Can You Overbrush Your Hair?

Hair brushing is sometimes therapeutic, as long as you have soft, untangled locks. For many with thick and course hairs, brushing is painful but necessary. Brushing also helps redistribute oils from the sebaceous glands on the scalp all the way to the ends. While keeping an orderly and beautiful mane requires some brushing, if you overbrush, you can damage delicate strands over time. Consider the following hair brush rules to keep locks healthy and strong:

Tangling during washing is unavoidable, especially since cleansers strip the hairs of dirt and oils that keep it flowing free. Combined with water, shampoo creates a heavier and stickier head of hair. Many individuals with long hair need conditioner in order to revitalize the ends after cleansing, allowing for easier detangling after a shower. However, it’s even better to detangle before you cleanse to loosen dead skin cells and aid with circulation. Brushing wet hair after washing can cause breakage and loss, so opt for a wide tooth comb or a gentle wet brush that won’t rip strands. Alternatively, you can comb your hair in the shower, but be sure to clear your drain regularly to avoid a clog.

It’s natural to brush hair from root-to-end, but that’s not the optimal route. Brushing out tangles from the roots puts pressure on follicles immediately. Instead, starting at the ends, portion by portion, is less stressful on your scalp. At the end, when the brush is closer to the scalp, you have fewer tangles to tame.

Plastic brushes with ball tips are the best inexpensive option for preventing damage and breakage. Boar bristles are flexible and work to seal the cuticle layer of the hair, creating a shinier effect. Brush manufacturers often mix boar and nylon together to allow for a better hold. Generic brushes – or the ones you might find in the grocery store aisle – are often made of 100 percent nylon. While more structured than boar bristles, the nylon is engineered to be pliable for hair safety. A tighter weave allows for more control. Metal bristles, on the other hand, are unsafe for real hair. For wigs and hairpieces, use metal combs with plastic tips to limit harm. Being smart about haircare can help you avoid loss, but even the savviest groomers suffer from unavoidable hair loss conditions. For these cases, LLLT for hair loss with Capillus can help.