you have and what you’re trying to achieve, you should easily be able to find the perfect brush for your needs. Things like the shape, bristle type, and diameter are all things you should consider.
Certain types of hair brushes are best for sleek hair, while others are better for volume. Some can be used to create a polished hairstyle, and others are good for low maintenance hair.
No matter what your goal is and what type of hair you have, I promise that there is a perfect brush out there.
Until next time,
YOUR TURN: Are there any other types of hair brushes or information I left out? What type of brush do you use, and why? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
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Laura
Tuesday 8th of November 2022
Hello, do you have advice on brushes with vs without handles? I want to get my preschooler a new brush, but I can't figure out which she and I will both find more comfortable to use.