Hair Brushing: When it comes to styling your hair, you might not give it much thought. But did you know that there is a right way—and a wrong way—to perform this daily task?
It turns out most of us are probably doing more harm than good by styling our hair every day.
The good news? With a few changes, the right tools, and a little patience, you can improve the health and appearance of your hair through proper styling.
What Are the Benefits of Brushing Your Hair?
“We often brush our hair to untangle knots—and that is important,” says Vincent De Marco, a Los Angeles-based celeb hairstylist and owner of Vincent Hair Artistry.
“However, brushing your hair offers benefits beyond simply having a tangle-free mane.”
According to De Marco, some of the profits of brushing your hair include:
- Hair Health and Shine. “The sebaceous glands situated in the hair follicles produce normal oils that help lubricate the scalp,” he explains. “When you brush your hair properly, you facilitate the distribution of these healthy, natural oils from the roots to the ends, charitable your hair a normal shine.”
- Scalp Stimulation. Gently brushing your hair acts as a mini-massage, stimulating the scalp—which, according to De Marco, promotes blood circulation and hair growth.
- Removal of Loose Hair. It is normal to lose among 50 and 100 strands of hair per day; therefore, brushing daily helps you remove this loose hair, De Marco explains.
How Often Should You Brush Your Hair?
If your styling routine involves giving your hair 100 strokes a day, you might poverty to rethink your strategy. According to the American Conservatoire of Dermatology, hair does not need 100 brushstrokes daily; that is merely a myth.
In fact, an older study examined the relationship between brushing and hair shedding over four weeks. During that time, participants brushed their hair at different frequencies each week.
After four weeks, researchers found that hair shedding decreased when Hair Brushing was done less frequently. In other words, more frequent brushing was associated with greater hair loss.
For this reason, De Marco commends brushing twice a day: once in the morning and once at night. It is a healthy way to distribute the scalp’s natural oils throughout the hair—but only if done gently.
“Vigorous Hair Brushing—even if performed just once a day—will cause breakage and damage the hair,” she states.
How to Comb Wet Hair
When it comes to styling wet hair, the type of brush and the technique you use are crucial for maintaining your hair’s health.
Hair is at its most fragile when wet, notes hairstylist and makeup artist Michaeline Becker. Therefore, it is important to employ a very gentle technique when combing damp hair.
According to Becker, using a wide-toothed comb or a brush specifically designed for wet hair (such as a *Wet Brush*) is the only viable option when styling damp hair. Employing the proper technique is equally important, as detailed in the steps outlined below.
Steps for Combing Wet Hair
- Begin by placing the comb or brush right at the ends of your hair.
- Comb downward and gently work out any tangles. Do not force the comb through your hair.
- Ideally, you should use short strokes with the brush. Do not hesitate to use your fingers to loosen any knots you encounter.
- If your hair is particularly tangled or knotted, first apply a detangler or a leave-in conditioner to help the strands glide more easily.
- Once you have worked out the tangles at the ends, you can move a few centimeters upward and comb downward again, working out tangles as you go.
- Repeat this process until you reach the scalp and your hair is completely tangle-free.
Regarding the best brush for wet hair, De Marco states that the Wet Brush is an excellent hair care tool, especially because it can be used on together dry and damp hair.
She likes this brush because it detangles all hair types without tugging, pulling, or causing breakage. Furthermore, they are affordable, priced from $7 to $29.
She also recommends the Tangle Teezer for use in the shower when distributing conditioner.
Buy a Wet Brush and Tangle Teezer online
How to Comb Dry Hair
Dry hair tends to tangle easily, leading to knots and breakage when combed.
To ensure a damage-free knowledge, De Marco recommends combing the hair in sections. She also advises against starting from the roots.
“Combing hair from top to bottom will undoubtedly cause breakage,” explains De Marco.
Instead, you should always start combing from the mid-lengths or a few centimeters from the ends. “If the brush gets stuck, pull it out and start over—slowly,” she says.
With this in mind, here are the steps De Marco recommends for combing dry hair.
Steps for Brushing Dry Hair
- Start at the mid-lengths, or a few centimeters above the ends. Brush downward, toward the tips.
- Move the brush up by 2 to 5 centimeters above your starting point (provided that area is already tangle-free) and continue Hair Brushing descending until you have removed all tangles from that section.
- Continue working your way up the hair until you reach the scalp, and finally, brush the entire length of your hair several times.
- Most damage occurs when we treat our hair too roughly and brush it more vigorously than necessary. Therefore, be gentle and take your time.
A flat brush is a popular choice for both dry and wet hair. De Marco states that it is also an excellent option for long, thick hair and naturally straight hair.
Flat brushes are lightweight and help eliminate frizz. She likes the wooden-handled flat brush from Aveda.
Buy the Aveda paddle brush online.
In conclusion
Knowing how to style your hair correctly can help prevent hair breakage and damage. It can also keep it healthy, shiny and tangle-free.
Hair care experts recommend combing your hair twice a day—morning and evening—to help distribute your scalp’s natural oils throughout your hair.
Likewise, it is important to use a different technique when styling wet hair than when styling dry hair.
If your hair is brittle, extremely dry, or damaged, or if you are experiencing excessive hair loss despite changing your routine, consider seeing a doctor or dermatologist to determine if there is an underlying cause.