To Be or Not To Be……Voluminous? Hair Brushes 101

Most consumers, when picking out styling products, get overwhelmed because no one explains to them what to buy and why. One tool that always troubles my clients is the hair brush. When people ask me, “How do I get more volume?”, “How do I get less volume?”, or “How do I get my hair to look like yours?” I always respond by asking them, “What kind of hair brush do you use?” 9 out of 10 times, people are using the wrong brushes. But no worries, I am here to help you!

First off, there are different brush shapes: round, flat, curved, just to name a few. Each shape determines the end result. Round brushes will create more volume, while flat brushes will form a smooth and contoured look. If you want that sexy Victoria’s Secret Angel blowout, you will want to use a round brush. If you want a Jennifer Aniston sleek sophisticated look, use the paddle brush. Also, paddle brushes work great to rid you of annoying cowlicks. When wet, use your paddle or vent brush to blow your cowlick piece back and forth, using airflow and constant movement to create neutral placement of your hairline. This technique is a winner for everyone!

Once you decide the shape, then you have to choose the brush material. Some brushes are made with natural boar bristle and cork. Other brushes are made with rubber, metal, or plastic. The natural bristles are great for taming wild and unruly hair while adding shine. The bristle will pull the hair taut while you blow dry so that the hair can be as smooth as possible without frizz. If you choose to use a metal brush with plastic bristles, this tool will provide you with max volume while also smoothing. The hair types that will benefit the most from this brush are super fine or straight and limp hair. The holes in the brush circulate air flow while drying, which help create more volume by expanding your hair cuticles. So if you’re looking for volume and movement, stick with the round metal brushes. If sleek is your middle name, then I would recommend using a round boar bristle or a flat paddle brush.

Now here is the million dollar question: “Why does my hair still look so flat when I’m using the largest round brush possible?” Here is where we learn about brush size and how it affects volume. Many people assume that the larger the brush, the more volume it produces. This is actually wrong. If you want more curl or more volume, you have to use a smaller brush because the circumference size is what creates the fuller body. A bigger size brush will just give you slight body with a slight bounce. Think of it in terms of hair rollers; if you use bigger rollers, the hair will be loose and wavy. If you use smaller rollers, the hair will be tightly curled and more voluminous.

Hopefully, this helps put everything into perspective so that the next time you go brush shopping, you’ll know exactly what your hair needs. Happy hair means…Happy Day! -Parlour girl Christine