One of the best parts about being a hairdresser is just how many new people you get to meet every day.

But, along with this comes a whole spectrum of hair types! From fine and straight haired clients to those with big and beautiful curls, you need to be prepared for everything – so, having the right hair dressing brushes is vital!

How to Pick a Hair Brush

When picking a hairbrush, there are a few things to consider. Afterall, the best hair brush for creating volume probably won’t be the same as the best brush for smoothing straight hair.

So, before you pick up the same type of hair brush for every client, consider…

  • Hair type – is it thick and curly, or fine but long? What brush will help you manage their hair best?
  • Hair condition – do they have very damaged or brittle hair? You might need to use a gentle brush to help protect it from breakage.
  • Hair style – does your client want sleek and straight hair? Or, would they prefer it if you created some texture and movement? If they have natural curls, will your brush keep them defined?
  • Brush size – particularly when it comes to barrel brushes, different sizes can have a big impact on the results.

Be aware of what effect the hair brush material, the type of pins it has and the shape of the brush will have on the hair before you put it into action.

The Hair Brush Types Every Hairdresser Kit Needs…

Having a good selection of different hair brushes will make your job so much easier. So, we’ve picked out five types of hair brush that we think every hairdresser should have in their kit…

Detangling Brush

Best brush for wet hair and removing knots

Lotus Eco-friendly Detangling Brush White

Whatever hair type, style or client you are dealing with, every hairdresser needs to have a good detangling brush on hand.

Detangling brushes are specially designed to help gently tame any knots without painful tugging on your client’s scalp or causing breakages – particularly on wet hair, which is most vulnerable to damage.

Look out for brushes with flexible bristles, like the Lotus Eco-Friendly Detangling Brush, as they can bend around knots without tearing through them. The Olivia Garden Ecohair Paddle Detangler Brush comes with the added benefit of ion charged bristles to add further shine.

If you are dealing with very thick or curly hair, you will likely need a wider detangling brush, like the Wetbrush Pro Paddle Detangler.

Boar Bristle Brush

Best brush for smoothing frizz and preventing breakage

Wetbrush Pro Shine Enhancer Purple

Boar bristle brushes are often said to be the best type of hair brush out there. Great for pretty much any hair type, they are soft enough to help prevent breakages, while distributing hair oils for a natural shine. For frizzy hair, they can smooth out strands while also helping to remove any build up of skin cells left behind, too.

There are plenty of different types of hair brushes with natural bristles out there to choose from – paddle brushes, radial brushes and detangling brushes, to name just a few. Choose one that combines boar bristles with firmer nylon pins if you need to groom thicker or curly hair.

For a good all-rounder, try the Wetbrush Pro Shine Enhancer or for a radial brush, the Head Jog High Shine hair brush range.

If you run a vegan salon, boar bristles won’t be an option. Instead, you can use anti-frizz nylon bristle brushes, like the Denman D80M, which also happens to be perfect for using with hair extensions!

Blow Dry Brushes

Best brush for creating volume

Olivia Garden Ecohair Combo Brush 24mm

For hairdressers, your arm really isn’t complete without your trusty blow drying brush in your hand! Yes, to say that round or radial brushes are a staple brush type is an understatement!

But, are you sure you are using the right blow dry brush type for your client? There is plenty to take into consideration – the barrel size can have a big effect on the results you achieve, whether you want big curls, soft waves or tight flicks.

For thick and coarse hair in need of smoothing, use a thermal brush with synthetic bristles, such as the Head Jog Heat Retaining Radial Brush or the Denman Head Hugger Hot Curl Brush, which has an hourglass shaped ceramic barrel.

When dealing with very fine or damaged hair, a thermal blow dry brush might cause unnecessary damage. A wood or plastic brush, like the Cricket Radial Brush will be gentler. Alternatively, the Olivia Garden Ecohair Combo Brush features soft ion-charged bristles that help to care for the hair cuticle.

Paddle Brush

Best brush for curly hair and styling thick hair

Denman D38 Power Paddle

A paddle brush is one of the most versatile types of hair brush you can have in your kit. You can use them to detangle, smooth and style the hair into sleek updos – though they should be avoided if you are creating texture, as they will flatten any layers.

The Denman D38 Power Paddle is one of our best selling paddle brushes. It can gently detangle the hair when wet or dry, plus is ideal when straightening or smoothing the hair.

Having a wide paddle brush handy is essential for when a client with particularly thick or curly hair turns up for their appointment. The Head Jog Large Paddle Brush will do the job perfectly. If you need more help with dealing with knots, use a wide tooth comb instead.

Vented Brush

Best brush for quick drying fine and straight hair

Cricket Fast Flow Brush

The humble vented brush might seem a little basic, but they can be incredibly handy. Ideal for use with a hair dryer, the vents help with air circulation for a speedy drying time.

They might not get you the silky smooth results that a barrel brush does, but if you want more of a natural, tousled feel to the hair, a vent brush is just what you need.

What’s more, your vent brush doesn’t have to be anything fancy. The Denman 2900 Large Vent Brush and Cricket Fast Flow Brush are among our bestsellers and are less than £5!

Let us know what you think! Which type of hairbrush can you not survive the week without?

Looking for more? See all of our professional brushes and combs and upgrade your kit today!

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