The best way to brush curly hair
If you’re someone with curly locks, brushing your hair every morning can feel like a chore you’d rather not get out of bed for. You balk at the idea of putting any kind of comb or brush through your hair, your patience can run thin and most days you take the easy way out and resort to throwing your curls into a bun or ponytail and away you go.
But now, in the age of specifically-designed hair combs, products and on-hand beauty experts (ahem – us) brushing curly hair doesn’t have to feel unmanageable.
RELATED: How to Find the Best Shampoos For Curls
RELATED: 6 Of The Worst Things To Do To Curly Hair
We’ve enlisted the help of leading hairstylist and AVEDA Guest Artist Darren Summors to talk us though the best way to brush curly hair.
Simply follow these expert tips to hopefully make your hair brushing routine a little easier!
What is the best way to brush curly hair?
bh loves: Aveda Be Curly Conditioner, Rock & Ruddle Wide Tooth Comb
What are the best products to use for brushing hair?
“The best products to use are a shampoo with a co-wash, like the Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash” says Darren. He then advises to follow up with a conditioner as this will nourish and detangle your curls as well as adding shine! He also suggests using creamy, oil-based products for detangling while simultaneously adding “much needed moisturise to naturally dry coils.”
What is the best technique to use when brushing curly hair?
Instinctively, we usually brush our hair from roots to end, however for curly hair, it’s the opposite. Although it might feel counterintuitive, with curly hair it’s best to start at the end and work your up. Darren tells us why, “apply conditioner from the nape of the neck, taking small sections, and combing up from the ends towards the roots. This ensures that you do not create more tangles when brushing down.” This method is also important as it doesn’t cause breakage.
bh loves: John Frieda Frizz-Ease® Dream Curls® Shampoo, TONI&GUY Wet/Dry Detangle Comb
What kind of brushes or hair tools do you recommend for brushing curly hair?
A wide tooth comb with “rounded teeth” or a brush with spaced out bristles versus one with densely packed bristles “which can cause more knots and tangles” is the way to go according to Darren. He elaborates that, “a brush with spaced out bristles can aid in the detangling process.”
Best way to enhance or style your curls after brushing?
Darren notes that it’s imperative to give your hair a lot love post-brushing, and the best way to do this is with a moisturising hair mask that you should apply on towel-dried hair and leave overnight. “Start by layering the hair, applying product, and twisting curls into place. Allow hair to air dry in the AM,” says Darren. “Pull curls apart or tousle hair with fingers from the roots to create more bounce throughout strands.”
bh loves: Alfaparf Milano Precious Nature for Curly & Wavy Hair Mask, Aveda Be Curly Intensive Detangling Masque
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
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53 Member Comments
I use a cotton tshirt but I’m also exploring bamboo and silk as options to dry my hair.
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After straightening my hair for years I am now doing the CGM and finding it great one tip use a cotton t-shirt to dry and get excess moisture out instead of a towel as it can cause frizz from the fibres.
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The tshirt trick is fabulous.
A friend showed me it ten years ago and I haven’t looked back.
I only recently learned that there’s a term for it: plopping!
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Invest in a very wide toothed bone comb.
Your hair will love it.
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I’m the Queen of Unwanted Dreads at the moment.
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Brazil knows where it’s at for curly haired brushes and combs.
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I don't have curly hair but this will be a good article for my son to read. It seems he was blessed with all the curls.
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I would love some curls and volume
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I have a daughter with curly hair. I can see they she hates me brushing it.
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I don't have curly hair but found this article super helpful so I will pass it onto my curly haired friends to read!
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I never brush my hair, wide tooth comb from the bottom up for me. It's so much easier.
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Thankyou for the tips. Just what I needed.
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Brushing my wavy hair is such a pain. Most days I keep my hair in a plait so I don't have to brush it too much.
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I only brush my hair when I'm washing it, but brushing from the bottom up is a new tip for me - and one I'll be trying out. Also going to invest in a new comb!
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Brushing curly hair? no way, it's boofy enough as it is!
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My hair only has a gentle wave, but I use this combing method because my hair is past waist-length. It's poorly described above: it sounds like brushing the hair upwards! You don't! You start near the tips, brushing downwards. Start each down-stroke a little higher than the stroke before, until you can brush from roots to tip in one stroke.
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My hairdresser daughter told me off the other day for using a comb on my wet hair and told me I should be using my tangle teezer so as im a good mum I am doing as im told and now using that :)
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I have wavy hair and it gets so knotty! Even when I straighten it my hair still manages to get knots in it
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I've recently started to embrace my curls after years of straightening (or, to be more honest, I just can't be bothered fighting it anymore!)
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I have straight hair but we have a curly headed brunette in the house. I'll pass on this tip to her.
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No curls in this house, not even the dogs.
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Detangling brushes have been a life changing discovery for me - they make a huge difference when brushing my thick and wavy/curly hair. Sectioning off and brushing from the bottom up is also a good tip, especially in the morning when it's all extra tangled up after sleep.
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I will pass this on to a friend with very curly hair. A wide tooth comb seems to be the way to go.
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Brushing curly hair ends up turning my in to a poodle. Looks much better unbrushed
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