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Pixna
April 26th, 2009, 03:01 PM
...that is the question.

If you brush, what type of brush do you use (BBB, Denman, other), how often do you brush, how do you brush, and why do you brush?

If you don't brush, do you comb, finger comb, or scrunch, and what are your reasons for not brushing?

Shanarana
April 26th, 2009, 03:05 PM
I never brush my hair...always use a comb. :)

eshta
April 26th, 2009, 03:11 PM
I don't brush, I fingercomb and comb with a plastic seamless comb. I have a BBB lying around but never use it. I never got the hang of it and it feels damaging somehow.

I like combing because I have thick hair and like to detangle one tangle at the time with my fingers, I only use the comb to move tangles down and find ones my finger combing misses. A brush gets stuck in my hair and rips trough tangles too much for me.

enfys
April 26th, 2009, 03:19 PM
...that is the question.

If you brush, what type of brush do you use (BBB, Denman, other), how often do you brush, how do you brush, and why do you brush?

If you don't brush, do you comb, finger comb, or scrunch, and what are your reasons for not brushing?

I brush with my beloved Tangle Teezer. I have a BBB/nylon mix as back-up, and a big paddle brush as back up for that.

I brush every morning, sometimes before bed, rarely in the day but that depends on what hair style I've worn.

I brush top to bottom, straight through. Always have. Bottom up never worked for me.

I brush because me and combs never got on, and finger combing just gives me tangles with my sweaty hands...

nitecitten
April 26th, 2009, 03:46 PM
Wide tooth comb and finger comb. The reason is one of the first things I learn was brushing was bad for your hair and recently while at the movie I saw a preview and it mention brushing damaged your hair.

LittleOrca
April 26th, 2009, 03:50 PM
I comb for the most part with a wooden comb, fingers, or a small black plastic comb I have. I do have a BBBrush that I use only after I have combed to help get good oils down the length of my hair, but other than that I'm a comb girl.

Radulfr
April 26th, 2009, 03:53 PM
If you don't brush, do you comb, finger comb, or scrunch, and what are your reasons for not brushing?Hi Pixna!
I finger-comb the ends first to get rid of tangles, then comb with a wide-tooth comb. I don't brush because my hair texture won't easily allow it.

AnneAdeline
April 26th, 2009, 04:00 PM
I don't brush often. I do have a BBB that I use occasionally to smooth updos.
What I do instead is comb with a pick. It is much gentler on my prone-to-tangles hair than a brush is.

Firefly
April 26th, 2009, 04:07 PM
I don't brush. I have a Madora comb I use to comb conditioner through my hair in the shower and AVG afterwards; but when it's dry I only finger comb, if at all. HTH! :)

Jamme
April 26th, 2009, 04:11 PM
I used to brush until recently when I bought a wooden comb, and now I'm never going back :P It feels so less damaging. I try to use it as little as possible anyway, since my hair's got quite a lot of slip.

Flaxen
April 26th, 2009, 04:17 PM
I've just recently (this morning actually) decided to brush with my bbb right before washing. I noticed in the past that my scalp stays cleaner between washings if I do that. It also feels really good. :cloud9:

GeoJ
April 26th, 2009, 04:49 PM
I used to brush with a BBB because it felt so good on my scalp, but I had to stop because my hair did not do well with brushing. Now I only use seamless widetooth combs and fingercombing.

Teacherbear
April 26th, 2009, 05:37 PM
Hey, Pixna!

I use a Denman on my wet hair, fresh from the shower. I also use it in the morning, after I take out my hair from my night-pony. Then I spritz my hair with distilled water (sometimes mixed with EOs and/or leave in conditioner), then I rebrush and put my hair up for the day (or braid it).

I own a wonderful Mason Pearson Large Extra brush, but I MUCH prefer my Denmans.

Silverlox
April 26th, 2009, 06:10 PM
I have major problems finger combing or detangling with a comb. They always get stuck in my tangles and make it worse. :silly:

In order to solve that problem, I got a BBB and quickly found out that it was only really good in the summer. As soon as the temperatures are around or below the freezing point, using a BBB turns my hair into a static nightmare. :scared:

Recently I was contemplating getting a Tangle Teezer. After having had a questions-and-answers session with another member I knew used it, I went ahead and bought it. It's not even very expensive. It cost just under $15, which isn't bad at all compared to my BBB.

I just love this brush! :inlove:

It's very soft and gentle, but still gets through my hair. There's no brute force. The seamless plastic "bristles" are soft and just bend away if there is a major tangle, without ripping through it. It's even hollow and very light weight, so when I dropped it on my foot, it didn't hurt. :D

Combing is still part of my grooming exercises, but first I detangle with the Tangle Teezer. :thumbsup:

littlemiss
April 26th, 2009, 06:32 PM
I brush maybe once a month if that all other times I use a bone comb, i don't brush as it makes my hair go fuzzy and its easier to manage when i just comb. When i do brush I use a boar bristle brush :smile:

GlennaGirl
April 26th, 2009, 06:44 PM
I love brushing my hair. I didn't brush for about a year (wide-toothed comb or finger combing only) to be careful with my hair. Then I cut a chunk off (of the hair, not the comb). This year, I'm growing again but this time I am using a brush. I hope to heck I'm not ripping my hair to shreds but I feel, why have long hair if I can't enjoy it? And one of the things *I* enjoy about long hair is brushing it.

So I have a Denman for when I want that "I KNOW you're ripping my hair to shreds but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, all those little plastic spikey things running over my scalp" feeling, and one of those Conair Ouchless ones for when I'm really trying to be careful.

GlennaGirl
April 26th, 2009, 06:48 PM
I have major problems finger combing or detangling with a comb. They always get stuck in my tangles and make it worse. :silly:

In order to solve that problem, I got a BBB and quickly found out that it was only really good in the summer. As soon as the temperatures are around or below the freezing point, using a BBB turns my hair into a static nightmare. :scared:

Recently I was contemplating getting a Tangle Teezer. After having had a questions-and-answers session with another member I knew used it, I went ahead and bought it. It's not even very expensive. It cost just under $15, which isn't bad at all compared to my BBB.

I just love this brush! :inlove:

It's very soft and gentle, but still gets through my hair. There's no brute force. The seamless plastic "bristles" are soft and just bend away if there is a major tangle, without ripping through it. It's even hollow and very light weight, so when I dropped it on my foot, it didn't hurt. :D

Combing is still part of my grooming exercises, but first I detangle with the Tangle Teezer. :thumbsup:

OK...this proved just WAAAAAAAY too tempting, so I just bought one on ebay. There are 28 of them left, boys and girls!

Oh god. So much for my "I am NOT spending on anything unnecessary for the remainder of 2009" plan!

GlennaGirl
April 26th, 2009, 06:51 PM
Oh...it was $20 (USD) from this dude (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSAA:US:11&Item=180348173687) in the UK on ebay. Buying from within the UK, it's probably a couple pounds (I don't have the symbol...or maybe I do and can't find it?) cheaper.

Seraphina
April 26th, 2009, 07:21 PM
I *used* to brush with my Denman,but then about 3 months ago it fell apart after years and years : ( So now I only have a cheapie brush,and it's pretty terrible ! It makes my hair really frizzy and it just seems to tangle it more.So now I only use it if my hair is really damp,For the rest of the time I just finger comb.

Silverlox
April 26th, 2009, 07:22 PM
Hello, my name is Silverlox and I'm a brushaholic. :waving:
This should of course have been in my first post in this thread, but I didn't think about then.

GlennaGirl, I'm sure you won't regret it! One word of warning though. This is a hollow plastic brush. At first, the resonance and sound effects are quite scary, as it makes it sound like you're ripping your hair out.

But once you realise that it's only sound and nothing is damaging your hair, you get so used to it, you probably won't even notice after a couple of days. I don't react to the sound effects at all now.

Sorry I didn't post a link. This (http://www.tangleteezer.com/order-now/) is where I got mine, at the original website in the UK. Their prices and shipping rates are rather humane, in my eyes. :flower:

ETA: I just checked GlennaGirl's link and I think it's the same guys selling there as on the website in my link. At least the prices in UK currency are the same. :thumbsup:

Roseate
April 26th, 2009, 07:42 PM
Sometimes I brush. It feels so gooood, how could it be wrong? ;)

Makes my hair straightish and puffy, but makes my scalp sing a happy song. I use a BBB with a longer, stiffer plastic bristle poking up from each bunch of boar bristles. It's not this brand, but it looks like this. (http://www.amazon.com/Spornette-Porcupine-Genuine-Bristle-Germany/dp/B0007IFB2W) I've had it since before I knew any better, and I just can't give it up! The plastic bristles seem totally smooth, with rounded ends, so I figure it could be worse.

I do it at night, so I don't have to go out with the resulting puff-head.:afro:

LadyLongLocks
April 26th, 2009, 07:46 PM
I comb most of the time but do use a brush if I blow dry. I use a large Scunci paddle brush. It helps hold the hair in place and not blow all around while drying ( I comb it out first) Other than that, I rarely use a brush at all anymore in the past 4 years.

Copasetic
April 26th, 2009, 07:50 PM
I don't brush because I have curly hair. I just use a wide tooth comb to untangle when I have conditioner in my hair, and then use my hands and fingers to put it into an updo.

kwaniesiam
April 26th, 2009, 07:55 PM
I use a Denman for styling, and a wide tooth hairsense comb for detangling.

GlennaGirl
April 26th, 2009, 09:19 PM
Hello, my name is Silverlox and I'm a brushaholic. :waving:
This should of course have been in my first post in this thread, but I didn't think about then.



Oh heh heh heh... :p Silverlox, I'm so glad you were brave enough to share that with us...(sniffle) There are more of us out there than you know......

Pixna
April 27th, 2009, 06:52 AM
Thanks, everyone!! Good info the Tangle Teezer, Silverlox -- you little enabler, you! ;)

I'm really appreciating everyone's input, so keep it coming, please! :D

JamieLeigh
April 27th, 2009, 09:05 AM
I do a bit of everything!

I detangle after a wash (after drying) with a wide-tooth wooden comb, if I don't mind it staying wavy. If I want it straighter, I finger-comb beginning when still barely damp.

I finger-comb if I want to detangle or smooth a bit on most normal days.

I BBB when I want my hair to look smooth for an updo.

Silverlox
April 30th, 2009, 04:24 PM
Oh heh heh heh... :p Silverlox, I'm so glad you were brave enough to share that with us...(sniffle) There are more of us out there than you know......

Hehehe.. Yep! Don't think I didn't notice how fast you were to rush out and buy a Tangle Teezer! :D


Thanks, everyone!! Good info the Tangle Teezer, Silverlox -- you little enabler, you! ;)


Who? Me? :confused: Would I? I'd never..
I just thought you'd like to know about my lovely new rip-free brush.. :wannabe:

Okay, I admit it. I've been here so long that I've realised enabling is a two way street.
No longer will I take all the enabling lying down. Now I'm getting my own back! :twisted:

Anje
April 30th, 2009, 05:20 PM
I brush primarily with a Denman, though I also comb with a HH widetooth horn comb. The BBB doesn't get much use -- it's primary purpose has become de-linting my hair when it has lots of junk stuck in it.

ETA: (Guess I didn't answer all the questions...) Whether I brush or comb often comes down to which I pick up first. I prefer to comb when I need to detangle, of course, and the brush is good when my hair is still looking "clumpy" after combing. Brushes are necessary when the scalp cleavage is getting problematic, too. In my bag, I keep a Denman 3-row comb, which is probably more comparable to a brush, but makes for a nice packable hybrid product.

Forever_Sophie
April 30th, 2009, 05:26 PM
Just combs for me, I find them to be gentler. I have 2 different kinds, one is wider, which I use on wet hair, and the other for when I'm combing it back (i.e. for a ponytail).

I remember my stylist questioning, twice now, why I asked her to comb & not brush. The first time, she was like, she's heard of ppl only combing but they at least brushed when WET! That's the time I wouldn't want a brush near my hair!

funnybunny668
April 30th, 2009, 05:31 PM
I don't brush mine. I like to encourage my waves to form.

pineapple pea
April 30th, 2009, 05:37 PM
Comb! Right now just cheap plastic ones, but eventually wood or horn.

Ndnlady
April 30th, 2009, 06:00 PM
I use a wooden bristle brush that does not have those little ball-tips at the end. I only brush once a day. I just like the fact that the wooden bristles not only distribute the oil from my scalp, but I also get a good scritching, which feels really good!:)
I only use a comb for wet hair.

rags
April 30th, 2009, 06:10 PM
I just don't understand how anyone with my hair type (babyfine and thin) could NOT use a brush. I know I can't if I want to wear updos. My hair just get incredibly full of "scalp cleavage" if I don't brush. So I use a BBB to smooth for updos, and the rest of the time I use a horn comb.

Wind-in-Tree
April 30th, 2009, 06:26 PM
Must have read my mind,,,,have been thinking about the same thing the past few days.....

I have still not decided whether to brush or not to brush.
It was great to read all the different opinions here by the way.
Don't have the money to buy an expensive BB brush but found an inexpensive one at Walmart, which I use in the morning before re-braiding my hair.
Still unsure whether brushing is good or bad for your hair.
You read so many opposite opinions about it that, just to be on the safe side with my thin - in recovery- hair, I do a little bit of both :eyebrows:

GlennaGirl
April 30th, 2009, 06:50 PM
I just don't understand how anyone with my hair type (babyfine and thin) could NOT use a brush. I know I can't if I want to wear updos. My hair just get incredibly full of "scalp cleavage" if I don't brush. So I use a BBB to smooth for updos, and the rest of the time I use a horn comb.

If my hair is "dirtier," I can finger-comb it rather than comb-comb or brush it, and sort of scoop it all back, and it looks pretty "in" that way, LOL. The messy look. This is usually day three or so after COing; I CO about every 4 days.

Helen Baq
April 30th, 2009, 06:59 PM
I use a BBB before I wash, to distribute oils. I comb, otherwise. I'd like to get a nice wooden or horn comb... :ponder:

chelles2kids
April 30th, 2009, 09:03 PM
Well, I *usually* use either a wide toothed comb or on a daily basis, my horn comb.
However, I need a good brushing. It just makes my scalp feel soooo good.
So I would say I brush about every week or week and a half.

I really love my wide toothed Denman, it just makes my scalp feel really good and they are easy to clean, so that's always a perk.

With my thickness, I haven't had any luck with any kind of boar bristle brush.:o

Masara
May 1st, 2009, 01:21 AM
I just don't understand how anyone with my hair type (babyfine and thin) could NOT use a brush. I know I can't if I want to wear updos. My hair just get incredibly full of "scalp cleavage" if I don't brush. So I use a BBB to smooth for updos, and the rest of the time I use a horn comb.

I'm with you on that one. I can use a comb to detangle, but if I want a smooth updo, then I have to use a brush.
My hair doesn't like too much brushing with a BBB, so I only use my Mason pearson from time to time because I love the feeling on my scalp (it's a nylon/bristle mix). The rest of the time, I use a large paddle brush. With the very spaced out "bristles", I don't feel it's all that different to a comb.
I have a tangle teaser, which is excellent at getting any tangles out, but it makes my scalp hair very flat. On the other hand it' the most wonderful tool to use on my dd's fine, tangly hair.

heidihug
May 1st, 2009, 03:16 PM
I just don't understand how anyone with my hair type (babyfine and thin) could NOT use a brush. I know I can't if I want to wear updos. My hair just get incredibly full of "scalp cleavage" if I don't brush.

Like others, I'm right there with you on this one, rags. I must brush or I have scalp showing through all over. Like chelles2kids, I use a wide-bristle Denman - mine is vented and seamless. I adore it - best $12 I ever spent.

When I don't brush, such as when I have damp hair, I fingercomb. Every once in a while I use a wide-toothed hair pick. Not very often, though. That's the closest I get to a comb.

aahavaa
May 1st, 2009, 07:54 PM
Combs seem to get entangled in my hair so I only use a Denman D4 brush.Though lately I have been trying a wide toothed comb when its wet and that has been ok.
I only brush after Day 2 if my waves have decided to take a vacation.Or if not on wash day I'll give it a good brushing.Like others have said it feels so good on the scalp and also helps to distribute some oil down the length. I also brush it once through under running water on my final rinse.Then I have to keep away from the brush until Day 2 or 3.And just use one of those really wide toothed comb things to pick at it to separate any clumps in the morning.

SheWolf
May 1st, 2009, 08:10 PM
I have a wide tooth comb for detangling when it's wet, and a Scunci paddle brush for when it's dry. I love to brush and it seems my hair loves it, too.

Unnamed
May 1st, 2009, 09:23 PM
Comb. I have three combs that I've used and kept using: conair shower comb, wood comb, and a fine-toothed sawcut plastic comb. I will also fingercomb.

To put simply: Brushes are too damaging (especially for my super fine hair).

I used to brush, and wow, huge, huge difference. For me, super fine hair and brushes do NOT go together at all. Breakage galore. Even a 3 row denman comb was murder. I do think this has something to do with fineness. I seriously doubt my hair would be as long as it is right now if I had kept brushing. My mom's hair is stalled at hip/tailbone I'm pretty sure from brushing. :(

Even with a major shed (1/2 my hair), a year after switching to a comb with no trims (oh, and nearly classic length, which it had never been before)...my ends were thicker than they usually were 3 months out from a trim. That was the big thing that made up my mind. Oh, and every single hair that was about 4" or longer when I stopped brushing had a broken end. Every single one (and so there's a definite taper...aka a 'brush damage' line). :( That sealed it, though, that brushes are evil (at least for my hair). :evil:


I also want to note that getting seamless (sawcut plastic, wood, horn, etc) or very smoothed seamed (the shower comb) was key. I had tried switching to combing previously and the comb would always get horribly tangled in my hair and/or it wouldn't detangle at ALL. Awful. I'd get frustrated, give up, and go back to brushing. It was the seams I'm pretty sure, as I had no issues with this last try, and I took the time to hunt down a better comb. :)


On this:


I just don't understand how anyone with my hair type (babyfine and thin) could NOT use a brush. I know I can't if I want to wear updos. My hair just get incredibly full of "scalp cleavage" if I don't brush.
I use a (quite) fine toothed comb if things are getting quite clumpy. Works just as well as a brush, and doesn't rip through the hairs. :) Even if not for that I'd take clumpiness over breakage.

Schnee
May 3rd, 2009, 10:08 AM
I prefer brushes and use a wood bristle brush everyday and occasionally a BBB. I've tried the comb-only regime, but it didn't work for me, so I now use combs only to distribute conditioner in hair and when I do parts etc for updos.

For me, brushes are quicker and better to detangle and remove shed hair. I found combing took too much time and didn't really remove shed hair so I suddenly found strands of hair everywhere and clogged the drain more often when washing.

chickpea
May 3rd, 2009, 02:38 PM
I use a wood bristle brush when I do a heavy oil treatment, to help distribute the oils through the length of my hair. This is only after careful detangling though.

I do have a tangle teezer but don't know if that qualifies as a brush. I use it right before washing my hair, when it doesn't matter that brushing makes it poofy. :wacko:

sandigirl
May 3rd, 2009, 06:56 PM
Brush. I cannot imagine not brushing. I have been a big brusher since I was very young. Brushing makes your hair shiny by distributing the oil. It makes it silky. I use cheap, plastic bristle Goody brushes and my hair looks great. I love brushing my scalp, too. It feels wonderful.

Jessica Trapp
May 3rd, 2009, 07:46 PM
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH..... I miss brushing my hair. Well... I miss my husband brushing my hair. ;)

But...I stopped brushing in 2005 when I first joined LHC--my hair used to break off in crazy amounts--the sink would look be covered with inch long hair and never gained any length. Now I only finger comb or use a wide toothed Mason Peason comb (I LOVE these combs!) and my hair is (hooray!) getting longer again. :cheese:

Jes