How To Brush Or Comb Your Hair Correctly.

 I suspect most people have never been taught the correct way to brush or comb their hair.  My grandmother always started at the top of her head and went down, my mother brushed her hair the same way, so I learned to do my hair that way.  It worked well for them because their hair was cut short but mine on the other hand has always been down to my rear and is still that long.  Starting at the top of my head turns out to be the wrong way of doing my hair due to it's length.

Before discussing the correct way of brushing or combing your hair, I'm taking time to discuss why it is important to brush or comb your hair frequently.   When you regularly brush or comb your hair, you are distributing the oil produced by your sebaceous glands.  In addition, it keeps your scalp a less oily.  The scalp sheds up to 100 strands a day and regular combing or brushing helps remove these. Regular brushing also stimulates the blood in your scalp which in turn stimulates hair growth by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. 

Now on to the proper way to brush or comb our hair.  Many of us start at the top and others begin about midway but either location is wrong.  It is best to start at the ends and working your way up. First stroke should be around one inch from the end and go down.  Second stroke should be a bit above where you started the first stroke, maybe half an inch, and move down to the end.  Continue working your way up to the scalp until you've reached the scalp.  

If you run into a knot, one of the best ways to eliminate it is to apply a bit of leave in conditioner directly to the knot and gently detangle the knot.  Once you've reached the top, then brush or comb down to the ends so the oils can be distributed throughout all the hair.  

Although, this method takes a bit longer, it places less stress on the hair leading to less breakage. Unfortunately, many of us chemically treat our hair on a regular basis by perming it, straightening it, coloring it, or bleaching it, heat, and so much more.  This leaves our hair more fragile and prone to breaking more easily.

People used to say one needs to brush the hair with 100 strokes every day.  One only needs to use enough strokes to work from the tips to the scalp and a few strokes from the scalp to the tips.  This should be done no more than twice a day.  Unfortunately, too much brushing can damage your hair or irritate your scalp.  It is best to comb your hair when wet rather than brushing it because hair becomes tends to swell and becomes more fragile. In addition, if the hair is brushed when wet, the result can hair that is frizzy.

If you want to brush your hair, blot the hair and let it it air dry till it is about 80 percent dry.  At this point, use detangler to smooth the strands before brushing it.  When you brush it at this point, choose a brush that is designed for wet hair because the bristles are softer and more flexible. 

If you brush it when its dry, it is best to use a detangle every time you brush your hair.  If you don't use brushes, you can use a wide toothed comb to do it.  It is important to brush hair everyday because when you don't brush it enough, tangles happen, oil builds up, the amount of hair you loose is more and it can clog the drain.  

Always remember to use a detangler, a serum, a hair oil, or a leave in conditioner to help work out the tangles so you aren't pulling your hair out or breaking it.  Be gentle, take your time, and remember its best to do it in the morning and evening before you go to bed.  One tip my sister swore by was to comb conditioner through your hair when you are in the shower with either a wide tooth comb or your fingers, let it set, and rinse it out. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.