Best Brush/Comb for VERY thick hair?

**Amber_Maiden** · June 16th, 2011, 12:05 PM

Sorry to post again about brush/combs... But I'm still on the fence about the best one to get. I'm wondering if a horn or bone comb would even make it through my thick hair... Are Mason Pearson combs better for thick hair/easier to handle? I'm currently using a Goody brush... and so far its been the best of anything I've ever had, but the EVIL plastic bristles are all I can think about as I brush my hair now.. LOL

Any tips for the thick haired people???
Any suggestions welcome!

**xoxophelia** · June 16th, 2011, 12:32 PM

I use a wood comb from the Body Shop as well as a brush sometimes (my hair doesn't tangle badly so combs don't cause much damage for me).

You hair doesn't look so thick that the combs you named should be any issue. What is your hair's circumference though?

A number of people here love the Tangle Teezer but I have no background with that so I can't say how well it would work for moderately thick to thick hair hair.

**Amber_Maiden** · June 16th, 2011, 12:40 PM

It gets pretty tangly... Thats what I'm worried about, it likes to dread lock itself, which is annoying....

I'm not sure what type my hair is... How do you check that?

**woolyleprechaun** · February 6th, 2012, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by xoxophelia

I use a wood comb from the Body Shop as well as a brush sometimes (my hair doesn't tangle badly so combs don't cause much damage for me).

You hair doesn't look so thick that the combs you named should be any issue. What is your hair's circumference though?

A number of people here love the Tangle Teezer but I have no background with that so I can't say how well it would work for moderately thick to thick hair hair.

Ive got one of these body shop combs too! I love mine to bits, and if your a scritching fan, they are heavenly. I reccomend any long-wide spaced-fingered comb, but woods a favorite.

**Maelyssa** · February 6th, 2012, 01:53 PM

My oldest daughter has an absolute mass of super thick, curly hair. So thick that the times I've detangled it for her I ended up spending so long trying to section it and comb it that my arms hurt from being in that position for too long. Her hair is so dense that when learning to wash her own hair when she was younger she had many many times where half of it didn't even get wet but she thought it did.

On that note, I just bought my girls their first Tangle Teezer and she loves it. Wants one for her purse. If you use it properly it does indeed untangle all of the hair on a very thick head and it does it rather quickly and gently.
If you search Torrin Paige on YouTube she has a video review where she actually uses it on her own long, thick locks. It was that video which clinched the deal for me. I knew it would help my girls and the struggle with their thick curls.

Even if it doesn't work for you, you can always put it up on the swap board. I highly recommend it.

**xoxophelia** · June 16th, 2011, 12:49 PM

If your hair gives you trouble with tangles definitely look into the Tangle Teezer here. There are some threads on it and you can see if it is right for you.

To measure my hair circ. I used a string to wrap around my hair and form a tight ponytail. I marked where the end of the string met back up with the rest of it and then measured the length with a ruler. Mine is between 4.5"-5" so I put my thickness as ii/iii although I am not sure what the rules are. I figured over 5" is a solid iii but it could be less than that as well.

If my hair ever gets tangled I also just brush in sections so that the underside is brushed as much as the top.

**Amber_Maiden** · June 16th, 2011, 12:56 PM

Ok, I did it- my ponytail circumference is 5.9.... Thats pretty thick I assume? LOL

**Anje** · June 16th, 2011, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Amber_Maiden

Ok, I did it- my ponytail circumference is 5.9.... Thats pretty thick I assume? LOL

Quite thick.
i = Less than 2 inch circumference
ii = 2-4 inch circumference
iii = More than 4 inch circumference

Mine's on the thinner side of ii so I can't give you great recommendations. Horn and wood combs are nice because they don't get staticky like plastic, and they don't have sharp seams like your average plastic comb. I like the Body Shop wood detangler comb myself. The resin "bone" combs from Hairsense are also quite popular around here, and you can use them in the shower unlike horn and wood.

I find a normal BBB doesn't go through my hair to the scalp very well, so I doubt it would get through yours. If you order an MP, you might want to consider the BBB/nylon blend ones. I've seen a lot of thick-haired folks here preferring them because the nylon allows better penetration to the scalp.

**heidi w.** · February 6th, 2012, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Anje

I find a normal BBB doesn't go through my hair to the scalp very well, so I doubt it would get through yours. If you order an MP, you might want to consider the BBB/nylon blend ones. I've seen a lot of thick-haired folks here preferring them because the nylon allows better penetration to the scalp.

This is normal with a BBB. Most people's hair thickness, a BBB will not penetrate the thickness. One should not press yet harder on the hair to penetrate the depths of hair.

The length, one can BBB both sides of the hair length: underside and topside, separately.

Make SURE one detangles all the hair prior to BBBing, which I perform as a polishing act, which tends to result in really soft hair.

Do not use a BBB to detangle hair nor on wet hair.

heidi w.

**UltraBella** · June 16th, 2011, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Amber_Maiden

Ok, I did it- my ponytail circumference is 5.9.... Thats pretty thick I assume? LOL

I mean this in the most un-snarky way possible, I truly do, but I would suggest you measure again to double check. Make sure the string, yarn, or whatever you are using is not stretchy - I personally use a shoe lace - and make sure it is pulled tight. I am a 5.9" circumference and when I look at your pics I can see you have thick hair, but I would've guessed it was under 5". Once again, not trying to be snarky in any way, and I do know pictures can be deceiving, but I look at heads of hair all day long, every day at work. I am not trying to downplay your thickness, your hair is lovely, but I just think *maybe* your first measurement was off. It can be tricky ! It doesn't matter if your hair is thicker, thinner, etc..... but it does help to have an accurate knowledge of what your hair is so you can find others here with similar hair. You can slap me with a BB brush with much force if I am wrong

I don't actually brush my hair, so I am no help there. I use a plastic wide toothed detangling comb with a long handle. I bought it at the beauty supply store locally. There is not hair too thick for that thing, it is great. I do own a regular plastic bristle paddle brush, I just never use it.