Choosing a round hair brush

What is the point of a round hair brush? It is primarily used for styling and can be really effective. In the face of so much choice, it’s not always easy to know which brush to invest in. Read our expert advice before you go out and decide which hair brush to buy.
 
With a round brush, you can straighten your hair whilst maintaining its flexibility and shaping the style at the ends. However it is also useful to know that you can achieve a completely straight look – it all comes down to technique.
 
There are several criteria to bear in mind when purchasing your brush. Firstly, you need to think about what size of brush you need. “The diameter of the brush you choose should depend on the length of your hair. The smaller diameters are for short hair, the medium-sized are for those with long hair who want a shaped style and the largest diameters are for straightening long hair.” However, the smaller round brushes can also be used to add volume at the roots or for curling hair.
 
Next, you can turn your attention to what the brush and bristles are made of and how the bristles are arranged. “These days, ceramic headed brushes are preferred as they redistribute the heat evenly across the brush’s surface and therefore through the hair. This type of brush also causes less damage to your hair than a metal brush for example.”  A wooden brush with wild boar bristles is the perfect solution for very frizzy hair as the even spacing of natural bristles helps to properly separate the hair, achieving a straighter finish. In terms of the spacing of the bristles there’s no general rule. “Choose a densely bristled brush for normal brushing but more spaced out bristles if you’re using the brush to straighten your hair or work the roots.”
 
To maximise the impact of your round brush and achieve the best style possible, start by pre-drying your hair to about 75%. “If your hair is too wet, you will end up spending a lot of time on styling and it won’t necessarily hold“. Furthermore, you should avoid holding the hairdryer too near your hair to prevent it overheating and, when using a hairdryer, always mimic the movement of your brush.
 
Our tip: Go for a hot air/ heated brush to achieve your style. That way, you have a hair dryer and round brush in one, and you won’t have to use both at the same time any more. You would still need to pre-dry your hair as much as possible though since a hot air brush isn’t as powerful as a standard hair dryer.