In essence, a boar bristle brush can take the place of some kinds of hair product - it sleeks and smooths hair, adds shine and reduces clumpy or piecey roots on unwashed hair.
How a Boar Bristle Brush Works
The purpose of a boar bristle brush is not to detangle hair. In fact, these brushes should never be used on knotty hair. Because of the density of the bristles, tangles will get caught in the brush. Excessive use in tangly hair will result in considerable unnecessary breakage.
Instead, boar bristle brushes are designed to clean, polish and condition hair. The densely-packed, fibrous bristles attract dust and dirt, brushing them out of the hair. For those committed to water-only or natural haircare, the brush becomes a primary method of removing foreign particles from the hair.
How a Boar Bristle Brush Spreads Sebum
The bristles also catch hold of sebum, the oily substance produced by the scalp. Left to itself, sebum tends to clump near the roots of hairs, clogging pores and giving hair a greasy, unwashed look. A boar bristle brush spreads the sebum from the root down the length of the hair shaft, allowing it to do its job of coating and protecting the hair. Sebum is the natural hair conditioner, and repeated application helps hair to stay moisturised and shiny.
Due to its role in spreading sebum, a boar bristle brush can give instant smoothness and shine without the use of hair products. Ballerinas use these brushes to instantly sleek back their hair into tight buns. A smoother result can be obtained with a boar bristle brush than with a conventional plastic or bobble-ended hairbrush.
A secondary but welcome effect of using a boar bristle brush is getting a scalp massage. The prickly bristles stimulate blood flow to the scalp, which assists in relaxation as well as hair growth. Many people find long, firm strokes with a boar bristle brush therapeutic.
How to Use a Boar Bristle Brush
Gently detangle your hair with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. With a clean boar bristle brush, brush out your hair with long strokes, starting at the scalp and brushing right down to the tips in order to spread the sebum. Those with long hair might find it takes a few weeks to brush sebum evenly down to the tips of the hair. Brush in small sections. For a therapeutic scalp massage, bend forward from the waist so your hair hangs in front of your face and brush "upside down".
The traditional "100 strokes" of yesteryear, when hair was washed only every few weeks or months, probably began with brushing dirt out of the length of the hair before moving up to the scalp to spread the sebum. If you are using the boar bristle brush as a primary means of cleaning your hair, brush the length first to remove dirt, then clean your brush before following the above method to condition your hair from the scalp.
Keeping Your Boar Bristle Brush Clean
As boar bristle brushes clean hair by trapping dirt and particles, it is important to keep the brushes themselves clean. To clean your brush after using, remove any long hairs. Hold the brush bristle-side down over the sink and run the back of a comb several times through the bristles to loosen the dust. Every now and then, give your brush a more thorough clean by soaking it in the sink with a little shampoo or cleaning liquid. Dry thoroughly before using.
Vegan Alternatives to Boar Bristle Brushes
A number of vegan alternatives to boar bristle brushes are available on the market, from wooden-bristled brushes to versions with synthetic bristles, closely-packed to simulate the effect of boar bristles.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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