When do you use a hairbrush? Chances are you just grab what you see lying around and don't think about it. Yet each hairbrush has a different function and in some cases you can use one brush better than another. Can't see the forest for the trees? We're going to explain it to you in detail in this guide.
The types of hairbrushes
There are so many different hairbrushes on the market that we can understand that choosing the right one can be difficult. Which brush you need depends mainly on the type of hair you have. Your choice also depends on what you want to achieve with it.
Paddle Brush
A paddle brush is also called a flat brush. You can recognize it by its large square or rectangular shape and looks a bit like a paddle. Hence its name.
This brush has a rubber cushion with bristles sticking out of it. Usually these are nylon pins with a plastic ball on the tip, but there are also variants with natural pig bristles without a ball.
A unique feature of this brush is its resilient cushion. This allows the pins to move flexibly with you while brushing and will glide more carefully through your hair. This brush is therefore very gentle on your hair and massages your scalp. Hair oils are better transferred over the hair as a result.
Paddle brushes are good basic brushes and also by far the most popular. They are ideal for daily smoothing or detangling your hair. You can also use these brushes well for straightening in combination with a hair dryer.
This brush is especially suitable for men with somewhat longer hair. If your hair is short it is better to use a rectangular Paddle Brush or Oval Brush.
- Hair type: Straight and wavy hair
- Length: Medium to long hair
- Ideal for: Detangling and smoothing
Oval Brush
This brush is an oval version of the paddle brush, or called a Classic or Pneumatic brush. The only difference is that it is a bit smaller and the bristles tend to be closer together. This makes the brush also suitable for men with short hairstyles.
Would you like to use this brush in combination with a hair dryer? Then keep in mind that you will not get your hairstyle as smooth as with a paddle brush. This is because oval brushes have a round shape.
- Hair type: straight, wavy and curly hair
- Length: All hair lengths
- Ideal for: Detangling and smoothing
Vent Brush
You can recognize the Vent Brush by its vents. These ventilation holes are called "vents" and allow for better airflow. Vented brushes are therefore ideal for blow-drying your hair.
These brushes almost always have nylon pins with a ball on top. They are often placed far apart and therefore offer a lot of space for air movement. Your hair will therefore dry a lot faster while blow-drying.
Want to create volume or style your hair? Or are you just in a hurry? Then a vent brush is an ideal brush for you.
- Hair type: straight, wavy and curly hair
- Length: All hair lengths
- Ideal for: Styling and volume creation
Military Palm Brush
In short, a military palm brush is a brush without a handle. It is almost always oval in shape and filled with bristle or nylon. This brush dates back to the 18th century and was considered the ideal brush to take with you when traveling.
If you have short hair and want ultimate control, then this is the brush for you. Many men think their hair is too short to brush, the opposite is true. A brush like this one actually helps improve the health of your scalp, remove dandruff and distributes hair oils for healthier hair.
- Hair type: straight, wavy, curly and frizzy hair
- Length: Short hair
- Ideal for: Detangling and smoothing
Denman Brush
This is the most versatile brush in the list; the Denman Brush. You can use it to style your hair, detangle and create volume. This brush is also known as a styling brush. It can be recognized by the nylon pins that are divided into rows of 5, 7 or 9. This has the function of making it easier to detangle your hair.
The head of the brush has a semi-cylindrical bulge, which allows you to create a lot of volume with it. For men with short thin hair this brush is ideal. This is because you can style your hair so that your hairstyle looks a lot fuller.
- Hair type: straight and wavy hair
- Length: Short to medium length hair
- Ideal for: Styling, volume and smoothing
Quiff Roller
A round brush, also called round brush or Quiff Roller, can be recognized by its cylindrical head. Because of this shape, the brush is mainly used to create waves, curls or volume in hair.
For men with long hair, we do not recommend choosing a brush with a small diameter. This almost always leads to tangles and knots in your hair. Do you have a short hairstyle? Then choose a brush with a small diameter, this gives a firmer curl.
- Hair type: Straight, wavy and curly hair
- Length: Short to medium length hair
- Ideal for: Styling, whipping, curling and volume creation
The types of bristles
In addition to the huge selection of different types of hairbrushes, there are also different types of bristles to choose from. As a rule, there are three. Synthetic, pig and mixed bristles. Which kind you need depends on the type of hair you have and what you want to use a brush for.
Synthetic hair
The best choice for taming thick, long and unruly hair. Only nylon pens can penetrate this type of hair well. These stiff pens offer a lot of grip, making them great for detangling hair. Synthetic hair also prevents your hair from becoming static.
- Hair type: Thick hair
- Ideal for: Detangling
Hog Hair
Hog bristle is 100% natural and very suitable for brushing fine and short hair. Because these bristles are soft and flexible, your hair is less likely to be damaged or broken. The bristles close the scales while brushing your hair, thus preserving the hair's moisture balance. Bristle also distributes the hair's natural oils to the ends. This ensures a shiny soft end result.
- Hair type: Fine, brittle and thin hair
- Ideal for: Shine and improve health of scalp and hair
Mixed Hair
A combination of bristle and synthetic hair are considered by many to be the best of both worlds. The bristle makes your hair smooth, soft and shiny while synthetic hair optimally detangles your hair. These hybrid brushes are therefore suitable for all hair types.
- Hair type: All hair types
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Ideal for: Detangling and shine
How to clean a brush.
Every time you use the brush, remove the hair from your brush. You can pull these hairs out with your hands, but there comes a time when your brush is full of hairs that are hard to get out. Very irritating. By using a tool like the Bossman The 'Claw' Beard Brush Cleaner, however, you can easily get these hairs out. You can use this Brush cleaner for brushes with bristles and nylon pins.
The best brushes
Finally, we have selected three brushes for you. These brushes all have unique properties. Which one suits your hair best?
Denman D3 Original Styler 7 Row
If you're looking for an all-in-one brush, this is the one for you. Whether you want to detangle, smooth or volumize your hair, this versatile brush can do it all. The Denman D3M also has very soft nylon pins that won't damage your scalp.
The Bluebeards Revenge Wooden Vent Brush
This sturdy vented brush from The Bluebeards Revenge is made of weathered beech wood. Are you always in a hurry in the morning or want to style your hair? Then this is the ideal brush for you. The nylon pins detangle your hair with ease and the 7 "vents" allow you to blow dry in no time.
Mariella Martinato Buffalo Horn Brush
Want to treat yourself to pure luxury? This brush from Mariella Martinato is handmade in Italy. Each brush is a unique piece of craftsmanship. Made of walnut wood and decorated with real buffalo horn. The bristles are made of dark hog bristle. Ideal for men with somewhat thicker hair. This is a natural product, so no two brushes are the same.