The best and worst brushing habits for healthy hair

While brushing your hair is as natural as putting on deodorant, it’s not as straightforward as you might think. Let’s talk about some of the most common hairbrushing mistakes, so you can make sure you’re giving your locks the love they deserve!

Never brush your hair when it’s wet

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: don’t brush your hair straight out of the shower. Water causes hair to swell and become fragile, so brushing it when it’s wet can cause major breakage. If you’re not a very patient person, keep a detangling comb in the shower. Section your hair, and slowly work your way through your tangles.

Avon Detangling Comb, Scunci Brushology Detangling Comb, ghd Detangling Comb

Got curls? Don’t even think about it

One of the cardinal rules of the curly-haired is to banish the brush, especially on dry locks. Why? The less you touch and fuss with your hair, the less it’ll frizz up - and that’s the aim of the game! Naturally curly hair should be tended to when it’s wet, and only by a wide-toothed comb. After that, it’s best left alone so its natural texture can form. 

Brush your hair in sections

It’s a natural action, but starting at the roots and pulling the brush all the way through your hair down to the ends is a no-no. This tugs the hair out of the follicle and causes snapping. To avoid this, comb your locks in three sections: bottom, middle and top, starting with the bottom section where you’ll find the majority of tangles. Then, smooth out any bumps in the middle section, before finishing up at the top. 

Lady Jayne Wooden Pad 100% Boar Bristles Brush, Aveda Wooden Hair Styling Brush

Clean your brushes on the reg

In the same way that you wash your make-up brushes, you should also clean your hairbrush to keep it from getting clogged. Brushes are similar to sponges, and can harbour a whole bunch of icky stuff such as stray hairs, dirt, product build-up and even dead skin cells. If you think about it, whenever you brush your clean hair with an unclean brush, you actually redeposit all those nasties back into your hair. No, thanks! Make a mental note to clean your brush on a weekly basis. Just work a small amount of shampoo or hand wash into the bristles, and then rinse and set to dry. 

Brush for your (hair) health

Sure, brushing your hair will make it silky and smooth, but it’s your scalp that really reaps the rewards. A healthy scalp is responsible for hair growth, so stimulating its blood flow makes the follicles stronger, and therefore, your hair healthier. If you really want to get the juices flowing, try using a wooden bristle brush to massage your roots before hopping into the shower.

Mix up your brushes for best results

You don’t use the same make-up brush for blush as you do for applying eyeshadow, so why should you stick to one for your mane? When your hair is damp, it’s prone to knots, so reach for a gentle detangling comb. Once it’s tangle-free, use a boar bristle brush to add shine to your locks, or a round brush for volume and bounce.

Scunci Girl Detangle Brush, Cloud Nine Dressing Brush, Moroccanoil Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Round 35mm Brush

Yes, you can brush too much

Marcia Brady, it turns out, was a little overzealous with her beauty routine. Brushing your hair 100 times like they do in the movies can actually cause more harm than good. Instead, focus on the quality of your brushing, not the number of strokes. Once those pesky knots are gone, you’re done!

Control static

Thanks to all that friction, brushing your hair often causes static. If you’re experiencing a lot of static when you brush, try spraying a small amount of hairspray on your brush first to control stubborn flyaways, or rub a few drops of hair oil between your fingertips and then run them through your hair.

Did you know about these hairbrushing dos and don’ts? Are you guilty of any brushing sins?