If you’ve had the same hair brush kicking around since college—and you gave about as much thought to picking it out as you did selecting toilet paper—you’re probably not doing your hair any favors. Not only is your hair nearly as unique as your fingerprints, but it changes as you age, which means one brush definitely does not fit all. But here’s the good news: The right brush can be the tool you’ve been missing to achieve gorgeous hair that moves and grows with you. Here’s how to choose the best one for your hair, plus how to boost its styling and staying powers. Brush shapes 101 Best for: Straightening and preliminary drying We told you BB creams were the do-it-all makeup, but the same cannot be said about hair brushes. We boiled it down to three main brush types we think every woman should own. Arm your bathroom drawer with these and you’ll be able to create any look—from simply detangling to a gorgeous chignon—without the fuss. Brush shape: Paddle Best for: Creating volume and curl Paddle brushes (sometimes called flat brushes) are meant to create a straight look that works on both long hair and straight-styled bobs. They’re usually made of nylon bristles and are used to dry larger areas to a flat, smooth finish. Nick Arrojo, master stylist and founder of Arrojo Salon in NYC, tells you how to achieve a smooth look: “Hold in the more comfortable hand with the bristles up and direct the hair dryer pointing down the hair to smooth the cuticle and dry on a downward direction. It should be used only to dry from the nape to the crown, and then the sides to the top from roots to ends.” (Grab a round brush for the front of your hair to shape the pieces that frame your face.) For a speedier blow-dry, give this Goody Quikstyle Paddle Brush, above ($12; Target) a try. The towel-like fibers absorb 30% of water from wet hair while you use it, and are antimicrobial—so your brush stays fresh. Brush shape: Round Best for: Adding serious height and supporting updos Round brushes are made to give you body and movement wherever you need it—be it volume at the root, a bend in the middle of the hair, or a nice natural curl at the bottom. “The size of the barrel will dictate how much curl or volume can be achieved,” says Gretta Monahan, style guru for The Rachael Ray Show. If you have short hair or bangs, choose a smaller brush for those areas. The bigger the brush, the straighter the look you’ll achieve. “The high temp from your blow-dryer will heat up the barrel, effectively turning your brush into a curling iron,” says Monahan. To use a round brush to create volume, hook the brush under a 2-inch section of hair at the root, and lift as you roll it through to the ends—all the while following the brush with the dryer. Keep the nozzle above your brush and pointed down to increase shine. For the perfect blowout curl, Arrojo says to grip the brush and run through the hair from the middle to the end, turning the hair in the direction of your face and follow with the blow dryer. Then, take the blow-dryer away from the hair and let it “cool” on the brush to set the curl. Gently pull the brush out of the hair and resist pulling at it with your fingers. Spray and allow to set before finishing. The John Frieda Large Thermal Round Brush Full Volume, above ($15; Rite Aid) will give you this result without frizz. Brush shape: Teasing Best for: Daily use Teasing brushes are usually thin with rigid nylon or plastic bristles. Use one like the Phillips 3-Row Teasing Brush, above ($5; Sally Beauty Supply) on the root area in a gentle back-brushing motion to add volume that’ll last through the night. Smooth over the top layer for a sweeping updo or a professional half-up style. And the pointed end? Great for separating sections and creating exact parts. However, Arrojo doesn’t recommend using this brush if you have fine or fragile hair. Barrels 101 Best for: Preventing static The right type of barrel can give you a shiny, frizz-free finish when you blow-dry your hair, which is especially helpful if you have curly, dull or damaged hair, says Gerard Caruso, artistic director of RUSK, a company that makes professional styling products. Plus, picking the best barrel for your buck can speed up the drying process. Each of these different materials has benefits for different hair types. Barrel type: Ceramic Best for: Sore hands, damaged strands, and long hair Ceramic is the most popular barrel material. Much like ceramic cookware, ceramic barrels maintain a gentle, healthy level of heat to aid in the drying process. “Most ceramic brushes have holes through the barrel to allow both sides of the hair to dry,” Arrojo explains, so you get a speedy and consistent blowout every time. The RUSK Heat Freak round brush, above ($15.15; rusk1.com for retailers) is an affordable ceramic brush and comes in a variety of barrel sizes. Barrel type: Tourmaline Best for: Medium, thick, and coarse Hair Sometimes called ion brushes, tourmaline barrel brushes are made from crushed gemstones that release negative ions. “These ions help smooth hair and reduce static electricity—great for winter months,” Monahan says. For the best blowout, experts are in agreement: Use ceramic and tourmaline combo brushes, like the Solano Plasmium Gel Grip Thermal Round, above ($28; solanopower.com). The gel grip on this brush will keep your hand relaxed while you twirl your hair smooth and full. Barrel types: Titanium, thermal, and vented Best for: Fine to medium strands There are a few variations on the ceramic and tourmaline brushes:
Titanium brushes coated with ceramic provide similar benefits to a ceramic brushes, but are slightly more lightweight, says Caruso. A “thermal” brush means it aims to regulate the heat to protect hair, much like ceramic.Vented flat brushes are good for smoothing while you detangle, and vented round brushes have holes to distribute the heat for consistency throughout your blowout. Try the lightweight Ion Titanium Vented Ionic Brush, above ($7; Sally Beauty Supply) for a shiny, frizz-free start to your blowout.
Bristles 101 Best for: All hair types “Your choice of brush always depends on your hair type,” says Monahan. Most hair types will benefit from a mixed bristle brush—half nylon, half boar. (Not sure what your hair type is? We break it down for you with this handy guide.) But here’s the tricky part: The color and texture of your hair changes with age. If your hair has become thin or dry, Monahan suggests a natural bristle brush. “A natural bristle brush will help redistribute sebum from the scalp which, in turn, moisturizes the lengths of the hair.” These bristles also work to stimulate the scalp, which promote healthy hair growth, she says. Click through to learn all about the different bristle types. Bristle type: Boar True boar bristle brushes are made from 100% natural (humanely cultivated) wild boar hair. They should be tightly packed together and feel stiff, but with some flexibility. These bristles distribute oils evenly throughout strands and are great for achieving a smooth, shiny blowout. The downside? They come at a bit of a price compared to synthetic bristles. The classic, hand-made Mason Pearson boar brush will run you over $100, but there are less costly options. “If you have thick, course hair that requires tug to achieve fullness, boar bristle brushes are worth the investment,” says Arrojo. “They make styling easier and promote shine and smoothness—benefits almost everyone wants.” If you have fine hair and own one of these brushes, your investment isn’t lost; boar bristles can add volume to fine and normal hair types—as long as your brush has a nice natural give. The Ibiza B4 Large brush, above ($45; ibizahair.com) is formulated for fine hair and is great for blonde- and silver-haired heads. Bristle type: Nylon Nylon bristles are less expensive than boar brushes, but still effective. The bristles are usually spaced farther apart than boar and achieve a medium to strong grip on all hair types, especially those with medium density or finer strands, says Arrojo. The better the grip, the smoother and straighter your style will be. If brushes tend to get stuck in your hair mid-twirl or you suffer from serious static issues, try a brush that combines nylon and boar bristles, like the Arrojo Round Paddle Brush, above ($28; arrojoproduct.com), which offers the best of both worlds. Bristle type: Plastic Plastic and synthetic bristles are your general, all-purpose brushes. The bristles are incredibly strong, made for working through larger areas of medium to thick hair. These are a “first step” kind of brush, says Arrojo, best for detangling and preliminary blow-drying. When you’ve removed most of the excess water, switch to a round boar or nylon brush for styling, smoothing, and adding shine. One to try: the Body Shop Mini Hairbrush, above ($5; bodyshop-usa.com). The pins at the end of the bristles massage your scalp while it smoothes your hair’s natural oils from root to tip for a total refresh on the go. Brush maintenance Like your hair, the brush itself needs some TLC to stay in tip-top shape. Dust, oil, and product build up and can get trapped in your brush, making your hair look dull while not providing the bristles with enough grip to style your hair properly. Here’s how to care for it:
Remove hair from the bristles with your fingers, or use scissors to cut out larger clumps, says Arrojo. Clean your brush about every two weeks: Fill a small bowl with warm water and shampoo, swish the brushes around, rinse thoroughly, and then lay flat, bristle side down, to dry or wipe with a paper towel. Replace your brush when the bristles are fraying. “A good quality brush should last about three years, probably longer,” says Arrojo.
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