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Hairbrushes: Styling

bellasugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:11 -0700

The styling brush is a basic, everyday kind of hairbrush that can be used for general combing or during blow-drying. While the round brush is best at gripping the hair for sleek styles, the low tension of a styling brush works wonders on smoothing out ends — particularly for bobbed or medium length styles.

Also known as the "styler" or the "Denman," this classic rectangular shaped brush can also be used to lift hair at the roots for added volume. Try the Denman Classic Styling Brush ($7.49) or Aveda Wooden Styling Brush ($13).

Confused about brush choices overall? Be sure to check out the rest of my hairbrush series, with more to come.

Hairbrushes: Round

bellasugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Many a times, I have stood in front of the hairbrush aisle facing, to me, what seems like a zillion choices — flat, round, skinny, soft-bristled, and/or balls on the ends? It's enough to make the head spin right 'round. And cue the 80s music.

Are you confused on which brush to choose? Well, fret no more. All this week I'm featuring ins and outs of hairbrushes so that you can pick what you think is best for your lovely locks.

The round brush, which is known for delivering great curls and flips, also volumizes and straightens hair by providing an appropriate amount of grip while blow-drying. A larger diameter base will give loads of volume, and works well for longer styles, while a smaller diameter base will provide tighter waves, and works great on shorter styles.

Ceramic or metal brushes are a specialized type of round brush, working with the heat of your blow-dryer, allowing you to create styles and manipulate your hair much like that of a curling iron.

Try Spornette Pronto Round Brush ($12.99) or Umberto Round Brush ($12.99) for voluminous results.

Hairbrushes: The Paddle

bellasugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:22 -0700

The hairbrush — you probably use one every day, but with the wide variety of brushes available, do you ever wonder which is what, and which one you should pick, anyway? Well, you're in luck because all this week, I'll be featuring different types of brushes and how to use them. As a general guideline, pick a brush based on the length of your hair and the style you want to achieve.

Let's start off with the paddle brush, which is great for longer hairstyles. To use, gently lift hair at the roots and sweep down the hair shaft. Since this brush is so flat, it's best for creating smooth, sleek, and shiny styles without lots of volume. It also works wonders as a finisher for curly, frizzy, or wavy hair that's been styled by other means.

Because the paddle brush is so wide, it's also great for penetrating thick hair and providing a gentle, stimulating scalp massage. Try the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush ($18).

Are Mason Pearson Brushes Worth the Cost?

bellasugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:22:51 -0800

If you've ever read more than an issue or two of a beauty magazine, you know that Mason Pearson is considered the holy grail of hair brushes. The English brand has been making brushes since 1885, and it continues to produce them by hand to this day. Their nylon and boar bristles are supposed to evenly distribute sebum from the scalp, making hair shiny and stronger.The only catch? Well, this brush costs $170. And that, my friends, is why there is no Mason Pearson brush in my life. I'm so-so on a less expensive but still-luxurious Fekkai brush, but still, I can't stop wondering if this one would make me have shampoo-commercial hair. (For that kind of money, it'd better!) So, you tell me—do you think this brush could be worth its high price tag?

Are Mason Pearson Brushes Worth the Cost?

Absolutely. It's an investment piece that you'll have for years.

Are you kidding? It's just a brush, for cryin' out loud.

I'm not sure.

BellaSugar's Guide to Hair Brushes

bellasugar — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 05:31:20 -0700

For this weekend's BellaSugar Guide, I thought I'd offer some wisdom on hair brushes. Admittedly, buying a brush can be very confusing. There are so many options out there — metal, wooden, ceramic, boar bristle, synthetic bristle, and even combs — that it's tough to know which one is best for you. So I've rounded up a few posts to help you untangle the crazy world of hair brushes.

Tools of the Trade: Altimus Interchangeable Hairbrush

bellasugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:18:23 -0700

Hair brushes are very important to me, but it's easy to spend a lot of money on them very quickly. That's why this Altimus Interchangeable Hair Brush System is way cool. One brush can actually transform into as many as 27 different brushes. The brush base is a vented metal frame with a comfortable handle, and it comes with various professional brush-head attachments — both boar bristle and synthetic — that easily slip on and off. It makes for a very versatile purchase, and it's a huge space-saver for traveling, too. Just change the bristles anytime you want to create a different hairstyle.

You can either buy an Altimus 10 Piece System for $39.95 or a Deluxe 12 Piece Sytem for $49.95. Both sets include a cool carrying case, as well as instructions on how to care for the brushes. To check out a video demonstrating how Altimus works,

Sensational Ceramic Hair Brushes

bellasugar — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:58:32 -0700

Ceramic hair brushes work much the same way that ceramic flatirons do: They hold heat from your hair dryer longer and distribute it evenly throughout the brush. Not only do ceramic brushes dry your hair faster than wooden or metal models, but they also protect hair from excessive drying and eliminate frizz. After switching to a ceramic brush, you will undoubtedly feel the difference in your light, silky smooth hair. Here are a few of my recommendations.

The Luxor Brush Tifi Collection features soft, pure-boar bristles combined with individual nylon "porcupine" tufts to help grip and penetrate even the thickest of hair. They're perfect for controlling frizz, waves, and curls. The brushes are available in four sizes: small for $14.25, medium for $16.50, large for $19.50, and extra-large for $25.50. Buy one here.

To see the rest,

Which Hairbrush Is Right For You?

bellasugar — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:14:04 -0700

A good hairbrush should do far more than just brush hair, but buying the right one can be very confusing. There are two important factors to consider: finding the appropriate brush for your hair type and styling regimen and making sure you get a quality brush. Here are some helpful shopping tips and recommendations.

If you have curly or wavy hair and you blow it dry, choose a round, nylon-bristle brush. The wider the brush bristles are, the straighter your hair will turn out when it dries. I particularly like the Acca Kappa Professional Nylon Bristle Round Hairbrush. Buy it here for $15.

If you have straight hair and want to get volume through blow-drying, use a round, boar-bristle brush, which is softer and more flexible than nylon and will help prevent split ends. Buy the Spornette Round Boar Brush here for $18.99; available in three sizes.

Three more recommendations, so