Brushes

Hair brushes come in many styles and are made from a vide variety of materials. Choosing the right brush begins with understanding the difference in bristles (boar, metal, nylon, porcupine) and the different brush types (classic, cushioned, round, and vented). Handle shapes and overall weight can also be a factor in choosing the right brush for you.

Bristle Types

A number of bristle patterns are available and are used for different purposes, as shown in the table below. The different types of bristles are each designed to create different styles or to care for specific types of hair.

Bristle	Purpose	Use
Boar	Boar (hog) bristles close the cuticle layer (outside armour of the hair) and make the hair shiny by distributing the oils. Boar bristles are relatively weak, so manufacturers generally mix them with nylon or other bristles.	Being soft, boar bristles are well suited to children's hair, thin hair, or for use on a sensitive scalp.
Nylon	This is a general category for bristles made from plastic, nylon or rubber. Nylon bristles range from soft & flexible to stiff & firm.	Nylon brushes offer the widest range of uses. Bristle density and flexibility will determine the control over the hair. (stiffer and closely spaced bristle = more control)
Porcupine	Porcupine is a term used for a tufted bristle (multiple bristles grouped together) generally made from boar and nylon. It's gentle, but it exerts a good hold on the hair.	Best for controlling fine hair. Strong enough for brushing through thick hair down to the scalp.
Metal	The perfect wig styling brush. Not practical for use on people.	Intended for wigs and hairpieces.

Adding some style

The brush you use will determine the hairstyles you can create. The following sections breaks down the four categories of brushes: Classic, Cushioned, Round, and Vented.

Vented brush

Bristle - nylon, wide spaced and flexible
Feature - opening in the head for maximum air flow
Purpose - drying hair and maintaining natural flow of hair

Tip - The bristles have tiny, protective balls to guard against hair damage. Replace brush as soon as any bristles become exposed or you may damage the hair.

Cushioned brush

Bristle - boar, sometimes nylon
Feature - padded brush provides a cushioning effect
Purpose - long hair - cushioning prevents long hair from stretching, splitting or breaking

Round brush

Brittle - boar, nylon, or porcupine
Feature - 360 degrees of bristle
Purpose - good control, adds bend and curl

Tip - Heavy heads put stress on wrists while blow-drying. Similar to rollers, different core sizes provide a range of curl. A Thermal Round Styler contains a vented aluminium core that fills with hot air from the blow dryer and creates good air circulation.

Classic styling

Bristle - stiff nylon in 5, 7 or 9 rows
Feature - rubberized head to create bend in hair
Purpose - use to create sleek, smooth and precise hairstyles