Hey all!!  Had a question regarding straight, fine, oily-scalped hair.  Is it still good to use the natural boar hair brushes on this type of hair?  I find I get alot of static from them and my hair gets tangled in the round ones.  I've only tried them a couple of times before I went back to the plastic-tipped brushes.

I know they are supposed to distribute your natural oils better but because I already have oily, fine hair I'm wondering if this would just make it oiler.  Right now I only have a below the chin bob so it's not as if my ends need extra oil or anything.  Any comments or reviews?  

I have tried using a boar bristle brush on my fine hair.  I have not been impressed enough to continue using it on a regular basis.  I found it contributed to the static in my hair even when I oiled the brush.  I have used it to "finish" my hair when a picture was to be taken.  I would run the brush over the surface hair to smooth them down which adds to the glossy look of my hair.

Did you use the big paddle brush or just regular size?

Every time I go to the hairdressor's they always seem to use the round boar brush when blowing drying to get more volume.....I've tried it at home and ended up having to get my fiance help me untangle it from my hair!!  Arrgh.

I don't need much help making my hair look glossy...it's quite dark brown and straight so it's naturally shiny.  The problem is making it look "fluffy" and full.  I can  get the bottom rounded and curled but the top is always flat.  I use a round brush and try to blow dry at the roots but it never lasts....and I HATE using sprays or volumizers....it's such a tacky feeling....yuck!! I just want to pull it back and forget about it but I look better with my hair down.  I have a square face, a strong jaw and a big forehead....pulling it back just emphasizes all of these things.  Boo.

I've never tried a boar bristle brush myself, but I do have an answer to your question about getting more volume. I heard that if you blow dry your hair upside down it gives you more volume, but keep in mind that blow drying is bad for your hair  :o!

My mother also has straight hair so it's very flat and when she was younger it was longer, and what she used to do was sleep with it in a high ponytail and in the morning when she undid it, she'd have a lot of volume in her hair.

Maybe if you got bangs cut you could tie your hair back and it would cover your big forehead ... hmm ...

Leia....unfortunately I don't have long enough hair to wear a high ponytail yet!!  It's still a chin-length bob.

I already do have bangs but they're very thin and tend to look scraggly.  I also have a cowlick that I fight with every morning.  I've had them "feathered" but sometimes it makes them look too thin....if I leave them full then they are really flat and look too chunky.  What to do!!  Hey, if anyone wants to lend me some more hair....please, I'll take it!!   :D

wrote on May 15^th, 2003 at 3:06pm:

Did you use the big paddle brush or just regular size?

I use a paddle brush - a rounded one would get too tangled in my waist-length hair.  

Superfine;

It sounds like your present hairstyle does suit you, but if you really are contemplating growing it long, how about getting a professional opinion? You could go to a salon and ask them what they think and if they recommend growing it long then ask them some ways to hide the layers growing out.

It seems as if I face the exact opposite problem! My hair looks bad when it's down (because my hair is quite ugly  :P) and it looks best when it's in an updo because I have a small face and high cheekbones. I'd love to be able to leave it down every day without having to worry that it looks too "poofy." Maybe when it's longer it'll weigh down the poofiness  :D!

Hello!!!!

I use an all boar bristle most of the time on my almost knee length hair.  I have a round paddle style and a square paddle style.  When it is really dry and static rules the world I have a combination brush I use.  It is about 90% boar with 10% plastic bristles mixed in...it seems to help me.  My hair is fine in texture but it is pretty thick.   Hope this helps. :)

ginny

wrote on May 16^th, 2003 at 12:28am:

Superfine; It sounds like your present hairstyle does suit you, but if you really are contemplating growing it long, how about getting a professional opinion? You could go to a salon and ask them what they think and if they recommend growing it long then ask them some ways to hide the layers growing out.

I'd be careful with this one.  Please keep in mind that most salons have a vested interest in keeping your hair short and styled so you have to keep coming back... that's how they make their money.  Either find a salon that specializes in long hair or at least has a long hair specialist on staff, or be very careful in finding someone you can trust when it comes to handling the growing out of your layers.

I apologize for what I had said about asking for professional advice. I forget that I'm in a place where people get their sons married to women with long hair (I'm really serious!!) and long hair is really treasured here. I still stand by my idea of getting a salon opinion, but make sure that it's someone who specializes in long hair, as Rapunzel mentioned.

A natural bristle brush seems to be the only one with bristles soft and flexible enough to go through my hair without breaking it right off.  I have an oily scalp, so I never brush it.

i have a mixed bristle boar (with nylon). i think it does wonder on distributing vegetal oils but not sebum!! so i keep it away from the scalp cuze my scalp's fairly oily and it stimulated it too much.