Brushing Tips

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Brushing Tips from the Professionals

So you've tried everything and still can't get it right. Maybe it's time to take a few simple ideas from some of the hairdressing industry's best!

Regular brushing with a ball-tipped bristle brush through to the scalp will stimulate the blood supply and promote healthy growth. You must use a ball-tipped bristle or scratching will occur.

Brushing not only removes dust and grime from your hair, but also helps to distribute the natural oils that your hair needs for protection along its lengths.

Brush out any tangles before shampooing. It not only makes life easier, but avoids unnecessary stress on your hair later.

Never use a brush on wet hair, always use a wide-toothed comb.

Heavy wooden brushes are easier to straighten hair with.

Moulded brushes are much lighter so are easier on the arm muscles!

The best finishing brush for that smooth silky look is the large paddle brush.

Bennie Tognini, top session stylist, president of the Australian Fellowship of Hairdressers and owner of the famous salon "Tognini's" in Brisbane has given us a few of his secrets to good brushing:

"To brush your scalp without scratching it, use a brush that has soft plastic knobs on the end of the bristles. This also stimulates and lifts a dry scalp. Denman brushes from England are the best flat brushes and I prefer one with 9 rows of bristles. This allows for more control of the hair when blowdrying to produce a higher quality and smoother finish. Beware of imitation brushes made of plastic, which tend to fall apart quickly."

"The size of the brush really depends on the length of the hair. Finer hair should use a brush that is the size smaller to give more support than a large brush. The smaller the brush, the greater the root lift, bristles should be more open and not closer together to allow the air and heat to penetrate the hair".

"When using a round brush, each section should be less than the width of the brushes to avoid tangles".

"Cleaning brushes is very important and can be done by using another strong bristle brush in a criss-cross action. Don't soak wooden brushes in water but rinse and use a brush or comb to take out the build-up". Shampoo can be used to wash bristles."


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