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When it comes to preserving your hair, the first step is to avoid causing breakage or scalp irritation. That's why the best hair brushes to prevent hair loss are those that can gently untangle hair without tugging. To understand how the right brush can prevent damage, I contacted R+Co cofounder and legendary celebrity hairstylist Garren to explain which brushes are best and how to get the most out of brushing.
Garren recommends paying close attention to how the bristles are arranged on the brush. A little extra space between bristles will help make detangling easier and less damaging. Also make sure to consider how the bristles are ordered. "Stay away from really spiky nylon brushes that are pointy in different lengths because it could cause breakage," Garren says. "It will also cause static electricity on very fine hair."
Finally, while metal and ceramic core brushes can speed up the blow-dry process, they can also be damaging to hair. "Metal will heat up as hot as a flat iron, so you’re burning off the hair," he says. "It will cause your hair more damage resulting in breakage." So if you're dealing with delicate strands and breakage, Garren recommends avoiding those and looking for one with a wooden core.
Should I stop brushing my hair if I have hair loss?
Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, explains the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and while excessive brushing can definitely damage your hair, gentle brushing is actually good for it. Brushing helps promote hair stimulation and in turn, growth, according to the Chicago Hair Institute.
Are boar-bristle brushes good for hair loss?
Boar bristles are gentle and can help stimulate the scalp, making them a great option for preventing hair loss. However, you’ll also want to pay attention to the design of the brush and technique as well. "If your hair is totally tangled, damaged, and dry — meaning, in a dry state like you slept in it and it all backfired — then you would need to use a Mason Pearson or a Spornette brush that has different lengths and is made with natural bristles mixed with nylon," says Garren. "This way, you can start at the bottom and loosely start to detangle the hair, section by section — opposed to just ripping through."
The Best Hair Brushes To Prevent Hair Loss
If you’re in a rush, these are the best hair brushes to prevent hair loss:
1. The Overall Best: Spornette Boar & Nylon Bristle Oval Hair Brush
2. A Budget Alternative To The Spornette Oval Brush: BESTOOL Hair Brush
3. The Best Brush For Wet Hair: Wet Brush
4. The Best Brush For Volume: R+Co Round Brush
5. A Budget-Friendly Volume Pick: BESTOOL Round Brush
1
The Best Overall Brush For Preventing Hair Loss
- Also available at Spornette.com, $31
Recommended by Garren and a fraction of the price of a Mason Pearson brush, this classic Spornette brush made from boar and nylon bristles helps gently detangle while also adding shine. The bristles help to evenly distribute oils along each strand for gloss and health, while the rubber cushion provides a little give to prevent breakage. The wooden handle also doesn't heat up like a metal or ceramic brush so it's less likely to damage hair while heat styling.
According to a reviewer: "After I gave birth I started to [lose] my hair [...] After I bought this brush and started to use it my hair it’s not falling and doesnt get tangled as it used to.”
2
A Budget Alternative To The Spornette Oval Brush
Made of a mix of natural boar bristles and nylon just like the top pick, this oval brush is about $10 cheaper but still gets raves from the more than 600 customers who've reviewed it and have given it 4.5 stars. The bamboo paddle doesn't overheat if you're using hot tools and customers rave about how gentle it is.
According to a reviewer: “I have had a problem for the first 10 years where my hair falls out constantly and when I brush it, My hairbrush is full of hair. [...] Right away it felt more gentle on my hair like it was pulling on it a lot less my hair came out nice and smooth and feeling a lot thicker than it used to but to top it off there was so much less hair in the hairbrush I’m actually amazed part of my hair falling out was because of my hairbrush.”
3
The Best Brush For Wet Hair
- Also available at BedBathAndBeyond.com, $9, and Walmart.com, $8
Wet hair is more delicate than dry hair which makes it even more important to be gentle with it when taking out tangles (or, skip it altogether). But if you want to brush your hair damp, this cult-favorite detangling brush is a great choice for wet hair with a 4.8-star overall rating after more than 30,000 reviews. Some customers even used this in the shower to help distribute conditioner. According to Bustle editor Carina Finn, “I have super thick, long wavy hair that’s prone to falling out, and the Wet brush is the only brush I will use! It detangles better than anything I’ve ever tried, and I don’t lose a ton of hair every time I brush it.”
According to a reviewer: “I have very fine long hair but A LOT of it. My hair is prove too getting tangled and what I like to call a birds nest. No matter how I wash my hair I know it’s going to be an arm work out with a lot of hair loss. This brush makes it easier and the hair loss less. It helps to detangle and doesn’t feel like I’m ripping all my hair out. This is the second one I’ve bought (as a back up) and I doubt I’ll ever use a different brush”
4
The Best Brush For Volume Without Damage
- Also available at NeimanMarcus.com, $75
When it comes to getting the most volume, Garren recommends combing through the hair to remove tangles first and then adding a dab or spritz of heat-protectant styling product. For those with curls, he says to blow-dry with a diffuser. For those without curls looking to add volume, he says to "take each section and coil it on top of the head, start at the bottom and blowout the hair using a big R+Co round brush. Then clip up to set and hold the volume.” With natural boar bristles and a wooden handle, it's less likely to damage hair when it's damp and being exposed to hot styling tools.
According to a reviewer: “i loved how easy it was to blow out my hair with this brush, i have semi curly hair.”
5
A Budget-Friendly Volume Brush Pick
To help make hair look fuller while still keeping it safe from damage, this round brush with boar bristles is a fan favorite with a 4.6-star rating. The wooden base means it won't cause as much heat damage as a metal or ceramic brush and the natural bristles are able to pull through hair without breakage.
According to a reviewer: “I bought this brush a month ago because I was tired of my scalp getting scratched and irritated by the stiff bristles on my plastic brush. The brush has a core of natural bristles with a sprinkling of longer flexible nylon bristles that have blunt tips. [...] this brush works great for styling with my blow dryer. My hair looks nice, and the brush feels good on my scalp.”
6
Also Great: A Styling Spray That Protects Hair And Helps Volume Last
- Also available at RAndCo.com, $27
Spritz this moisturizing setting spray on to wet hair before you brush and/or blow-dry to protect it from heat and help your style and volume last longer. Vegan and cruelty-free, it contains emollients to nourish all hair types.
When it comes to second-day hair, though, Garren recommends "a fine mist and then smooth out the crinkles – you don’t need to add more product." If you used a texturizing cream, consider skipping the brushing altogether.
According to a reviewer: “I have extremely fine hair, so I don't know if I recommend this for all hair types, but for me, it performs exactly as advertised--makes hairstyles hold longer and look more polished, adds volume if sprayed to the roots, protects against heat damage. And it smells amazing. Doesn't make your hair crunchy unless you use a ton of it. It's one of the only hair products I've continually repurchased when I run out of it.”
7
Also Great: This Hair Regrowth Dropper
This formula from Head & Shoulders is infused with minoxidil – the gold standard for topical hair regrowth treatment – and can easily be combined with your current hair routine to treat thinning hair. Simply apply to dry or slightly damp hair and massage in your scalp for best results.
According to reviewer: “The formula is so lightweight and easy to use, it’s the easiest addition to my hair routine to help encourage hair regrowth.”
8
Also Great: This Wildly Popular Biotin Serum
This biotin hair growth serum is an Amazon fan favorite, and made with ingredients like biotin and vitamin B5 that promote hair growth. Plus, it’s easily applied directly to the scalp after showering.
According to a reviewer: “I purchased this product in December. I use 2-3 times a week. I've noticed new growth (baby hairs) also my hairs looks and feels amazing. I had dry damaged hair from bleaching it over the last 5 yrs. I recommend this product. I even bought for my mom who struggles with hair thinning.”
Expert:
Garren, hairstylist and co-founder of R+Co
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