OK, seriously...What is the real deal about brushing?

[audacity.]

Are there any BSL (or longer) who brush?

Is there anyone out there who has used a brush throughout your journey AND have retained length?

What is the best brush to use (if you are like me) if you can't burn the brush?

How frequently (or infrequently) do you brush and why do you or don't you brush?

Really, y'all, am I defeating my journey by using my brush? I use it mainly to smooth my edges (once per day ).

 

[camellia]

I don't brush my hair.

I mostly detangle and smooth my hair with my fingers but I sometimes use a wide toothed comb. Brushes turn my curls into a huge mass of frizz.

 

[Legend]

I don't brush regularly. I only might use my soft boar bristle brush (very smooth and flexible) just to smooth my edges down occasionally, but that's pretty rare.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

I am really loving my Denman 3. At first when I saw the brush at Sallys I was like: heck no! I am not putting that thing in my hair. But I used mine tonight to detangle and I lost maybe 2 or 3 small hairs but no more than that...

 

[Cichelle]

I have a Denman and an Aveda paddle brush. If I use them on dry, curly hair, my hair goes really big east-west. So, I don't do that. I can get away with brushing previously detangled hair that dried banded, but this is something I very rarely do. In general, brushing dry hair is a no-no (for my hair) and I really feel that doing so regularly would most certainly cause damage over time.

If my hair is wet and well detangled, I might occasionally run a brush through it to really get ALL the shed hair out. But this, also, is something I do cautiously.

Mostly I use a seamless comb and/or I finger comb.

 

[Lavendar]

I don't use a brush at all. I started paying attention early in my journey and noticed I lost way too much hair in the brush. I read in Paula Begoun's book that it's one of the most damaging things you can do to your hair, so that keeps me motivated not to backslide, cause I have thought about it.

 

[Babygurl]

Are there any BSL (or longer) who brush?
I am currently waist length and yes I do brush.

Is there anyone out there who has used a brush throughout your journey AND have retained length?
I started out using a brush and still brush to this day and have had no problems at all retaining length.

What is the best brush to use (if you are like me) if you can't burn the brush?

Im not sure whats the best brush to use for your hair, I use several brushes for different things. I have a soft boar bristle I use on freshly relaxed hair, I have a nylon/boar bristle mix for everyday use (for bunning, mainly), I also use a regular nylon bristle brush for smoothing my hair when I have lots of new growth...its the only thing that tames my hair before I put on my scarf.

How frequently (or infrequently) do you brush and why do you or don't you brush?
I brush all my hair every other day into a bun and smooth my edges with a brush once per day. I do use a shower comb to detangle and only brush detangled hair.


Really, y'all, am I defeating my journey by using my brush? I use it mainly to smooth my edges (once per day ).
I dont think you're doing any damage..my suggestion is if you see any signs of stress on your edges then stop immediately or use a very soft baby brush or even a toothbrush would work for edges.

 

[Mars_Reiko]

I use a brush to smooth out my edges when i wear a ponytail. i use a soft brush the night before and tie it down with a scarf. i can usually go a couple days without having to brush again. i never brush dry hair. i usually use some fantasia gel first. i also never brush the length of the hair. unless i'm doin a blow out

 

[aloof one]

Oh man if I come to find out I'm doing some sort of permanent damage...

Not only do I brush, but I have 5 different brushes!

• A hard boar bristle brush (you know, with the wooden handle) to help brushing my hair into a pony or smoothing my edges.
• A soft boar bristle brush (cheap Goodie one) to help spreading moisturizer through my hair.
• A ceramic blowdrying brush (with the little beads on the end) to detangle my hair while drying and during styling.
• A round detangling brush that the ceramic brush replaced (I just cant throw away) that I sometimes use when I cant find the new one.
• A cermic blowdrying brush (with the HARD bristles) that helps me curl/flip my hair while blowdrying or aid in straightening.

[I am so sorry this is long. I got up and left and came back and wrote some more before I even posted it]:

Now I may be a brush-a-holic, but a lot of me really wants to believe that nothing is really bad for your hair unless you do it too much or use it the wrong way. Think about it, even after detangling with your hands, detangling with a showercomb, combing, and applying whatever products we use or dont use,... like I do... some of us DO need something extra to style our hair... like a brush. Anyway, here are some ways that could POSSIBLY do some damage to your hair if you brush a lot. I'm no expert but I can guarantee that my hair looked a lot better when I cut down on doing the following:

1. Brushing while wet. Especially damaged or overprocessed hair. Unless you want to leave a fist-size hairball in your trashcan, then dry your hair and realize your missing a few chunks.
2. Brushing while hair is soaked in product. Yes, if its covered in mousse, oils, lotions, and cremes to the point where it even looks wet... don't do it. Most hair products have water anyway so it may as well be wet.
3. Brushing extremely thin hair or thinning hair (if you are on the road to looking like Homer Simpson, maybe you should consider taking a break from combs and brushes all together...)
4. Brushing bone dry hair that is damaged. If your hair feels like a desert... its probably not a good idea to use that brush. I usually put some kind of moisturizer close to my roots, then brush down to the ends.
5. Brushing all your hair at once. (Crown & Glory!) If you feel and hear tearing and breaking while you brush, its probably because you are trying to detangle a giant mass of hair by attacking the outside of it. Divide and conquer, that way all of the sections are detangled, moisturized, shiny, straight... or whatever purpose you had for brushing your hair (basically I brush to do all of this).

Lol I know some of you probably just read that and were like but hear me out: I have no problem doing all of those, in fact my hair is pretty strong and handles just about anything if I use the right brush in the right situation. I would be LOST without my brushes! However, I know if I use them the wrong way I will have damaged hair in the end. So I would like to say that people who experience breakage and have weak or thin hair should consider not doing these things for a while and see what results. Hell... you might go from lookin like Homer to Marge in a few short weeks! Lol jk

 

[SerenityBreeze]

I think that brushing encourages more shedding than normal because it pulls hairs that may not have been ready to come out.

 

[Isis]

I haven't brushed my hair in years. I can't even remember when I owned a brush last or what it looked like.

How brushing effects the hair may depend on one's hair type. My 4b hair prefers wide-toothed combs rather than brushing. Brushing is a little harsh on my hair.

 

[aloof one]

I haven't brushed my hair in years. I can't even remember when I owned a brush last or what it looked like.

How brushing effects the hair may depend on one's hair type. My 4b hair prefers wide-toothed combs rather than brushing. Brushing is a little harsh on my hair.

wow... I just snuck into your fotki lol
I have to say you have the most beautiful hair I have seen in a really, really long time. You have such healthy, thick hair!

 

[cmw45]

*Sighs* I've been brushing once a week after I take my braidouts out...I guess I'll stop...

OT: Would anyone like to buy a three day old Denman brush?

 

[loveable37]

I use my brush maybe once a month if needed.

 

[natstar]

I haven't brushed my hair in years. I can't even remember when I owned a brush last or what it looked like.

How brushing effects the hair may depend on one's hair type. My 4b hair prefers wide-toothed combs rather than brushing. Brushing is a little harsh on my hair.

Same here. I have to scarf my hair as much as possible to get a smooth look. I get breakage if I always brush.

I only brush if I desperatley need to.

 

[locabouthair]

I haven't brushed my hair in years. I can't even remember when I owned a brush last or what it looked like.

How brushing effects the hair may depend on one's hair type. My 4b hair prefers wide-toothed combs rather than brushing. Brushing is a little harsh on my hair.

this is me too. i always brushing was too much for my hair even before I came to this site. I lose more hair when I brush.

 

[EbonyHairedPrincess]

I voted no then I remember I use two brushes when I flat iron. I only flat iron 1 every 2-3 months and I smooth my hair with a super soft boars hair brush if it starts to look "flyaway". I also occasionally use a paddle brush when I am blow drying (cool setting, high speed) my hair to prepare for flat ironing. Other than that I don't use brushes.

 

[senimoni]

Once in a blue moon I use a paddle brush on the ends but on a whole no, I don't use a brush.

 

[LocksOfLuV]

I haven't brushed my hair in years. I can't even remember when I owned a brush last or what it looked like.

How brushing effects the hair may depend on one's hair type. My 4b hair prefers wide-toothed combs rather than brushing. Brushing is a little harsh on my hair.

Me too. My edges don't like brushes. I haven't used a brush in years and my edges are the thickest they have ever been.

I think brushing encourages thin and balding edges.

 

[Lavendar]

Me too. My edges don't like brushes. I haven't used a brush in years and my edges are the thickest they have ever been.

I think brushing encourages thin and balding edges.

I agree. I have to be very careful with my edges because hereditary thinning runs in my family there anyway. Applying thicker oils around my edges has helped tremendously. I am really surprised at Isis' and others comments though about 4B hair not liking brushes. Although I know she doesn't brush, I just assumed my hair couldn't tolerate it because it's so fine. The book I read did say brushing tears the cuticle off existing hairs and pulls out hairs that would otherwise be retained. So I guess that could happen to anyone. I guess it really depends on your hair's strength and texture. The decision to brush is probably best made by the individual....no one really knows your hair like you do.

 

[shunta]

I use a paddle brush everyday on my hair to comb thru the length, but thats the only brush I use. Sometimes I use a toothbrush for my edges.

 

[sugarose]

Are there any BSL (or longer) who brush? I am 1" from Midback and I have never stopped brushing.

Is there anyone out there who has used a brush throughout your journey AND have retained length? I started at APL (it will be 1 year next month).

What is the best brush to use (if you are like me) if you can't burn the brush? I use a very soft VS Sassoon bristle brush (got it from Walmart). I switched from the regular hard brush (before I found the boards) after using my brothers one day because I couldn't find mine. His was SUPER soft and I didnt see any hairs in it afterwards. So I went and bought one similar to his.

How frequently (or infrequently) do you brush and why do you or don't you brush? I brush everyday to smooth the top and sometimes the length depending on how I'm wearing my hair.

Really, y'all, am I defeating my journey by using my brush? I use it mainly to smooth my edges (once per day ). I don't think so if your's is a soft one. If you see hair in the brush then you should get another one or stop brushing so much. I usually have about 5-10 hairs total in my brush after a week.

 

[PatTodd]

I am below APL and I never ever brush my HAIR. Shoot, brushing brought me to LHCF! All of my hair was in that plastic brush and on the floor.

Now, if I want to groom my edges I smooth them lightly with a man's boar bristle paddle brush OR a baby hairbrush, then tie down with a scarf.

 

[Energist]

I used to brush my hair when it was in it's natural state to tame it, but relaxed I can only use a paddle brush or while blow drying an ionic one. I can't see myself using any boar bristle brush

 

[kandi1280]

I brush my hair when I slick it back using a soft baor bristle brush. I am trying to phase it out of regime though, but I getting my hair straight while airdrying is impossible without brushing the top to lay it flat.

But I do not brush my hair when its dry at all. Nor do I brush hard.

 

[CurlyGirly327]

I have 100% natural 4B hair that I wear in a TWA. My hair is fine but dense, and I use a Denman brush occasionally on damp hair to distribute my leave-in conditioner evenly (either Wild Growth Hair Oil or Afro Detangler). I haven't noticed any excessive breakage or shedding from brushing; I brush my hair from ends to roots in sections before going back and brushing my whole hair from roots to ends. I've found that when I do this, my leave-in conditioners work much more effectively and leave my hair much, much softer. I think whether or not brushing works for your hair depends on how often you brush, what kind of brush you use, and how gently or roughly you brush. Different strokes for different folks, literally!

 

[pistachio]

I actually blame brushing, alone, is what caused my hair to break because the openings where the bristles were attached to the brush would snag my strands and cause unneccesary breakage. Not only that, but with a wide tooth comb you can see EXACTLY how many hairs are in it. I now comb my hair with my back to the mirror so that the broken hairs(if any) will fall in the sink, and I can know what exactly is going on!

I went from a sharp v-shape BSL, to a blunt APL even though it's still a little uneven, it's overall blunt though.

P.S. no more brushes for me!!!!

 

[Ayeshia]

Soft brush for slicking back...Denman for detangling after the wide tooth has been used. hair has yet to suffer, but I dont brush all the time.

 

[imstush]

I brush daily, and I swear my edges are starting to suffer. I think I am going to start using a baby brush.

 

[macherieamour]

i brush with a paddle to smooth my hair sometimes. I always use a comb first and only brush my hair when Im wearing smooth syles like flat-ironed hair or rollerset hair. I wouldnt use it on air dried hair, etc.