Hello curly girls! Have you ever wondered, “Can you brush your hair with the Curly Girl Method? How can I brush my curls without ruining them?” Brushes would always break up my curl pattern and cause a ton of frizz. So, when I started the Curly Girl Method, I stopped brushing my hair and didn’t brush my hair for about 3 years. Instead, I used finger detangling every washday. But, when @behairfulbrush wanted me to try one of their gifted brushes, I couldn’t resist!
Keep reading for how to use a brush for curly hair.
Curly girls ask- does brushing damage curly hair? Should curly hair be brushed?
And the answer is that it depends.
If you are dry brushing curly hair with a lot of product in it, it will be painful and probably rip out some hair. It will also cause frizz and break up the chemical bonds in your curls.
But, if you are using a brush to gently detangle dry or wet hair before washing it, then you will not damage your curls.
Personally, I only brush my curls when they are completely wet and saturated with conditioner in the shower. This ensures that brushing does not damage my curls or cause breakage.
Here’s how I do it.
First, I cleanse my curls with a sulcate-free shampoo or cowash. After rinsing it thoroughly, I apply a healthy dollop of conditioner to one side of my hair. I use the praying hands technique to distribute it throughout the curls.
Starting at the tips, I gently brush through my curls with the brush and work my way upward. I also make sure that I gently brush out the hair at the nape of my neck (where I often get tangles) and the back of my head.
The idea is to work the conditioner up the hair shaft until an inch or two from the roots. Don’t brush right up to the roots because you don’t want to get conditioner on your scalp. It can plug your hair follicles and cause long term hair loss.
To prevent frizz at the roots, I gently glaze some conditioner over the canopy of my hair with my hand right before rinsing. This gives just the right amount of conditioner–enough to keep frizz down, not enough to make it look greasy.
Because I don’t brush my hair between washdays, I do lose a decent clump of hair when I wash/brush it. This is normal as most people lose about 100 hairs a day.
However, if you are noticing a lot more hairfall (amount of hair lost) than usual when you use a brush, try using a wide-tooth comb instead. I like to alternate using a wide-tooth comb and a brush because then I don’t lose as much hair on washday.
Other ways you can use a brush with curly hair
- Dry Detangling
Some curly girls use a brush to dry detangle their hair before washing it. If you are doing this, take your time and be very gentle with your hair. With this method, instead of losing hair when you wash it, you’ll lose most of it before you wash it. You may like this better.
2. Product Distribution
Also, you can use a brush to distribute your curl enhancers and gel. With this technique, you apply product and then gently brush it through your hair to ensure that every curl is coated with product.
What type of brush is best for curly hair?
It’s a great time to be a curly girl because there are LOTS of options for curly hair tools and products! Keep reading to discover the best brushes for curly hair.
Wet Brush for Curly Hair
Curly girls with thick hair love to use a Wet Brush to detangle their hair. According to Wet Brush, this brush has “Exclusive, ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles glide through tangles. Minimizes effort and pain with over 45% less breakage. Ergonomically advanced design features finger rests and rubberized easy grip handle for more comfort and control.”
With five star ratings on Amazon, it’s a great choice for detangling your curls!
Behairful Brush for Curly Hair (my fave)
I received this gifted brush from Behairful Brush and it works like a charm! It’s designed with regular-length nylon bristles and then a shorter layer of boar hair bristles.
And it distributes the product SO evenly throughout my hair. It created wet seaweed clumps that I couldn’t get with just finger detangling.
Detangling my hair with my fingers usually takes a few (painful) minutes. But this brush cut it down to 45 seconds, tops, and made it so easy and painless!
I also noticed that my curls are more defined and bouncy than usual- which I love!
You can use my affiliate code CURLYGIRL or this affiliate link to get 10% off your order at Behairful Brush.
Denman Brush for Curly Hair
Another favourite of curly girls, Denman is one of the best brush manufacturers. They have professional quality brushes designed specifically for detangling, styling, finishing, and more.
If you’re in Canada, I recommend getting a Denman 7 Row Brush from Love Thy HnS in Quebec. They have a pink/black brush and an all-black brush.
I don’t recommend getting the Classic Styler Brush from Amazon.ca because a lot of reviewers say they got a counterfeit/fake brush.
If you’re outside Canada, this Denman Wide Spaced Brush on Amazon.com looks amazing! You can actually remove some of the bristles to customize your brush, as this Youtube tutorial demonstrates.
One reviewer on Amazon.com wrote, “Where was this product my whole life!? I don’t know what it is about this brush, but it gives my 3a/3b hair beautiful ringlets! It is now in my holy grail of curly hair products. Also, it’s very easy to get the hairs out which is a huge bonus.”
Let’s Chat:
Do you use a brush for your curls? You can use a brush for wet detangling, product distribution, or dry detangling. It’s important to choose a high quality brush, such as a Wet Brush, Behairful Brush, or Denman Brush. What’s your favourite brush? Drop your recommendations in the comment section!
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you SO much for your support!