Does Brushing Curly Hair Damage It? Why/Why Not?

Brushing or combing curly hair can be extremely damaging if you are doing it dry. This is because dry curly hair doesn’t have any elasticity and brushing dry can lead to split ends, hair breakage, and a frizzy mess. To avoid these, you should always brush curly hair when it’s wet and with the proper process.

Why Does Brushing Dry Curly Hair Damage It?

The amount of brushing required depends on the hair’s texture. The worst thing you can do to curly hair is brushing it while it’s knotted or dry.

Dry curly hair is prone to breakage because it lacks elasticity.

Dry curly hair also loses its natural hair sebum that works as a bond to keep your hair together. Brushing dry can break that bond.

The Science: The static charges on your comb and hair are reversed when you comb your hair. When applied to non-conducting materials (such as curly, dry, damaged hair), the charges remain where they are, with little chance of escaping. Hair strands resist one another due to this like-charge, much as magnets do.

This causes your hair’s strands to repel one another, resulting in frizzy hair that’s tough to style. Static hair gets even more exacerbated in curly hair due to lack of natural moisture.

It is more likely to break because of the structure of curls and coils, which includes spirals and zig-zags. Hair loss and shedding may be induced by yanking with bristles that have plastic bobbles attached to the ends of the shafts.

Curly hair is dry and brittle in general, and combing it when it’s not wet will lead to breakage and split ends.

Is Brushing Curly Wet Hair Safe?

Brushing wet hair may be more damaging to individuals with straight hair than dry brushing. When your hair is wet, it is at its most fragile and sensitive. Brushing your hair while it’s wet may cause it to become overly stretched, overly pulled, and even torn. When hair is completely dry, it is at its healthiest. Tugging and pulling too hard may damage your hair, particularly if you’re doing it when it’s wet.

There isn’t much of a choice but to brush your curly hair, is there? A tangled pile on crown of the head is the last thing you want. To prevent frizz and flyaways, brushing curly hair is a must but always ensure to do it while it is still damp.

Curly or wavy hair types, on the other hand, are at a disadvantage. Anyone who has attempted to brush out their natural curls knows how disastrous this can be. Using a brush on dry wavy or curly hair leads to horrendous tangles and pulverization. Brushing wet curly or textured hair reduces breakage and stress to the hair follicles and maintains the curly pattern. This is especially important for thick or naturally curly hair. Hairstyles with a lot of stretch and elasticity need a lot of hydration or moisture to maintain their shape. Use a conditioner, oil, or detangling spray to let the brush glide through your hair more easily. When combing and detangling your hair, this slip helps to keep your hair from becoming tangled and breaking.

How to properly brush curly hair?

It may be difficult to brush the naturally curly hair, as anybody who has ever tried can tell you. Using the right comb for curly hair may make a significant impact on the health and appearance of your curly hair.

Curly hair may be difficult to untangle, but fortunately, there is a proven method.

1. It’s much simpler to detangle curly hair while it’s damp. So, before starting the detangling process of your hair, take a shower and use your regular shampoo and conditioner.
2. You may use a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner if your curly hair is still very knotted or difficult to brush through: This will make things a lot easier for you.
3. When trying to untangle curly hair, a wide-tooth comb is your best bet. Take a step forward by picking up your comb and continuing your styling routine. If you have long hair, you may want to experiment with using various brushes on different sections of your hair.
4. You’ll find the most knots towards the very end of your hair. Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up with a wide-tooth comb. Be prepared to work in tiny chunks and have some patience as you go through this process. Comb each strand of hair very carefully, working your way up from the roots. Comb your hair until it is free of tangles and thoroughly brushed across your whole head.
5. Apply a nutritious hair serum to your clean strands after you’ve detangled your hair. This will help maintain your curls healthy and looking their best by preventing damage to your strands. Your hair will be less tangled because of this.

Pro Tip: Brushes with broader bristles perform better on curls that are tighter, whereas brushes with denser bristles separate looser curls more easily.

Check the article on 11 Types of Combs and Hairbrushes and their Purpose

Are you supposed to brush curly hair everyday?

Brushing your curly hair on a daily basis is not recommended. It’s not a good idea to brush your curly hair all the time. If you want to keep your curls looking their best, try to limit the amount of contact your brush has with them.

The frequency with which you should brush your hair is entirely up to you, your preferences, and the kind of hair you have. Finally, only brush or comb your hair when absolutely essential. Brushing curly hair one to two times a week, depending on wash days. Decide on the frequency that will result in the least amount of breakage for your hair depending on the kind of curly hair you have. Consult your dermatologist if you’re noticing thinning or falling hair.

The Final Takeaway

Depending on whether your curly hair is wet or dry, it’s either a good idea to brush it or a terrible one. Curly-haired people should use a moisturizing product like water, leave-in conditioner, detangling spray, or oil to keep their hair from becoming tangled when brushing.

The suppleness of wet hair makes it less likely to break.

The use of detanglers together with styling products may help keep your hair free of knots and tangles. As a result, your detangling procedures will be less taxing on both you and your hair. Additionally, breakage, damage, and frizz will be minimized.

Limit brushing to detangling your hair after a wash and styling it as little as possible in between washes. This will help your hair by reducing the amount of stress it is under. This makes it less prone to cracking, snapping and even lesser split ends.