Hair is an important asset to the appearance of many women and men. The first step in getting and maintaining healthy, long hair is to condition it well and use the proper tools in styling. A good, natural-bristle brush can help keep the hair smooth, shiny and reduce breakage during brushing. Proper technique is key when taking care of long hair.
Use a natural-bristled, wood-based brush and start at the ends of the hair first. Brush from the bottom and work your way up to prevent catching the brush in any tangles or knots. If hair is straight and/or coarse, a flat-paddle brush is best to smooth it; for fine hair, a round vented brush works best when styling or brushing, as it helps to create volume and body. Place a hand at the roots while brushing ends to prevent pulling too hard.
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Keep working your way up gently, using caution not to pull too hard. Hair may break or rip out if too much force is used. Use your fingers to help smooth "fly-aways" and static after each stroke.
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Separate sections for easier brushing. Brush each side and then the back. Let them fall together again and brush to join and prevent gaps. Use long, even strokes -- about 5 per section after detangling -- and increase weekly.
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Bending over while letting hair fall downward will increase the hair's volume and prevent flatness. Brush the underside starting at the roots and gently pull the brush downwards. Flip hair back up and smooth down with fingers to get rid of frizz and unruly strands.
Tips & Warnings
Never brush wet hair; instead use a wide-tooth comb and leave in conditioning or detangling spray. Brushing hair while it's wet, and at its weakest, can rip, pull and possibly break and damage hair.
