Combing hair is not just something we are taught to do as children for fun, it has a number of important benefits both for the health of the hair and scalp. Ensuring your hair is tangle-free and in top condition are often seen as the main reasons to brush your hair. However, it can also help to stimulate blood flow, while the gentle and regular brushing movements also loosen dead skin that might otherwise clog the pores of the scalp. Here we share with you the best hair brushing tips to keep your hair tangle-free and healthy.
Typically, women that have naturally curly hair or particularly long hair are most likely to run into trouble combing and detangling their hair. This is especially true after having washed it. Luckily, it takes only a few easy precautionary measures to avoid tangled hair and it all starts with knowing when and how to brush your hair.
Most people assume they should comb hair after washing it, but in fact the best way to ensure tangle-free hair is to brush out knots before even getting in the shower. Then, rather than scrubbing you should apply the shampoo close to the roots and gently massage the product onto your scalp and into your hair. Thoroughly rinse and dab your hair dry with a towel, rather than rubbing as this will only force you to comb the hair again.
Combing hair keeps it healthy.
Even with the best hair brushing techniques, there still may be a few tangles left in after washing. In such cases, having patience is the only successful strategy. Apply a spray or leave-in detangler and gently work the tangles apart without applying too much force. Remember that using force to comb hair will only serve to damage or break the hair by ripping it out at the roots and snapping it.
Start by detangling and combing the ends of your hair. The best way to brush hair is to start close to the ends. Using short swift movements, tease out the knots as you move up the hair shaft. When you encounter a large knot, hold the hair above it and gently pull against this as an anchor rather than the hair root; you want to avoid pulling the entire hair out from the follicle.
Brush your hair the right way.
To comb hair in or after a shower effectively, use a wide-toothed comb made of wood or hard rubber and comb small sections of hair at a time. Avoid plastic combs as these can create a slight electrical charge as they move through your hair.
Knowing how to brush your hair when its dry is important in determining how it will look when you style it. Generally speaking, combs are ideal for wet hair which is far more sensitive, stretchable, and prone to damage than dry hair. Once dry, you can use a hair brush – but make sure it’s the best hair brush for your hair. Finally, make sure that your brush is clean: no matter how good your hair brushing technique, if you are spreading old product, skin cells and dead hairs through your hair the result will not look pretty!