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**UPDATE #2** Okay, this update is about a particular brand of brushes that I have found and like over the rest.
I happened on an ad for the "WavEnforcer" brand of bbbs. What I like about these over the Diane brand is that the descriptions are more accurate - or rather they are more accurate for my 4C hair needs. When these brushes claim to be firm, they don't lie. On the Double-Sided Fade Brush, the brushes labeled as "soft" are not flimsy or paint-brush-soft but just soft enough. (And, get this, I paid under $3 for it.)I have been using the Firm side of this double-sided brush for getting to my scalp and the Soft side for regular brushing (to pull the natural oils down the hair shaft). Both sides are just as good as (or better than) the first brush I raved about. Better yet, the Firm side is not reinforced with nylon. The brushes are 100% boar bristle. Thank goodness because I wasn't digging the nylon bristles.
My thinking is that these work better on my hair type because the brand is made for/marketed to barbers (apparently black barbers). Whatever the case, I've found my favorite brand of bbbs. Also, the prices are ridiculously good. This Grooming Brush was under $6 also, and still can't get over paying less than 3 bucks for the amazing double-sided wonder...
I'm pretty set for boar bristle brushes for the next year or more. I did get a bit spend-happy and ordered a bamboo bristle brush strictly for scalp massages. No more Amazon for me this month!
**UPDATE** After washing my hair, I am more in love than ever with boar bristle brushes. The brush really made a difference in my after-wash hair texture. Normally, I would need to use a lot of leave-in products to get my newly clean hair to a soft and workable state. This time, I used a regular detangling brush (with SoCozy Detangler) while my hair was still damp. After detangling and sectioning, I applied some scalp oil and a mix of camel fat and shea to my hair. I also used SoCozy Curl Leave-In. I then brushed the almost-dry sections with the boar brush, twisting each section to finish drying. That was it. When I took out the twists a few hours later (as I normally do), my hair needed no additional softening or curl management products. I will probably be using scalp spray and more curl spray (as I normally do) for maintenance before my next wash day.
I am not exaggerating when I say the boar brush did make a huge difference. I lost much less hair (because the brush didn't snag and pull) and I am really pleased with how my hair feels. Maybe the reason some people think using a boar brush causes hair growth is only because they don't lose hair while using it.
Whatever the case, I am now on board with the boar bristles. I will be looking for sales on small brushes to give as stocking stuffers to family members. By the way, here is another link for information on boar bristle brushes. I tried searching for some before and after images of the effects of boar bristle on African natural hair types but... Google apparently doesn't get the difference between hair types.
I remember that, years and years ago, a lot of men in the black community used a certain kind of hair brush. I noticed it because of the GIs I'd see in the barber shops getting their short hair "tightened up" (aka, shaved, edged, etc.). My father was one of those men. Later on, my brothers joined the Service and they joined that club.
The other week, when I was looking for a brush for my own afro-natural and 4C (aka coarse, dry, curly) hair, I saw a brush that reminded me of one my dad (and brothers) used.
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| Boar Bristle Military Wave Brush |
I swear my father's brush was exactly like this one. I even have a memory of him using the brush on my little brother's hair after a haircut.
Anyway.
I don't know if the brushes the men in my family used were made with boar bristle like the one pictured but... I started looking into boar bristle brushes. As it turns out, boar bristle brushes have some benefits for all hair types, but I like what I read about the benefits for hair like mine:
- Distributes natural oils throughout the hair
- Cleans follicles
- Cleans product buildup from hair
Since I wanted a brush, I waited until Prime Days. The brushes are already cheap, but I really cheaper out and got 3 of them for around $8.90. 2 of them have yet to arrive (because cheap often means not fast), but the one that I received impressed me right off with the quality of the wooden handle. At first, I was mad because some of the bristles came out while using it, but that only happened the first time. I guess maybe there were some bristles already loose. But then this cheap brush ended up being - - to use an overworked term - a game-changer. Seriously so.
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| cheap plastic wrapping |
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| no more loose bristles |
I was a bit disappointed at first when I realized this one isn't 100% boar bristle; it's "reinforced" with nylon. Also, it's made in China (but what isn't?). However, after I used it, that's when the game-changing part happened.
Before now, the only types of brushes I have used in my natural hair have been wide-spaced and (usually) plastic detangling brushes. There's a myth in some circles that using brushes in afro-natural (especially 4C) hair, is taboo. This brush though has changed my mind.
My hair is not only dry and coarse but it tends to tangle badly. When I used this brush, I sectioned it off to work on a little bit at a time. I was really surprised that 1) I didn't get a lot of snags, and 2) how soft the brush left my hair. I also like that it gives a little more of a sheen to my hair. I read somewhere that natural bristle brushes (boar and horse are the main types I guess) have keratin which they impart to your hair. Maybe that's the softness and shine I'm seeing?
As you may have read, I recently switched to a simpler (and gentler) haircare routine. My hair was already feeling and looking better but this brush elevated the game. I am now hooked. I can't wait to see if the other 2 brushes are any good.
The hardest part about getting one of these brushes is choosing which one to get. Because the brushes (bristles) come in various levels of hardness, I had to weed through a lot of soft ones that are made for finer and thinner hair types. Then there are the reinforced ones (like the one I'm currently using). There are different styles of handles. This one has a nice, easy-to-grip wooden handle that doesn't hurt my hands.
Knowing what I do now (after doing some light research), I am glad that I got this reinforced one and the 2-sided one I have coming. That one has a reinforced (medium strength) side and a 100% boar side that is very firm. (This one*** is the cheapest of the 3, but I see that the prices on 2 of them have gone up since I got mine. I have a feeling that the cheap one might end up being a favorite.)
If you decide the get one of these, the good thing is that they are cheap. The other thing is to shop around. If you have a local beauty supply, I think the Diane brand will be easy to find. I am really happy with my 5-dollar brush. I see no need at all to pay for one of the $20 - $60 (or more) brushes.
Of course, I will let you know about the other 2 brushes when I get them. I hope I will have something good to say about them both!
Peace
--Free
*** The brush linked arrived but was not what I ordered. The brush is not extra firm (it is "medium" and actually much too soft, IMO). I am working with the seller to resolve the issue and am surprised that it is taking so long. I expected they would just replace the brush with the correct one. I will try to update.
P.S.: I found one source that explains hair brush types in general and one about boar bristle brushes.
DISCLAIMER: I am not/will not be compensated in any way for any product mentioned in this post. I am also not connected to information sources linked in this post other than to my own blogs.
