Boar bristle brushes have been around for a long time. They have always been noted for creating shiny, healthy hair without the use of styling products. As you well may know there are many well known famous actress that have used a boar bristle brush to obtain their glamorous wavy hairstyles. For example Lauren Bacall, she inspired women to get those brilliant, bouncy curls. What is not to love about Bacall’s signature wavy hair or those vintage bouffant hairstyles?
What is a Boar Bristle Brush Used For? The boar bristle’s unique structure carries the oil your scalp creates from the roots to the end of your hair every time you brush. A boar bristle brush repairs dry hair and adds lustrous brightness by coating each hair strand with a small amount of natural oil.
Boar bristles are used for conditioning hair naturally
After using a boar bristle brush one of the most remarkable improvements I have seen is in hair texture. Hair seems to have a more bouncy lustrous feel. It adds more bounce, volume and shine. And for curly hair it seems to condition the curl as to make it not as tightly curled. In addition, there seems to be a noticeable and significant decrease in hair frizz. I believe this is due to the natural oils being distributed along the entire length of the hair shaft every time you brush.
According to Stacey, Hair Research Analyst, “Another big benefit of using a boar bristle brush is that most likely you will save money on styling products.” I would not recommend using a lot of styling products with a boars brush. Most styling products will just junk up the brush making it harder to move through your hair or requiring you to clean your brush more often. In most cases they just clog up the bristles.
I have found that if you must use a conditioner or styling product is to use few drops of pure macadamia oil. Put a few drops in the palm of your hand and rub gently into your hair. Then wash your hands and start brushing. By doing this on a frequent basis you will then need to clean your brush more often than normal. I believe there are benefits of using natural products like macadamia oil and other hydrating oils. Another one of my favorites is Argan oil.
The oil comes from the macadamia tree in which produces the highest percentage of monounsaturates when compared to both olive and canola oils. It also contains vitamin A1, B1, B2, niacin and other essential elements such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.
I am not sure if you hair actually need all that but I am guessing it would not hurt. It typically has an shelf life of about one to two years if not refrigerated. I am guessing most over the counter products have extra ingredients added to extend the shelve life. When talking about pure macadamia oil with no additives its shelved life would be much less.
Use and benefits of using a boar brush
- Stimulates the scalp
- Reduces that frizzy look
- Cleans your hair thus reduces the need to wash as frequently
- Reduces the need for styling products
- Naturally conditions the hair shaft
- Seems to improves hair bounce or hair texture
According to Meesh, Hair Product Analyst, “Using a good boars brush can help you maintain a healthy clean head of hair and may even reduce the need for frequent washing.” Typically people brushing one in the morning and once in the evening can get away by only washing once a week. This of course is highly dependent on your personal situation. I would say washing once a week is on the extreme end for most people. Most people would fall into the twice a week category.
Now if you are using styling products then your frequency of washing is most liking going to increase due to the buildup of product in your hair. This also depends on your hair type and whether you have tick or thinning hair. Most people with thinning hair may not need to wash as frequently as someone who has naturally thick hair.
When using a boar bristle brush you may experience more frizz or static build up. This is because the bristles are separating your hair and causing static electricity. You hair may even actually poof up or you may experience hair that seems like its floating or suspended in mid air. To tame this you may want to use some conditioner or natural oil. A few sprays or drops of oil usually eliminate the “hair poofs”.
Most really good boar bristles brushes will general last a long time, may even last a lifetime with proper care. Most brushes are going to cost more than typical nylon brushes. A wooden handle bush is a nice touch but when looking for a brush the most important feature is you want the handle to fit your hand. If the brush has too short of a handle then you lose control. This also puts more strain on your wrist.
Look for a brush for your type of hair. Not all brushes will work great for all types of hair. Depending on your hair type you may need a different type of brush.
Boar bristle brushes come with a mixture of boar and nylon. These brushes are just as good but depend on your hair and specifics.
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Boar brushes are best used for hair types
Generally speaking if you have thick dense hair you are going to want a brush that can penetrate deeper. These types of brushes have less bristles or either density of the bristles is less. These brushes have nylon bristles in addition to boar’s bristles. The nylon bristles are usually longer and penetrates to the scalp. The shorter boar bristles then distribute the natural oils thought your hair. For people with thick hair this generally works the best.
For people who have thinner hair a regular boar bush seems to work the best. The bristles can penetrate to the scalp and with each brush stroke distribute oils along the shaft. These brushes will do a better job at distributing oils than the nylon mix brushes. The biggest drawback is it may produce more static and frizz. Most people using a pure boars brush use a little oil to tame the fizz.
How to use a boar bristle brush
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- Avoid brushing wet hair with a boar bristle. Because it can cause damage to your hair or hair breakage and does not properly distribute the natural oils in your hair when wet. You aim is always to protect your hair, right?
- Do not use a boar bristle brush to detangle hair. Detangle your hair gently first with a wide-tooth comb.
- Start at the root of the hair with every brush stroke and work all the way down to the tip.
- Always first, start by brushing the back of the hair by bending over. Then brush the hairline to your tips. Section off the top half of your hair so you can brush from the crown of your head down to the tips.
- Clip and section your hair as necessary. Always work in sections so your brush can penetrate through your hair.
Brush use conclusion
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I hope this article was helpful and provided you with valuable information regarding boar bristles brushes. Not all brushes are created equal and not all people have the same hair type. By knowing the different types of brushes and your specific hair type you can then match your hair with the perfect brush to get the maximum benefit. After regular use you will be able to get those glamorous, brilliant, bouncy curls just like Lauren Bacall.
References: Samvilla