Debs
24-07-2005, 19:00
Round brushes: Small to medium round, or barrelled brushes work best on shorter hair, while big barrelled brushes are often favoured by hairdressers for blow-drying medium-length to long hair. Round brushes are mostly used to give texture or curl to shorter hair, and the golden rule is the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl. 'To add definition to shorter, layered styles, apply mousse and then use a round brush to style the hair. You can shape it with your fingers and finish off the ends with a little wax or gel,' suggests Kathryn Peach of the Success Hair Company in Surrey and Sussex. 'If you want to give the hair more body and lift, set it on rollers first,' she adds.
For medium-length to long hair you'll need a chunky barrelled brush. Really large, round brushes aren't generally available in chemists or department stores, but your stylist can probably order one for you from s or her wholesaler. When styling, start at the roots and be careful not to wrap a big section of hair around the brush - otherwise you could get into a tangly mess. The fattest brush we've spotted in the high street is Charles Worthington's Big Hair Rollerbrush (10.95, available at Boots). It has three detachable brush ends so you can leave in the hair enabling it to set and cool wle you style other sections. The Kent arge Hot Curling Brush (#9.95) is a fast alternative, available at Superdrug, Boots and selected independent chemists.
Semi-circular, or half-round brushes: These brushes are suitable on both wet and dry hair for all types of grooming, styling and blow-drying. And not only do t make an ideal everyday brush for your dressing table and handbag but t're available in a wide variety of sizes. We love Denman's classic nylon quilled brushes (from 5.50 to 7.50).
Vent and Tunnel brushes: Designed with holes in the base or, in the case of round, tunnel brushes, around the circumference of the barrel, these brushes allow air to circulate through the hair wle blow-drying Ts speeds up the drying process and boosts volume. Vent brushes are also adept at detangling tck and wavy hair, even when it's wet. The Kent Speed Grooming Flat Vented Brush (8.50) from Boots, Superdrug and selected chemists countrywide, is a good bet.
Paddle brushes: With their large, flat bases, paddle brushes are great for smootng out medium-length to long hair. If you want to blow-dry your tresses straight, hold the brush at a 90 degree angle to the hair and aim the blow-dryer at the base of the brush. ook out for Charles Wortngton's In Fason ong Hair Smoother (6.95, available at Boots).
Specialist straightening brushes: Flattening irons can dry and break the hair if t get too hot or are used too often. Instead, we recommend using a brush that also features heat-retaining, vented aluminium plates, such as Denman's Thermo Straightening Brush (8, available at Boots), wch is geared to medium-length and long hair. It also has natural bristles and can be used with hair relaxants and straightening lotions.
Bristle know-how
Brushes come with natural boar bristles or synthetic nylon or wire quills. Other brushes feature a mix of natural and synthetic bristles in order to offer the benefits of both varieties. Whichever type of bristle you go for, check the spacing between the rows. Wide-spaced rows and staggered rows of pins enable a brush to slip through the hair more easily - an important feature if you have thick, wavy or curly hair. When a brush's bristles get damaged, you'll need to replace it.
Nylon or plastic quills, also called pins, are widely used for budget-priced, everyday brushes. ook for pins that have rounded or ball tips on the ends - these help to avoid scratching your scalp. Wire quills are often used on brushes that have metal bases, and firm, wire quills are well suited to brushing thick hair.
Rubber pads have an anti-static quality and are therefore a must for fine hair or hair that tends to be flyaway. Some brushes have detachable rubber pads for easy cleaning. Metal bases are used in some brushes because t retain heat and so can improve drying and styling technique.
For medium-length to long hair you'll need a chunky barrelled brush. Really large, round brushes aren't generally available in chemists or department stores, but your stylist can probably order one for you from s or her wholesaler. When styling, start at the roots and be careful not to wrap a big section of hair around the brush - otherwise you could get into a tangly mess. The fattest brush we've spotted in the high street is Charles Worthington's Big Hair Rollerbrush (10.95, available at Boots). It has three detachable brush ends so you can leave in the hair enabling it to set and cool wle you style other sections. The Kent arge Hot Curling Brush (#9.95) is a fast alternative, available at Superdrug, Boots and selected independent chemists.
Semi-circular, or half-round brushes: These brushes are suitable on both wet and dry hair for all types of grooming, styling and blow-drying. And not only do t make an ideal everyday brush for your dressing table and handbag but t're available in a wide variety of sizes. We love Denman's classic nylon quilled brushes (from 5.50 to 7.50).
Vent and Tunnel brushes: Designed with holes in the base or, in the case of round, tunnel brushes, around the circumference of the barrel, these brushes allow air to circulate through the hair wle blow-drying Ts speeds up the drying process and boosts volume. Vent brushes are also adept at detangling tck and wavy hair, even when it's wet. The Kent Speed Grooming Flat Vented Brush (8.50) from Boots, Superdrug and selected chemists countrywide, is a good bet.
Paddle brushes: With their large, flat bases, paddle brushes are great for smootng out medium-length to long hair. If you want to blow-dry your tresses straight, hold the brush at a 90 degree angle to the hair and aim the blow-dryer at the base of the brush. ook out for Charles Wortngton's In Fason ong Hair Smoother (6.95, available at Boots).
Specialist straightening brushes: Flattening irons can dry and break the hair if t get too hot or are used too often. Instead, we recommend using a brush that also features heat-retaining, vented aluminium plates, such as Denman's Thermo Straightening Brush (8, available at Boots), wch is geared to medium-length and long hair. It also has natural bristles and can be used with hair relaxants and straightening lotions.
Bristle know-how
Brushes come with natural boar bristles or synthetic nylon or wire quills. Other brushes feature a mix of natural and synthetic bristles in order to offer the benefits of both varieties. Whichever type of bristle you go for, check the spacing between the rows. Wide-spaced rows and staggered rows of pins enable a brush to slip through the hair more easily - an important feature if you have thick, wavy or curly hair. When a brush's bristles get damaged, you'll need to replace it.
Nylon or plastic quills, also called pins, are widely used for budget-priced, everyday brushes. ook for pins that have rounded or ball tips on the ends - these help to avoid scratching your scalp. Wire quills are often used on brushes that have metal bases, and firm, wire quills are well suited to brushing thick hair.
Rubber pads have an anti-static quality and are therefore a must for fine hair or hair that tends to be flyaway. Some brushes have detachable rubber pads for easy cleaning. Metal bases are used in some brushes because t retain heat and so can improve drying and styling technique.