BellaSugar

See If This Ionic Brush Can Really Smooth Frizzy Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:00:00 PDT

When your hair is frizzy and full of static, the last thing you want to do is brush it; unless, perhaps, you have the Braun Satin Hair Active Ion Brush ($65). It's supposed to smooth the unruliest of hair, so we decided to give it a whirl to see if it really does work. Check out the video to see what happened when we put it to the test.

Get Fresh and Fruity With a Scented Hairbrush

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:00:00 PDT

If you sometimes find yourself with not-so-fresh smelling hair after a night out and no dry shampoo or perfume in sight, maybe you should check out a cute Denman Tutti Frutti fragranced hairbrush ($12 each). The brushes come in a variety of scents, including lemon, strawberry, and coconut, and they're in the brand's classic styling brush shape. I'm not totally sold on strawberry-scented hair, but would you be excited to give one of these a try?

Hocus Pocus: A Brush That Reads the Mind

Jaime Richards — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:00:06 PDT

Get ready sci-fi aficionados, because scientists have recently developed a hairbrush that reads your mind. OK, so it literally doesn't know who you're crushing on or what you'd really like to say to the lady who always pushes in front of you on the subway. What it does do is oversee mental activity by using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

While fNIRS measures the brain's oxygen levels to map out neurological activity, the problem was that patients' hair was blocking the signals. But this sophisticated brush, developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas at Arlington, sends the data all the more clearly thanks to increased scalp contact. So this brush is not really for beauty as much as it is for medical purposes, but it's still pretty mind-bending, no?

The Sneaky Gal's Walk of Shame Preparedness Kit

dannysf — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:00:00 PDT

A wise man once told me that he didn't believe in the walk of shame, because there's nothing for which to be ashamed. And while I agree with his sentiments, sometimes there's no avoiding feeling a little less than put-together after a fun night out. Since "unshowered and stale" isn't the kind of Facebook status update you probably want to have, I've put together a clever kit of products, all in sizes small enough to stay inconspicuous without cluttering up your purse. To find out more about these goods, just wave your cursor over each one.

It's Not You, It's Me: A Tale of Hairbrush Cheating

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:00:25 PDT

Here's a fun post from OnSugar blog Naturally Obsessed.

It's been a few weeks since I've let the strokes of a Denman caress my curls. Snagging and single strand knots have me second guessing our relationship. In the beginning everything was smooth and curls were popping. I used you for everything; braidouts, twistouts, buns, detangling, etc. But now it's like you have given up on maintaining this relationship, so. . . my eyes have wandered. I've found a new man. His name is Jilbere!

I've met him a few times before, but the timing was all wrong. He likes to take things slow and it took some getting used too, but I finally got the hang of it. My hair is loving this new love, and my ends are looking much better than they have in the past. It's been three weeks and it seems that the more I use it, the easier my detangling sessions become. I think I'm in love. I won't completely give up on you Denman, but I think we need some time apart, you know to sort things out. It's not you, it's me! (Above, you'll find the Denman D3 Brush and a Jilbere Shower Comb replica from Wet Looks. What detangling tools does your hair love?)

Want to see more? Start following Naturally Obsessed, or start a blog of your own. Who knows? You might even get featured right here on BellaSugar.

Comb + Short Hair + Blow-Dryer = No-Pouf Results

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:44 PST

In the past, we've talked all about the various types of hairbrushes and we've talked all about bristles, but one basic tool I've neglected to mention as a hairstyling necessity is the ubiquitous comb.

If you've got shorter hair like me (dark-haired Bella), perhaps you find that when you blow-dry your locks, the combination of a styling brush and heat makes your tresses pouf out, resulting in what can only be described as mushroom head. Or perhaps you've got longer hair, and you still get the same ballooned-out effect. Whatever the case, enter . . . the comb.

Once your hair is about 80 percent dry, simply bust out a basic comb for your styling tool. Using the shape of your head as a guide, sweep the comb through your hair, focusing on keeping the hair flat to your scalp. Follow behind with a nozzle attachment on your blow-dryer until your hair is completely dry. This technique allows you to still have lots of body and movement, but gives you a little more control.

How Much Do You Know About Hairbrushes?

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 PST

There are a million different hairbrushes out there, each with its own shape, surface, and bristle type, length, and spacing. With all the variety out there, have you mastered the most important principles of hairbrush wisdom? Do you have what it takes to be a hairbrush guru? Take my quiz to find out, then read my series on hairbrush bristles to learn more.

Question 1 of 5

What are the balls on the ends of the bristles for?

All About Hairbrush Bristles

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:00:31 PDT

At Target a while back, I was so flustered about which hairbrush bristle to choose that I decided to make a whole series out of it. So, in case you missed it the first time around, I present to you all you ever wanted to know about these components of hairbrushes. Hello clean, shiny, and tangle-free locks.

The Naturals	Miscellaneous Facts	The Ionics
Keeping Them Clean	The Synthetics	The Background

Hairbrushes: Styling

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:11 PDT

The styling brush is a basic, everyday kind of hairbrush that can be used for general combing or during blow-drying. While the round brush is best at gripping the hair for sleek styles, the low tension of a styling brush works wonders on smoothing out ends - particularly for bobbed or medium length styles.

Also known as the "styler" or the "Denman," this classic rectangular shaped brush can also be used to lift hair at the roots for added volume. Try the Denman Classic Styling Brush ($7.49) or Aveda Wooden Styling Brush ($13).

Confused about brush choices overall? Be sure to check out the rest of my hairbrush series, with more to come.

Hairbrushes: Round

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:11 PDT

Many a times, I have stood in front of the hairbrush aisle facing, to me, what seems like a zillion choices - flat, round, skinny, soft-bristled, and/or balls on the ends? It's enough to make the head spin right 'round. And cue the 80s music.

Are you confused on which brush to choose? Well, fret no more. All this week I'm featuring ins and outs of hairbrushes so that you can pick what you think is best for your lovely locks.

The round brush, which is known for delivering great curls and flips, also volumizes and straightens hair by providing an appropriate amount of grip while blow-drying. A larger diameter base will give loads of volume, and works well for longer styles, while a smaller diameter base will provide tighter waves, and works great on shorter styles.

Ceramic or metal brushes are a specialized type of round brush, working with the heat of your blow-dryer, allowing you to create styles and manipulate your hair much like that of a curling iron.

Try Spornette Pronto Round Brush ($12.99) or Umberto Round Brush ($12.99) for voluminous results.