Does hair straightening brush really work ?

Have you lost count of the hours spent taming your hair with your straightener?

In addition to being time consuming, the straightening iron can damage or even burn your hair…

By promising a quick and easy straightening without harming the hair, could straightening brushes be the solution to our daily hair struggles?

Do straightening brushes really work ?

Straightening brushes are effective at adding volume, saving time when styling and neutralizing frizz. They don’t compete with a traditional hair straightener in terms of smoothing efficiency, but they do make it easier to add volume. Using a heated straightening brush is also less aggressive than a straightening iron for hair fibers.

What is a straightening brush?

If you already have a hair straightener and it does the job very well, it may be legitimate to ask what a hair straightening brush is and what its purpose is.

The straightening brush is an electric brush that allows you to comb and straighten your hair simultaneously. It most often has a heated ceramic coating that distributes heat to the pins.

The heated straightening brush is suitable for all hair types. It saves time when styling and straightening.

This accessory is ideal for softening hair, adding volume and neutralizing frizz.

Benefits of using a hair straightening brush

Here are the main advantages of using a hair straightening brush:

• They are recommended for fine, natural or curly hair. They allow to give volume easily than with a straightening iron. If this is your case, I invite you to consult my article on the best brush for fine damaged hair.
• Heated straightening brushes work with a lower temperature than a classic straightener. They are therefore more respectful of hair fibers and help avoid damage caused by excessive heat and hair breakage. If your hair still tends to get damaged, I invite you to read my article on how to prevent natural hair from breakage
• It allows you to straighten your hair in only 15 to 20 minutes, which is a considerable time saving compared to traditional hair straighteners, which generally require at least 45 minutes to completely straighten long hair
• It takes up less space and is much lighter than a traditional hair straightener, making it ideal for use on the go

Straightening brushes are also suitable for women who want to avoid excessive straightener use that can damage hair.

Unlike straighteners, hair and scalp are exposed to less heat and for a shorter period of time. You can also choose the optimal temperature according to your hair type.

The disadvantages of the straightening brush

The precautions to take when using a straightening brush depend mainly on your hair type.

Even if this device is much less aggressive than a straightener, you should always consider the health of your hair before use.

The way the brush is used, as well as the frequency of use and the temperature to which the hair is exposed, are also elements to be monitored.

Here are the main disadvantages of a straightening brush:

• Repeated exposure to the heat of the brush can dry out the hair. To prevent this, I recommend applying moisturizers regularly, such as oil baths
• It’s not as effective as a traditional hair straightener for straightening hair. The lower temperature requires a little more effort to get the same result, especially if you have Afro 4c hair
• It doesn’t achieve the same hairstyles as a straightener

In any case, if you find that your hair is dry or damaged after using a heated straightening brush, you may need to space out its use and use moisturizers.

How do I use a heated straightening brush?

Here are a few steps to follow when brushing your hair with a straightening brush:

Pay attention to your hair’s humidity

For most hair types, it’s best to use a straightening brush when your hair is dry. Air dry or blow dry.

If you have natural hair, however, you can keep it a little damp to make styling easier.

Apply a heat protectant

It’s essential to apply a serum or protective cream before using your straightener brush.

This heat protectant helps neutralize frizz, revitalizes your strands and keeps your hair smooth and soft.

I recommend choosing a protective serum enriched with keratin. Keratin is activated by heat and helps nourish and protect the hair.

Divide your hair into strands

To get completely smooth strands with a heated straightening brush, you need to segment your hair into strands.

The easiest way to do this is to divide your hair into 4 sections:

• A front strand
• A strand on each side
• A strand at the back

Note that the thicker your hair, the more strands you will need to do.

Brush out your strands

Now it’s time to get serious! However, it’s not about brushing your hair like you normally would.

Instead of placing the teeth of your brush towards your head, have them point outwards instead.

This way you’ll be brushing your hair from underneath. This is what gives your strands more volume.

Start at the roots and work your way down to the ends.

There is no need to brush too quickly. It’s better to do a few slow strokes than a dozen quick ones that can damage your hair.

The finishing touch
Once your hair is smooth, you can apply a hair serum.

This will not only soothe the hair after the heat of the brush, but will also eliminate any frizz.

You can also apply a nourishing oil. Amla or castor oil are particularly recommended. An avocado mask for your afro hair is also a great idea, as is a hair bath with coconut oil.

Whether you have natural, curly or straight hair, there are models to suit your hair type. To find the right straightening brush for you, check out my ranking of the best natural hair straightening brushes.

If your hair is very long, it is better to opt for a flat straightening brush. For best results, the hair should be brushed with light pressure to make the most of the brush’s heat.

If you have medium-length hair, you can use different types of brushes. Rotating brushes may also be suitable, especially if you want to add movement to your style. The rotating heated brush is very easy to use since it has a better grip. On the other hand, if your goal is to straighten your afro hair in a natural way, a straightening brush is your best ally.

Does the straightening brush damage the hair?

Like all electric hair styling equipment, the straightening brush must be used with care.

To avoid damage to the hair, the most important thing is to choose the right temperature for your hair type.

As a general rule, the thicker your hair, the higher the temperature you will need.

For fine, natural hair, it’s best to stay under 200 degrees. Very thick hair can withstand temperatures up to 230 degrees.

Regardless of your hair type, I recommend applying a heat protectant before using a heated brush or straightener.

If you’re not used to using a hot brush or straightener, start with a low temperature and work your way up.

Smoothing brush or straightener: what are the differences?

The straightener is more efficient, versatile and allows you to straighten your hair for a long time, while the straightening brush is quicker to use, easier to use and more efficient at giving a volume effect.

The advantages of the flat iron

Efficiency: The straightener allows you to work the strands with precision and to really straighten them one by one in a single pass.

Even those with very curly or even natural hair are able to straighten it easily with a straightener. Plus, if you want to achieve a specific style that’s very different from your hair type, the straightener is your best bet.

Versatility: You can achieve a variety of effects with a straightener. From the most perfect straightness to slight waves and controlled curls. It takes a little skill, but once you get the hang of it, the straightener becomes your partner in creating the style you want.

Long-lasting effect: The style you achieve with a straightener usually lasts longer than with a brush. It is also a good ally to prolong the effect of a permanent straightening when it begins to fade.

The advantages of the straightening brush

Its speed: The straightening brush is much faster to use than a straightening iron. On the one hand, it generally heats up faster. On the other hand, you don’t have to divide your hair into strands but only brush them carefully to discipline them.

In other words, this accessory is perfect for those who don’t have time to use a straightener in the morning before leaving for work.

Ease of use: The straightening brush is also easier to use because it handles like a regular brush.

Adds volume: This accessory is ideal if you’re looking to add natural volume to your hair, which is more complicated to do with a straightener.

If you have naturally straight hair, then a straightening brush can be a perfect solution. Simply brush it from underneath to get a nice volume effect.

In addition, most straightening brushes have an ionic function for frizz-free, healthy, shiny hair.

What is an ionic brush?

An ionic brush balances the electrical charge naturally present in the hair by emitting negative ions.

It neutralizes static electricity caused by an excess of positive ions. This brush limits the appearance of frizz and split ends.

The ionic brush has many advantages over traditional brushes:

• By promoting better hair hydration, this brush is an excellent ally if you have dry and damaged hair.
• You can use it before straightening to discipline your hair. This makes it much easier to straighten your hair.
• After using a brush with ionic technology, the hair is shinier, silkier and is especially free of frizz.
• It significantly reduces drying time, thus reducing the risk of heat damage.

Ionic brushes are a great ally in the fight against frizz. They come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and prices.

What is the difference between a heated brush and a blow dryer?

A blow dryer brush dries and brushes hair at the same time, while a hot brush only brushes hair.

A blow dryer can be used on wet hair while a hot brush is generally used on dry hair.

A blower brush is ideal if you want a perfect blowout. The heated brush is more like a straightener as it allows you to work your strands more precisely.

The blow dryer brush

The blower brush is mostly cylindrical in shape. The hot air is expelled through holes along the brush.

This structure makes it possible to dry wet hair as a conventional hair dryer would do, while brushing it.

Blow dryer brushes are most often made of ceramic or tourmaline because these materials offer the best thermal protection. They allow for easy combing of the hair and untangling of knots without difficulty.

Rotating brushes allow you to create hairstyles that would be impossible to achieve with a traditional brush.

The heated brush

Unlike the blower brush, the heated brush has no holes through which air escapes. The base of the brush heats up and transmits the heat to the pins in contact with the hair.

It does not dry the hair, but it is very useful for shaping the hair as desired.

It should therefore be used after drying the hair.

The heated brush is sometimes compared to straightening irons. It can be circular in shape, but most often it is rectangular in shape and the bristles are on one side only.

The bristles of some models of heated brushes are impregnated with nutritive products such as keratin or argan oil.

So, are straightening brushes effective?

Straightening brushes are effective for a blow-dry but also for straightening the hair and this whatever your hair nature. Their advantages :

• Give volume
• save time when styling
• neutralize frizz
• More respectful of the hair than a classic straightener

If you want to style your hair quickly and efficiently on a daily basis, a straightening brush is what you need.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an accessory to straighten your hair with precision while taking your time, you should definitely go for a traditional straightening iron.