Did someone say Fall? As soon as the leaves turn to warm hues, the sweetness of pumpkin spice rushes to our minds. The soft feeling of our favorite sweater arrives, and the excitement of brisk weather tingles in the air. And guess what we’re also looking forward to? Down do’s!
Wearing your hair down can be the spice of a perfect fall outfit, but first, we need to know how to care for our hair! And most importantly, we need to know how to brush it!
Many don’t know that different hair types need different brushes. So, let’s talk about which brushes do what and the hair types they work best for. This blog will also cover some sustainable and vegan options for hair styling!
Detangling Brush
Firstly, with all brushing, you’ll want to start at the ends and work your way up. Then, you can go from the scalp to the ends.
For detangling specifically, it’s best to brush when your hair is wet. Detangling bristles move in a very flexible way. This is wonderful, especially since hair is very delicate when wet. Because the bristles move in different directions, they prevent breakage. Using an oil or a detangling product on wet hair also adds slip and nourishes the hair.
The Ultimate Detangler - $15.99
What is the best detangling brush for thick, curly hair?
Detangling brushes are a staple of curly hair routines. In fact, for many curly hair types, brushing should be done when wet. Brushing it dry might result in frizz or breakage. Never fear though! Curly-hair peeps can still use detangling sessions to style the hair with a brush. Read more here for a curly hair styling routine!
To detangle highly textured hair, use a flexible brush with wide-spaced bristles. When the bristles are further apart, they can detangle knots without tugging. Wet brushes are great for this.
OG Vented Paddle Brush - $13.95
Thermal Brush or Round Brush
You’ll want to make sure that your hair is detangled before using a thermal brush. You won't want to use a thermal brush on completely saturated hair. The hair shouldn’t be more than damp before using a thermal brush. Thermal brushes are made with materials that conduct heat, making them an efficient tool for blow-drying hair.
Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hairbrush - $26.95
If your hair lacks volume, thermal brushes can create volume, and can even reduce frizz on fine hair. Thermal brushes can also reduce the use of high heat treatments since they help to conduct and distribute heat from blow dryers. They also shape your hair to the contours of the brush and can give it a wavy effect.
Round brushes may not be the best for highly textured hair since they can get stuck. However, they can still be optimal for thick hair types, loose curls, and medium curls. Sectioning the hair is very important when using a round brush. The section shouldn’t have a wider diameter than the brush itself.
Paddle Brushes
NanoThermic Ceramic + Ion Large Paddle Brush - $25.95
Paddle brushes work well for smoothing long and straight hair. Smoothing brushes smooth and elongate the hair by stretching it, removing kinks, and reducing frizz. Smoothing brushes can prepare the hair for styling and setting the hair.
For thicker, straight hair, you’ll want to use a paddle brush with sturdier bristles made from a material like nylon. On the other hand, paddle brushes may cause too much tension for some curly hair types.
For fine hair, an alternative to a paddle brush could be a vegan, boar brush. And some curly hair types, while not all, have also had success with vegan boar brushes when breaking up the hair into sections before heat treatments.
Vegan Boar Bristle Brush
Vegan boar brushes are very soft, and they’re great for oily scalps because they distribute oil from the scalp onto the hair shaft. These brushes also work well for exfoliating the scalp. They are great for smoothing the cuticle and reducing frizz on fine hair too!
And because the bristles are so soft, they reduce tension and prevent breakage when brushing.
Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush - $28
Despite these amazing benefits, it’s important to choose the vegan version. Non-vegan boar bristle brushes are taken from the hair of domesticated boars. Yes, the hair has a similar, soft texture to human hair, but these animals cannot consent to having their hair taken.
Plus, boar hair is very short. So, upon getting sheared, there is a lot of friction. The blade generates friction against the skin and becomes hot. This often burns the animal. And if the blade is not properly lubricated, it is abrasive, causing additional pain.
Moreover, the bristles have another possibility of coming from the meat industry. Many of the bristles are a byproduct of animals whose lives were taken. Afterward, their bodies are placed in boiling water before being dismembered.
So, even if a brand says the product is humane, what does that mean? At any rate, the majority of boar bristle brushes come from countries whose labor laws and animal cruelty laws are not stringent or not enforced.
Also, when buying styling tools or any products, it’s important to think of the sustainability impact at large. Likewise, buying brushes made of bamboo is another great choice. Bamboo is more sustainable than wooden and plastic brushes. Bamboo grows easily, and it will regenerate 30 times faster than most trees provided that their root systems have been left intact. Bamboo also needs less water, meaning it requires fewer resources.
So, as we enter the fall season and revel in the fall beauty, we must remember that the planet needs our support. Fall beauty can only continue if we show our home love, especially in the face of climate change.
So, upon seeing the warm, autumnal trees, remember that we need to be warm-hearted too! So, these are just a few environmentally-compassionate things to remember as we enter the season of styling our Fall down do’s!