How to Decrease Friction in a Hair Brush

Brush your hair gently and avoid over-brushing to reduce the friction.

We've all experienced static when brushing our hair. This is caused when the friction of the brush running through your hair alters the electric charge in the hair's atoms. Hair brush friction also causes flyaway hair and dries it out, making it difficult to manage. The problem can worsen in the winter, when the cold, dry air reduces the oil in your hair.

Things You'll Need

• Vented hair brush with smooth bristles
• Olive oil, leave-in conditioner or water

Instructions

1. Brush your hair gently. The more vigorously your brush your hair, the more friction you create. Brush your hair with long, smooth, careful strokes instead of short, choppy ones.

2. Avoid over-brushing. Even if you use smooth, controlled strokes, the more you brush, the more friction you make. The adage of brushing your hair 100 strokes per day isn't true for everyone. Unless you have long hair that needs the oil worked from the scalp to the tips, people with fine, dry, processed or short hair can brush it 25 to 50 times per day to keep it healthy.

3. Use a vented hair brush with smooth bristles. A vented brush has openings in the back that let air flow through it, thereby reducing friction. The smooth, thin bristles pull through your hair easier than thick, coarse ones. Coarse bristles also absorb the oil in your hair -- which can make dry hair harder to comb -- whereas slick bristles repel the oil and preserve your hair's moisture.

4. Spritz olive oil on lightly or use some leave-on conditioner or water before brushing your hair. The dampness will aid the brush in gliding through your hair, preventing static buildup and flyaway locks.

References

• Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Picks
• Sally Beauty: Cricket Friction Free Vent Brush
• Health Benefits of Olive Oil: Olive Oil Hair Treatment: Did You Know That You Can Use Olive Oil for Hair Care?
• Hairstyles: Does Brushing Damage Your Hair?
• Science Made Simple: Static Electricity: Learn About Static Charge & Static Shock