BellaSugar

Hairbrushes: Styling

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:11 -0700

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 -0700

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.

Hairbrushes: The Paddle

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:22 -0700

The hairbrush - you probably use one every day, but with the wide variety of brushes available, do you ever wonder which is what, and which one you should pick, anyway? Well, you're in luck because all this week, I'll be featuring different types of brushes and how to use them. As a general guideline, pick a brush based on the length of your hair and the style you want to achieve.

Let's start off with the paddle brush, which is great for longer hairstyles. To use, gently lift hair at the roots and sweep down the hair shaft. Since this brush is so flat, it's best for creating smooth, sleek, and shiny styles without lots of volume. It also works wonders as a finisher for curly, frizzy, or wavy hair that's been styled by other means.

Because the paddle brush is so wide, it's also great for penetrating thick hair and providing a gentle, stimulating scalp massage. Try the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush ($18).

How To: Clean Your Hairbrush

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:00:50 -0700

The other day, a fellow Sugar editor asked me how long your hair brush should last. When I told her that a good one can last years if cleaned regularly, she just kind of cocked her head and make a funny sound. I realized then that it hadn't even occurred to her to that you can clean a hairbrush!

For those of you out there who aren't quite sure what I mean either, it's okay not to totally get it. Hairbrushes collect dirt, dust and contain the same amount of product buildup that's you have in your hair. So just think of all the icky stuff that gets trapped in the bristles if you don't wash it weekly.

To read my four-step guide to cleaning your hairbrush, read more

STEP 1: Before you begin washing your brush, remove as many trapped and tangled strands of hair as possible. The best tool you can use for assistance is a wide-toothed comb. Hold the brush over a trash can and slide the comb through the bristles.
STEP 2: Fill up your sink with warm water and add a couple of drops of shampoo to the water so that it's nice and sudsy. Place your brush in the water and swish it around for about two or three minutes.
STEP 3: Washing should loosen any remaining hairs and the dirt on your brush. Now, take the comb and slide it through the bristles one more time.
STEP 4: Give the brush one final rinse with lukewarm water. Lastly, tap off the excess water, dry the handle and the back of the brush and lay it bristle-down hanging over the edge of your sink so that the moisture won't get trapped in the base/pad. And here's a tip: It's wise to periodically check your brush for any split bristles. These can catch on your hair and damage the strands. If you see 'split ends' on your brush, it's time for a new one.

All About Hairbrush Bristles

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:00:31 -0700

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

Tools of the Trade: Altimus Interchangeable Hairbrush

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:18:23 -0700

Hair brushes are very important to me, but it's easy to spend a lot of money on them very quickly. That's why this Altimus Interchangeable Hair Brush System is way cool. One brush can actually transform into as many as 27 different brushes. The brush base is a vented metal frame with a comfortable handle, and it comes with various professional brush-head attachments - both boar bristle and synthetic - that easily slip on and off. It makes for a very versatile purchase, and it's a huge space-saver for traveling, too. Just change the bristles anytime you want to create a different hairstyle.

You can either buy an Altimus 10 Piece System for $39.95 or a Deluxe 12 Piece Sytem for $49.95. Both sets include a cool carrying case, as well as instructions on how to care for the brushes. To check out a video demonstrating how Altimus works, read more

All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part One

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:22 -0700

As you stand in front of the wide array of hairbrushes at the store, do you become baffled? Last year, I told you about the different types of hairbrushes, and now, I'm giving you the lowdown on bristles. Do you ever wonder why some bristles have balls on the ends or why some are spaced apart? Well, you're about to find out.

While it's uncertain what early hairbrush bristles were made from, historians believe that natural materials like wild boar and porcupine quills were used to detangle and style hair. The patent for the modern-style hairbrush that we know today, however, was issued in the 1850s. (Check out the patent here.)

When it comes to spacing, bristles are set closer together for fine hair and wider apart for curly or thick hair. They're also often shorter in length for shorter hairstyles. This is all so the bristles can more easily penetrate the hair to detangle and smooth. As for those balls on the ends of bristles, they help protect the hair and scalp against damage while also providing a massaging effect. If the ball tips start falling off, it's time for a new brush because the exposed ends can cause breakage. Wondering why some brushes are soft, some are made of metal, and why we still use that wild boar? Stay tuned to learn more about bristles in upcoming posts.

Source

Which Hairbrush Is Right For You?

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:14:04 -0700

A good hairbrush should do far more than just brush hair, but buying the right one can be very confusing. There are two important factors to consider: finding the appropriate brush for your hair type and styling regimen and making sure you get a quality brush. Here are some helpful shopping tips and recommendations.

If you have curly or wavy hair and you blow it dry, choose a round, nylon-bristle brush. The wider the brush bristles are, the straighter your hair will turn out when it dries. I particularly like the Acca Kappa Professional Nylon Bristle Round Hairbrush. Buy it here for $15.

If you have straight hair and want to get volume through blow-drying, use a round, boar-bristle brush, which is softer and more flexible than nylon and will help prevent split ends. Buy the Spornette Round Boar Brush here for $18.99; available in three sizes.

Three more recommendations, so read more

If you have straight or wavy hair that you brush daily, use a flat paddle brush after you've washed your hair when it is nice and dry. Not only do paddle brushes help circulation in your scalp by giving it a little massage, but they also help evenly distribute the oils in your hair from the roots downward, making the hair look shinier. The Cadillac of boar bristles is the one I recommended last week, the Mason Pearson Handy All Boar Bristle Hair Brush, available here for $146 in five colors.

If you have super curly and thick hair, use a wide-tooth comb or pick so that your hair won't frizz but it will still look tidy. Use the comb in the shower to detangle curls before drying sets in. I suggest Sephora's Wide Tooth Comb, which you can buy here for $4.

Lastly, if you are looking for a good sculpting tool, metal brushes are the best. When these brushes heat up, they act like hot rollers, creating curl and movement. Be sure and use the "cool" feature on your hairdryer to set your hair with the brush. I like the TIGI Thermal Brush which you can buy here for $17.

Here are some additional hairbrush tips:

Only buy brushes with ball-type tips that are molded into place. The kind of tips that are glued on can pull at your hair and break the ends.
Look at a good brush like an investment. If it's high quality and well taken care of, a good hairbrush will last for years.
Clean your hairbrushes regularly. Oils and greasy hair residue take away from their performance. Rub another brush into the bristles to lift and loosen trapped hair. Gently soak your brushes in warm water with a little shampoo.

All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part Five

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:00:23 -0700

Over the past week or so, I've given you the details on everything you've probably ever wanted to know about hairbrush bristles, from the ionic to the synthetic to the natural to why they're spaced the way they're spaced. For the final installment of this series, I've gathered up the miscellaneous facts I've learned about this handy tool. Check them out when you read more.

Mix it up: If you like the benefits of a boar bristle brush, but it's too soft for your medium, thick, or curly hair texture, consider a boar/nylon blend. It's the best of both worlds. Try the classic Mason Pearson Boar Bristle and Nylon Hairbrush ($80) or the more affordable Swissco Pro Large Oval Mixed Nylon and Boar ($9).
Time to vent: Ever wonder why bristles are placed upon a "vented" base? Because of the gaps in the design of this type of brush, air from your dryer more easily circulates, reducing your drying time significantly. Check out a large selection of vented brushes here.
Extra padding: And what about those cushiony bases? The bristles on cushion brushes are attached to a rubbery or synthetic pad that gives a little slack when used. These types of brushes are therefore excellent for sensitive hair and scalps, although they work wonderfully on wavy, fine, and medium-length hair, too. Often oval- or paddle-shaped, cushioned brushes can also be used to create volume, depending on how large or small the base of the brush. Here is a selection of cushioned brushes for your viewing (and scalp's) pleasure.
Down to the wire: Wire brushes? Avoid them, unless you wear a synthetic wig. By design, they're too harsh for your delicate locks.

All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part Three

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:00:43 -0700

Hairbrushes are such simple, everyday tools, but do we ever put that much thought into which ones are the most appropriate for our hair types? That's what I'm here for: to teach you the brushin' basics. Last year, I gave you the scoop on which hairbrush is right for your hair type and styling needs, and now I've got you covered on bristles. So far, I've explored why bristles are spaced the way they are and the advantages of boar bristles. Next up are synthetics.

This type of bristle is almost always made from nylon and comes in varying textures. Soft and flexible work well for sensitive scalps and finer hair. Stiff, less-bendy types are best for thicker and/or curly hair. While nylon is typically more inexpensive from its natural counterparts, the biggest disadvantages are that synthetic can melt under excessive heat and they're not biodegradable.

For a classic nylon brush, there's always Mason Pearson Detangler Nylon Hair Brush ($82), or for an affordable version try Umberto Oval Brush ($11).