Which type of brush is most effective?

Some brushes, like the round or vented kind, are best for styling, while others work to detangle, and some may even remedy static and frizz. Here we&#;ll cover different types of brushes and what they can do for your hair.

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The appropriate brush for someone with long, curly hair will be drastically different than the best brush for fine or thinning hair.

Everyone who has hair, brushes their hair , though you may never have given much thought to the kind of brush you use. Using the right hair brush for your hair and your styling needs can make a difference in your hair&#;s health and appearance.

There are so many different kinds of hairbrushes and combs available, it can be overwhelming to know which one is right for you. Depending on the type of hair you have, you may want to use a specialized brush.

Hair detangler brush

Detangler brushes are good for all hair types &#; even the thickest, curliest hair &#; and they can be used on both wet and dry hair. They minimize damage from brushing knotted hair, and their thin flexible bristles make it easier to painlessly get knots out of kids&#; hair.

Wet hairbrush

The original wetbrush is an affordable option. Its fine, soft bristles are strong enough to work through the toughest knots, and soft enough not to cause damage to wet hair. The American Academy of Dermatology Association warns against brushing wet hair because it&#;s more prone to breakage. However, if you have very textured or curly hair, brushing when wet is a good idea. They typically have heat-resistant bristles that won&#;t melt or break when blow-drying hair.

Shower hairbrush

A shower hairbrush is a wet hairbrush with vents for fast drying. Its flexible design and soft bristles are perfect for sopping wet hair. Many come with a hooked bottom for easy hanging off your shower caddy.

Cushion brush

Cushion brushes have soft rubber bases and stiff wire or plastic bristles. The stiff bristles are effective at stimulating the scalp and are good for brushing out dandruff or buildup from hair styling products, and possibly for stimulating hair growth.

Thermal brush

Thermal brushes are round or paddle brushes with a barrel made of a material that conducts heat, such as ceramic, tourmaline, or titanium. This can speed up drying. These are generally used by hair stylists, or people who frequently use a blow-dryer.

Tiny boar bristle brush

Boar bristle brushes are popular because of their ability to redistribute the natural, healthy oils in the scalp, which enhances hair health and creates smooth, shiny locks. Every type of hair can benefit from a boar bristle brush, but a 100-percent boar bristle brush with soft bristles is a good choice for people with fine, thinning, or aging hair.

Nylon bristle brush

Nylon bristle brushes are made from a synthetic material that reduces static and effectively detangles thick hair. Some brushes combine nylon bristles with boars&#; hair bristles to both reduce static and detangle while also getting the health benefits and natural shine that boars&#; head bristles offer.

Curved brush

Curved brushes are ergonomically designed to fit the shape of a human head. Most are made of lightweight plastic and contain vents, which make them a good choice for travel, the gym, or anytime you want to dry your hair quickly.

Natural bristle brush

For vegans or anyone who wants the benefits of a boar bristle brush without using animal products, some brushes combine other natural fibers, like agave, with synthetics to achieve a bristle that looks and feels like boar bristle.

Mixed bristle brush

Mixed bristle brushes combine the shine-enhancing effects of boar bristles with the scalp stimulation and easy detangling of nylon or wire bristles. This combination can be most effective for those with long or thick hair.

Paddle brush

The wide base of paddle brushes enable them to cover a lot of ground quickly while smoothing hair. They&#;re a great choice for people with long, straight hair.

Vented brush

A vented brush is the best choice for quickly blow drying soaking-wet hair. The vents allow hot air to flow through, reaching all layers of hair.

Anti-static hairbrush

Vented brushes can reduce static during blow drying because they allow heat to flow through the brush, helping to illuminate static and frizz. Ionic brushes are said to reduce static and frizz by adding negative ions into hair, and metal combs may fight static.

Round brush

Round brushes are a good choice for blow drying hair and styling loose waves. They&#;re fully circular, which makes it easier to blow the hair under, resulting in curls or waves (depending on the size of the brush).

Teasing brush

Teasing brushes are small and designed to be used at the crown to add volume and texture to fine or limp hair, and it can create the illusion of fuller hair, which may be attractive to those experiencing hair loss.

Rat tail brush

Rat tail brushes and combs are teasing brushes with a long, thin stem that can be used for separating and lifting sections of hair to tease and create more volume.

Wide-tooth comb

Wide-tooth combs have thick teeth with space between them. They can be used on thick or curly hair when wet.

Straightening brush

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Straightening brushes are a mix between a hot iron straightener and a paddle brush. They heat up, can quickly straighten and smooth hair, and are less damaging than a traditional hot iron.

Smoothing brush

Smoothing brushes are paddle brushes with soft boar or nylon bristles. They can be used for creating sleek styles and eliminating bumps when pulling hair back into a ponytail or bun.

My friend John asked me to come over and help him with some crown molding he was getting ready to put up in his new family room. He had some beautiful poplar boards milled to match the trim in the rest of his house, and while I would have opted for a stain to highlight the wavy grain, John and Becky (mostly Becky) wanted it painted. &#;Happy wife, happy life.&#; So, paint it was.

When I arrived, John had the boards laid out on sawhorses in his garage, with newspapers spread out to protect the floor. But then he handed me a two-inch wide foam brush. &#;John,&#; I said, &#;Haven&#;t you heard? The better the brush, the better the finish.&#;

Which launched us into a discussion of how to choose the right brush for each project. Some of John and Becky&#;s trim was going to be stained and sealed with a clear finish, which gave me a chance (while we were working) to explain to John how to pick the best brush when you are staining and finishing. Take a look and see what John learned.

Why Does It Matter?

As I explained to John, a brush is a means of transporting a stain or finish from the can to the wood. When applying the stain, you can use either a rag or a brush. I prefer a brush, as it works better for getting stain into into corners and carvings, but you don&#;t have to use an expensive one or, for that matter, being excessively neat. That&#;s because your next step will be to wipe off any excess stain, so your rag will erase any brush marks, runs, drips or bristles left by your brush.

When laying down a smooth coat of clear finish, however, the brush will have a major impact on how it looks when it dries. That&#;s when picking the right brush really becomes important. And as I said to John, &#;You wouldn&#;t use a sledgehammer to drive in a finish nail, so why use a foam brush to try to lay down a smooth coat of finish?&#;

Foam Brushes.

I must admit, I do occasionally use foam brushes when staining a small project. Their greatest selling point is they are inexpensive.

But when it comes to applying a smooth coat of clear finish, such as polyurethane, a foam brush is not my first choice. Instead of bristles, it has a blade. The blunt sides leave two parallel ridges of finish, like a snowplow on the highway. Also, the foam head contains air, which can leave bubbles in your finish.

And if you use it for very long, the foam head begins to wear out and get floppy. It will even start to dissolve as you are brushing on stains and finishes containing mineral spirits or lacquer thinner.

Oil-Based Stains and Finishes.

Oil-based products contain mineral spirits, and for them I reach for a natural bristle brush.

For oil-based stains I use a Minwax® Wood Finish&#; Stain Brush. These brushes are designed to carry a lot of stain from the can to your project, and hold up much better than foam brushes.

And unlike foam brushes, these natural bristles brushes can be cleaned with ordinary mineral spirits (paint thinner) and re-used indefinitely.

Much better than tossing dozens of foam brushes a year into the garbage can!

Water-Based Stains and Finishes.

Unlike mineral spirits, water causes natural bristles to swell. As they do, they loose their shape. Rather than use a natural bristle brush with water-based stains and clear finishes and watch it swell out of shape (top brush), I use a synthetic bristle brush, such as Minwax® Polycrylic® Brush (bottom brush). These bristles won&#;t absorb water and won&#;t lose their shape.

And clean-up is a breeze with soap and water.

Quick Tip: After cleaning, wrap the damp bristles in a paper towel, then secure with a rubber band. Once the bristles are dry, slip your brush back into its cardboard sleeve to maintain their shape.

Use the hole in the end of the handle to hang your brush to dry with the bristles pointing down, letting any remnants of stain or finish escape before hardening.

Good, Better, Best.

As I told John, not all brushes are created equal. They can range in price from less than a dollar to more than twenty dollars. You can spot the difference in three areas: the handle, the bristles, and the ferrel, which holds the bristles to the handle.

Handle &#; If you used a brush every day to make a living, you would want a contoured handle. Most of us are perfectly content with a standard handle that costs less to make.

Ferrel &#; Check the metal band holding the bristles to the handle to make sure it is secure. Tug gently on the bristles to see if the ferrel has a firm grasp on them.

Bristles &#; These should be soft and pliable.

In this photo, the foam brush at the top rates a &#;Good,&#; the bristle brush in the middle is a &#;Better,&#; and the professional brush at the bottom rates a &#;Best.&#;

It Takes All Three.

Just as you have different sizes and types of screwdrivers in your workshop, odds are you will need all three types of brushes: foam, natural bristle, and synthetic bristle. You will also want to have them in different widths to fit the different size of cans of stains and clear finishes. The best time to buy them is before you need them, so pick out a selection of types and sizes, store them in a drawer to keep the dirt and dust off them, and clean them after each use. The reward for your efforts will be a stain and a finish that is as smooth as any professional could have achieved.

Good Luck!

Bruce

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