Are Shampoo Brushes Good For Your Hair?
Taking care of your scalp is a very important and often overlooked element in most hair care routines. Ensuring your scalp is well cared for and regularly exfoliated ensures your hair follicles are stimulated thus, helping you to boost your hair overall health.
A great product to help you care for your hair and to promote follicle stimulation ( by increasing blood flow ) of your scalp is a shampoo brush. While many still fear using a shampoo brush in fear of it damaging your hair and causing split ends, new evidence is showing that a good shampoo brush (when used correctly) is one of the best ways to improve the overall health of your hair and scalp.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to use a shampoo brush, this article reveals the benefits, tips, and tricks to using a shampoo brush
Is a Shampoo brush the same as a normal brush?
Shampoo brushes are specifically designed in order to be effective cleaning tools. They are not the same as styling brushes and are manufactured from completely different materials. Using a normal brush in the shower is not the same as using a shampoo brush as they are designed to achieve different results.
Generally, shampoo brushes are composed of silicon bristles that are specially designed to lather up shampoo and exfoliate the scalp. They help to cleanse and remove the build-up that most hair products leave behind as well as rid the scalp of unwanted residues such as flakes, excess oil, and debris.
Considerations when selecting a shampoo brush.
A shampoo brush should be used with your individual hair type and personal factors in mind. Using a shampoo brush too frequently could cause your scalp to go into overdrive and interfere with the natural processes required in order to maintain a healthy scalp PH.
As your hair is in its most fragile and elastic state when it is wet it is recommended that prior to showering, you run a wide-tooth comb through your hair first to remove any knots and tangles to safeguard against applying unnecessary pressure on the hair shaft.
The best shampoo brushes are those that contain soft and widely spread silicone fingers that allow you to brush product through your hair without hooking or snagging. They also contain just the right amount of grip ensuring that your hair care product is distributed evenly and in a pain-free manner. A good shampoo brush should not contain metal bristles as these can damage your hair strand and can lead to unnecessary hair fall. Always read the instructions first prior to using a hair tool.
How do you use a shampoo brush?
Essentially, A shampoo brush does what its namesake implies i.e shampooing and brushing your hair simultaneously.
Shampoo brushes are best used in the shower when your hair is wet. Apply your shampoo product directly to the brush and gently massage your entire scalp in small circular motions, ensuring you’ve covered the entire surface area. Once applied to the scalp, gently brush down towards the mid-lengths and ends of your hair in sections.
Rinse the shampoo from your hair thoroughly and then repeat the processes using conditioner, making sure to leave the conditioner on your hair for the specified time period to obtain the best results. Shampoo and conditioners that are sulfate and paraben-free work best with shampoo brushes as they are more gentle and are less likely to cause irritation of the scalp and hair follicle.
How often should I use a shampoo brush?
Depending on your hair type, you could potentially use a shampoo brush daily – if necessary. Oily scalps and hair require more frequent washing and you might find yourself reaching for the shampoo brush each time you wash your hair. Be sure to use products suited to oily hair as using a shampoo brush only oily hair too frequently can lead to overstimulation which will result in your hair producing too much oil and can leave you trapped in a vicious cycle.
If your hair type is dry and damaged, chemically and heat-treated, it’s advisable to use a shampoo brush once or twice per week. Hair that’s damaged and dry is very vulnerable to breakage, flaking, and dandruff, and using a shampoo brush too frequently can cause a variety of scalp problems such as dandruff and inflamed hair follicles.
Does a shampoo brush help with hair growth?
While research suggests that the stimulation and massage of your scalp and follicles can promote healthier hair, there is no concrete evidence to back up the claim that it makes hair grow.
A shampoo brush can definitely help you to improve the health of your hair and scalp and can give you an unparalleled feeling of clean, soft manageable hair.
When not to use a shampoo brush
If you’ve recently chemically treated your hair or if you have serials scalp problems like eczema and psoriasis, using a shampoo brush is not advisable.
If you have a broken, irritated or inflamed scalp, refrain from using a shampoo brush. You could cause further scalp damage and the likelihood of contracting an infection is increased.
Shampoo brushes are great to remove unsightly flakes and are effective at cleaning and working conditioner into your hair but in cases where hair is in an already fragile state, you should avoid using unnecessary tools on your hair for a period of time.
Once the health of your scalp improves, start off by using a shampoo brush once a month and then continue as the health of your hair improves.
Wrapping Up
Using a shampoo brush can definitely help you on your path to achieving a more healthy head of hair and can (depending on your hair type) resolve issues like flaking, buildup, and dandruff. Be sure to follow the directions and ensure your hair is able to withstand the use of an extra tool before you go out and buy one.
