Straight Hair Solutions

Styling and Finishing

There is a family of brushes called styling and finishing brushes which is basically a "catch-all" category. Many styling brushes are the basic 5 and 7 row brushes used to brush one's hair. Rubber based relatively stiff nylon bristle hot air styling brushes are also in this category. Wooden boar bristle finishing brushes complete this category. These finishing brushes usually give a final touch to the hair style.

I want to know how to style, set a curl, and create a 'flip' look, and/or create a lot of lift to my straight hair.

Determine the length of the hair section to be styled. The basic rule of thumb is that the shorter the hair section, the smaller the overall diameter of the round brush. The longer the hair section, the larger the brush diameter.The reason is that if you style long hair on a small diameter rounder, you will be 'rolling' hair on top of hair already gathered on the brush, therefore not getting the 'holding' power needed to effectively style hair.
Choose the proper round brush...

Fine hair staggered bristle length pure boar bristles (often reinforced with equal length nylon bristles to give necessary bristle tuft stiffness to penetrate and brush easily).

Medium to thick hair Boar and longer (usually white) nylon bristle tufts.
Thicker hair Nylon bristles... usually ball tipped for gentleness.

How to set a curl:

Start at the nape (the hair closest to your scalp) and rotate your brush upwards as you work the brush towards the end of the hair section. Use a dryer, positioned underneath the rounder and use quick hot air 'shots' at the root area till dry. This gives the hair a lot of lift. Then, direct the hair as you revolve the brush from the ends rolling down towards the root area until completely dry.Before taking the brush out, apply cold air from your dryer. This will, as professionals say, “set the curl”.

How to create a "flip" effect

Brush through the hair from the scalp area (crown) as you dry it, towards the hair section end. When you get to the end, revolve the brush upward and apply heat underneath the brush till each section is dry. Apply cold air shots to set the flip in place.

How to set tendrils, bangs, short curls

Use a short nylon bristled metal barreled aerated rounder as you apply hot air over the hair as it lies on the metal brush barrel. For longer hair sections, use a larger diameter aerated rounder featuring short nylon bristles.

How to create "lift"

Place brush on top of the scalp and brush downward 2 inches and then slide the brush back 1 inch to grip the hair. Give the brush 1/2 turn and lift it up and out of the hair; apply heat towards the same direction as you lift the hair for a lasting lift.