Soft bristles can be great. Bristles can easily be made soft. Take your brush and lay the bristles down in warm oily water and then dry with a blow dryer to get soft bristles.
This is a good way to make use of a number of brushes you have laying around and can’t use because they are too hard. This method does not work on combs including wide-toothed combs, ha! And going through the steps a second time is not really beneficial.
List Of Hair Brushes With Soft Bristles
| Soft Brushes | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| 1. 100% Boar Bristle Brush by Belula | Oval style brush with a wooden handle. Soft on your scalp. Great for medium to thin hair. |
| 2. Mason Pearson Pocket Sensitive Hair Brush | Oval style brush in a compact style. One of the best. This Sensitive Pure Boar Bristle is specifically for brushing thinning hair and sensitive scalp. |
| 3. Johnny B Barber Brush Blue | 7 Row compact brush. Nice blue color, it’s a compact brush so keep that in mind. Great for beards too. Ridiculous price and quality. Great buy. |
| 4. Kent LS9D Ladies Finest Hair Brush | 7 Row smoothing brush. Great for men or women with thinning hair or looking for a soft bristle brush. |
Steps To Soften Bristles (No Skipping Thru A Video, Here Is Your Answer)
- Take the cup of lukewarm water and pour it into the shallow container to hold your bristle brush.
- Add one table spoon of virgin olive oil to the shallow container filled with water. Mix the olive oil and water. As you mix you will notice that oil and water do not mix very (using a circular motion) well so just do the best you can and not to worry.The oil is key for softening the bristles.
- The warm water helps the boar bristles absorb better. Take your bristle brush and lay it down in the warm oily water for 5 minutes. Make sure the bristles are positioned face down into the water. You want as much of the bristles to be covered by the oily water.
- After 5 minutes take the bristle brush out of the oily water and pat the bristles lightly on the paper towels.
- After you have removed most of the oily water and it’s not dripping, take your blow-dryer and position it about 3 to 4 inches away from the bristles on the brush. Start blow-drying bristles on a low heat stetting. Fan the blow-dryer across the bristles for about 5 minutes.
- Now your bristles are nice and soft and ready for your hair.
1). Add the warm water to a shallow container
2). Add in one table spoon olive oil
3). Mix the warm water and olive oil
4). Place brush face down in the warm water and olive oil
5). After 5 minutes of soaking remove and pat dry on paper towels
6). Dry with blow-dryer for 5 minutes
If you are attempting to soften nylon bristles don’t bother, because it’s not possible. Synthetic bristles brushes do not soften using this technique. This only works on real boar bristles. If you are interest in saving a few dollars you might try this method. Stacey, hair analyst says, “Sometimes you can revive an old hair brush. It’s worth a try due all you have to lose is your time and a little olive oil.”
My #1 Choice For A Soft Boar Bristle Hairbrush
Ladies and gentleman, if you have thin hair and are looking for a high quality soft boar bristle hairbrush, then I highly recommend the Kent LS9D. I love the brush because of the beautiful satinwood handle and soft boar bristles. I prefer wooden handles over plastic due to they just look better and are not prone to break like many two piece plastic handles do.
The Kent LS9D is not perfect, but there are some things you can do. First off, if you have thin hair, static electricity on dry days is going to be a problem. A quick fix is to use a spritz of water before brushing with the Kent LS9D. Also, you can use a good leave in conditioner. Both these methods will tame static immediately.
Also as with all wooden handle boar bristle brushes, it’s common for the brush to lose some bristles. However, if you lose an entire plug, that is considered a major defect. The brush was not tufted correctly. Here, Kent has a good return policy and stands behind their products. However I have never seen a Kent brush loose an entire plug. They have been in business for many years, so you can trust they will be around if you need them, unlike many other brush companies.
The Kent LS9D makes a splendid gift and, with proper care, will last a lifetime.
Soft Boar Bristles Conclusion
The soft brushes are most recognized for producing glossy, lustrous and smooth strands thanks to its ability to equally disseminate and distribute your hair’s natural oils from root to tip. By doing so, they can aid in keeping the scalp and hair clean.
Also, if you have ever bought a boar brush and you find the bristles are too stiff you can to use the technique mentioned above to soften the bristles.
Many folks would like to soften their boar bristle brushes. Maybe you purchased a first cut boar bristle brush and have thin hair and as a result would like a little softer brush. You may ask what is first cut boar bristles?
First cut bristles are taken from the root or bulb end of the bristle. First cuts are more expensive and more desirable because the bulb end of the bristle is thicker and has better penetration. First cut boar brushes have much stiffer bristles. Many manufactures reserve First cuts for their premium products.
You want the bristles to be long enough to penetrate to your scalp. And having thinner hair the bristles have an easier time with penetrations. Sometimes too much and therefore irritates your scalp by being too stiff and penetrating too much. Having a long enough bristle is essential for massaging your scalp for stimulating the release of a beneficial oil called sebum for conditioning your hair. The trick is to find the right stiffness as not to cause pain when brushing but also get the right amount of penetration.
You can tell if you need a softer brush just by brushing your hair and if your scalp get irritated or you feel pain then the bristles are too stiff.
Some brushes are expensive so if you can salvage one by making it softer you will come out ahead.
Now this can lead to a another more difficult problem. Some brushes that have a mixture of boar and nylon bristles. So if you follow these instructions for soften the bristles it only going to work on the boar bristles. The nylon bristles will still be too stiff for you. So you are better off not wasting your time on this technique. Before you begin you will need to verify if you have a nylon and boar bristle brush. The best way is to read the manufacture’s packaging or look up details online.
Both nylon and real 100% boar bristles has their own strengths and weakness If you have really thick and or curly hair you are going to need maximum penetration. A boar bristle brush alone may not provide you with the penetration you need. So this is why some manufactures also make a boar and nylon combination brush. A really stiff First Cut boar along with nylon can get you the extra penetration you need to reach your scalp. The combination give you almost all the benefits of using an all boar bristle brush. Reaching your scalp is important to be effective at spreading your natural oils throughout your hair.
The reason why boar is so effective is that it’s like your own hair. Boar has tiny scales just like a human hair. These tiny scales are real good at collecting your scalps natural oils and spreading them from the roots to the tips of your hair. Nylon is much smoother therefore is not as effective as boar.
Tools And Materials Needed To Soften Hair Brush Bristles
This method works on most real 100% boar brushes, oval brushes, paddle brushes and even shower brushes that are 100% boar bristles. No need for white vinegar, dish soap, soapy water, mineral spirits, glass jar, baby lotion, fabric softener or anything that can cause damage.
- One cup of warm water
- A mixing container that will hold your brush. You will need something like a shallow bowl or container works best
- Virgin olive oil, any brand will do, small amount
- Paper towels
- Blow-dryer
- About 10 minutes of your time
Various types of materials are used making brushes. According to Gordon Brush these are the materials as it relates to boar bristles: “HOG BRISTLE: Relatively scarce and expensive. This material has characteristics that set it apart as the best natural filling material for a wide variety of bristle brushes. Each strand of bristle has a natural taper from the butt or flesh end to the tip, giving it resilience not found in other hairs. In addition, the tip end of each bristle is naturally split into two or more branches called the flag. Hog bristle has a slightly stiff to very stiff texture and is off white or black in color and excellent for ESD brush applications. Chung king hog bristle is the stiffest hog bristle available. It also has excellent durability and water resistance.“
Conclusion And Summary
Are you struggling like me with a hair brush that’s too harsh on your scalp and causing hair breakage? Softening hair brush bristles can help promote healthy hair growth and make your hair-care routine more enjoyable. Here’s my guide on how to soften hair brush bristles for a gentler approach to various hair types, including coarse hair. These are some tips that may work depending on your hair brush. These are some tip not previously mentioned above.
One method to soften the bristles of your hair brush is to use hair conditioner. Apply a generous amount of conditioner to the bristles, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off. This will help the bristles become more pliable, giving you a gentler experience when brushing your hair. Make sure to consult with your hairstylist for the best conditioner suitable for your hair type.
A detangling brush with nylon pins is another great option for those who want a softer brush. These brushes are specifically designed to glide through wet or dry hair, reducing hair breakage and protecting hair strands and follicles. A detangling spray can also be applied before brushing to provide extra slip and ease the process.
Olivia Garden offers a range of hair brushes with an ergonomic handle and rubber cushion, designed to provide a gentle touch while effectively detangling hair. Their brushes cater to various hair types and needs, ensuring a comfortable and efficient hair-care routine.
If you have a round brush with stiff bristles, try using household items to soften them. Soak the brush in hot vinegar for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The vinegar will help loosen and soften the bristles, making it easier to brush through your hair without causing breakage. Alternatively, baby oil can be applied to the bristles, left for a few minutes, and then rinsed off for a softer brush.
By softening your hair brush bristles, you can enjoy a more pleasant hair-care routine that encourages healthy hair growth. And I say always remember to be gentle with your hair and use the right products and tools to maintain your hair’s health and appearance.
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