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With every morning comes a new day – and a routine. Most of us have made a habit of doing our grooming in the morning, to prepare for the day ahead. Every hair style starts with one basic thing – the hair brush. Without one, we would be lost to hay-like and matted hair or at least un-stylish hair. Luckily, in 1898, an African American woman created and patented the hair brush that we are so familiar with today.  The hair brush now comes in three basic styles – flat, round, and paddle, and can be used on both human and animal hair.

Animal hair, nylon, or plastic bristles are some of the materials used in a hair brush.  Animal brushes last longer, gentle on human hair, but are sometimes disliked by those who have allergic reactions to them. Nylon bristles, on the other hand, are inexpensive, stiffer,  and usually do not produce an allergic reaction. Plastic bristles are the most utilitarian of the materials. Extremely stiff, they are perfect for thick or  coarse hair.

Hair brushes are usually used on long hair, while the comb is used on shorter styles. However, some people use a hair brush on short hair. This is because brushes provide excellent and well needed service to all of us – scalp circulation. Stimulating the blood vessels on one’s scalp ensures that the hair grows strong and healthy, and develops a beautiful and lustrous shine. 

For those who have long hair, there are several brushes from which to choose.  First of all, and most basically, is the flat brush. A flat hair brush is used for de-tangling hair, providing satisfactory and prepared hair to begin styling. Every person should own one of these, if only for circulatory purposes.

Round brushes are a blessing for those of us who love to try different styles. The circular design provides a good template for curled or swept back looks. Usually used in conjunction with a hair dryer, gel, or other styling agent, a round hair brush is often used by professional stylists in expensive salons.

However, you might not want curls, and in fact, be trying to get rid of them. For this supposedly difficult task is the paddle brush. Large, wide, and flat, a paddle hair brush is used to straighten locks into a smooth and sleek style. Used with a hair dryer, a paddle  brush should be dragged slowly through the hair, with the hair dryer following closely behind.

As you can see, there are hair brushes for every desirable style. Chances are you like to experiment with different hairdos. If so, make sure to have one of each hair brush in your bathroom – flat, paddle, and round.