While heat-styling tools have relieved us from the rollers that had to be kept on from sleep to breakfast to just before hitting-the-ground-running, they won't enjoy as much praise without their best assistant, the hair brush. Sidekicks they may be but, truth be told, sometimes they can actually do all the work on their own—as long as you know which one to pick up when the moment beckons.
BRUSH VS. COMB
Or is it even a real rivalry? While always compared, we'd like to establish that they're actually in different leagues. The brush, with its thick bristles, is perfect for smoothing, creating hairsttles, and pairing with a blowdryer. The comb, meanwhile, is used to create parts, to tease, to work product in, and detangle when hair is wet. Talk about getting the story straight.
BRUSHES
Brush up on your brush skills. Here are three basic bristles we think you should take to heart:
1. Paddle
Flat, wide, and smooth, the paddle brush answers all straightening troubles. Its large size equals easy detangling, and the bristles give a good scalp massage, too.
DENMAN Paddle Brush D-83, P999, Beauty Bar
2. Boar Bristle
The blow-dry superstar, it's made of natural hairs that work well with humans'. The bigger the barrel, the softer the curve. Meanwhile, skinny version make your tresses stick-straight sans the iron.
GOODY Styling Therapy Protect Color Qusetamide-Infused Round brush, price unavailable, Department Stores
3. Styling
Both a do-it-all and what-does-it-do?, the common oval-headed brush has also confounded us. But not to be underestimated, it can go from detangling to smoothing to teasing (in a pinch). In general, it keeps your tresses as silky as needed. It even looks like what ladies used way back to detangle before beauty sleep. Start counting to a hundred...
ACCA KAPPA Protection Styling Brush, P1650, Rustan's
COMBS
What's your hair personality? Keep your tresses smooth with the right tool.
1. Wide-toothed
Untangles safely, whether wet or dry.
GOODY Wide-Toothed Comb, price unavailable, Department Stores
2. Rat Tail
Slicks back and creates neat parts.
DENMAN Tail Comb, P212, Beauty Bar
3. Teasing comb
Smooths after creating intense texture.
GOODY Get It Smooth, price unavailable, Department Stores
*This article originally appeared in Preview Magazine's July 2014 issue.
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