How to Brush Your Hair According to Your Hair Type

There are some things in life that become so routine, we hardly think about them. For example, riding a bike: Once you learn how, you stop questioning the ins and outs. It’s muscle memory. Brushing your hair may seem like one of those things, too — simply part of your routine. But as it turns out, there are right and wrong ways to brush your hair, and doing it wrong could cause damage. Keep reading to learn what experts say about how you should be brushing your hair depending on your hair type, and help your tresses look tremendous. 

Why do we need to brush our hair, anyway?

You were likely taught to brush your hair as a child to keep it from tangling or looking like a mess. While appearing kempt is certainly a benefit of a good brushing routine, the benefits don’t stop there. Brushing also helps distribute natural oils throughout your hair, which coat your strands and protect them from environmental damage. Plus, it keeps oils from building up on your scalp and looking greasy, say the experts at Salon Invi. 

Brushing Best Practices

You know you should do it, but are you doing it correctly? Are you brushing your hair enough — or are you doing it too much? Keep reading to see what the experts have to say about brushing best practices. 

How To Brush 

Salon Invi says the best way to brush your hair is with your head upside down. Start at the nape of your neck and brush outward. Flip your head over and repeat, starting at your crown. This method helps distribute oils and remove dead hair to ensure a healthy-looking mane. It’s also a good idea to focus on your scalp, since that may encourage hair growth, celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Riawna Capri tells Refinery 29. “It’s important to brush your scalp to rejuvenate the hair follicle and get the blood flowing there.” 

How Often to Brush 

Even if you’re not Marcia Brady, brushing your hair for at least 100 strokes a day, there’s a chance you may be overdoing it. It all depends on your hair type. If you have naturally curly or oily hair, brushing once a day — or even once per wash — should be enough, and it should be relatively left alone in between, celebrity stylist Christine Symonds tells Refinery 29. “The less you touch it or brush it, the less frizz will form.” If your hair is dry and long, three times a day will keep tangles away and distribute oils for hydration, says Salon Invi. If your hair is anywhere in between, twice a day is a good standard to go by. 

Wet Hair: To Brush or Not to Brush?

You may have been told that one of the cardinal sins of haircare is brushing your hair when it’s wet. Some argue that, since wet hair is more susceptible to breakage, brushing it causes more harm than good. While this may be true for some, wet brushing also has its benefits, depending on your hair type. If you have curly, textured, or natural hair, brushing your hair when it’s wet may actually be the best way to do it, hair expert and founder of Carol’s Daughter, Lisa Price, tells Refinery 29. While wet hair is fragile, the moisture — paired with a good conditioner — actually allows your comb to glide more smoothly, preventing damage, she says. If you have long hair prone to tangling, Capri recommends using a comb in the shower to distribute conditioner more evenly.

If you thought you knew how to brush your hair before, but now you’re not so sure, that’s okay — knowledge is power, and now you’re armed with more of it! Once you’ve established your optimal haircare routine, check out more celebrity stylist tips for getting sun-kissed color at home. 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p7XRrKufp6KsvK6xzWeaqKVfpby0wNJon5qhomS1sMOMraZmmqKqwKl52Kisq2WYlraz