The Lost Art of Hair Brushing

This Blog Will Make You Want To Brush Your Hair [Why Ye Olde Hairbrushing is the #1 Thing for Healthy Hair + How To Do It]

People with shiny cars polish them. People with white teeth clean them. And people with beautiful hair run a good hairbrush from scalp to ends 100 times before bed.

Regular brushing is how hair stays healthy. It’s an age-old collab between you and your scalp: your scalp produces sebum (hair’s natural moisturiser) and it’s your job to brush, brush, brush it through to the ends, keeping everything balanced and shiny.

Brushing correctly can also heal dandruff, soothe frizz, regulate oil production and reduce the amount of times you need to wash – so if you’re not already on the hairbrushing bandwagon, you’ll want to be after reading this.

Five good reasons to embrace Ye Old Hair Brushing

1. Proper brushing massages and exfoliates the scalp, sloughing off dead skin cells and clearing the way for healthy new cells. (You’re looking at a free and simple fix for dandruff.)
2. Proper brushing boosts the scalp’s circulation, delivering nutrients to the follicles for thicker, fuller hair and faster growth.
3. Proper brushing works your natural oils (sebum) systematically through the hair, sealing and lubricating each shaft to reduce frizz and increase the shine.
4. Proper brushing is a great natural alternative to using dry shampoo because it redistributes oils, cleanses build up and polishes away pollutants that cause dullness.
5. Proper brushing can even reduce stress, lower blood pressure and boost mood! There are so many nerve endings close to the surface of the scalp (which is why head tickles are the best) and when they’re stimulated they trigger the release of feelgood hormones and neurotransmitters like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. Zzzzzz.

Notice we didn’t talk about removing knots and tangles? Of course, that’s true too. But most people think of hair brushing only in terms of detangling, when really it’s the cornerstone of a healthy scalp, which grows healthy hair, which is strong, shiny and resistant to kite-string tangles right from the start. Hair brushing is holistic beauty care at its finest, and here’s how it’s done.

Four Steps to Hair Brushing Mastery

1. Use a hairbrush of excellent quality. We love the Denman hairbrush with natural and nylon bristles to polish and smooth hair, and air cushioned pad that allows a gentle brushing action.
2. Only brush hair when it’s dry – wet hair is fragile and prone to breakage.
3. Brush briskly from root to tip, being sure to get good scalp contact and enjoy a delicious massage. Tilt your head slightly forward to maximise healthy blood flow to the roots too.
4. Complete 100 strokes from scalp to ends. Tip: A nice time to brush is just before bed. You still counting? 97, 98, 99…

Bonus Tips for Brushing Beauties

• Don’t be tempted by cheap, all synthetic bristle brushes. They can cause cuticle damage which leads to frizz and flyaways.
• If your hair is in poor condition, start your new brushing routine gently and work your way up.
• As well regular brushing, the best way to support healthy hair from the inside is a nourishing diet with lots of hair-loving nutrients like zinc (from organic meats, seeds and seafood), B vitamins (from wholegrains, eggs, dairy and veg) and protein (think gelatinous meats, eggs and legumes) – plus, steer clear of toxic chemicals.

So, have we got you craving the soothing touch of hairbrushing on your scalp? The calming repetition of brush, brush, brushing your tresses 100 times before bed? (It only takes about five minutes, FYI.) Are you imagining how soft, shiny and luscious your locks will be after paying them this kind of attention on the daily? We sure hope so. Drop us a line if you have any questions, or share your ye olde hair care success story with the world .

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