For a few weeks now, I have stopped brushing althogether and just been combing with my wide-tooth combs.
I've noticed less tangles and times over less hair loss. My boar brush, which I loved, would always fill with hair and fuzzies. My comb gets maybe a couple of hairs, which I can easily remove.
I'm starting to think I won't brush again.
Just wondering how important brushing is in terms of oil distribution and scalp stimulation. I know the notion of brushing 100 strokes a night has long been dismissed as more damaging than helpful. And I can always stimulate the scalp with scalp massage.
So! Whadd'ya'll think? :D

I think it depends on one's hair type. IMHO, I think those with straight hair do better with brushing than those of us with frizzy, kinky, very wavy, or curly hair. When I brush, I definitely experience more breakage. I'm not sure if I actually lose more hairs via shedding when I brush, though, as I think those are hairs that would have come out eventually anyway. I still have breakage when I comb, if I am not ultra-careful. That's because my hair is very fragile. But, if I am careful and go very, very slowly, I have far less breakage than with brushing.

I enjoy the sensation of brushing, so I do miss that. However, I do not feel brushing is necessary in order to distribute sebum. When we didn't have good shampoos and couldn't wash as often as most people do these days, it was necessary to distribute the sebum so we didn't have an oil slick on our heads. Today, we wash our scalps regularly and have products to use on our length to keep it moisturized. So, in my opinion, brushing is not necessary, and for some of us, it can be hazardous.

Just my two cents.....

I used to brush my hair, then when I joined the hair boards I started to use a wide tooth comb to detangle beforehand. Then it became such a habit, I never used a brush again! Once I did brush it, and just really noticed the snapping, tugging, etc. Something I never noticed before.

I havent noticed any problems with not using a brush, and you can always add oils to the length, and massage your scalp as you said.
I dont use a BBB either, I just find my hair doesnt really care for it, and just combing works for me, so I am just sticking with that.

.

I agree with Lisa Janey....
the straight haired ladies may use a brush more often,
and I find this is true even though I am a straightie.
When I braid my hair and curl the ends, I don't and
won't use a brush on it, but use my fingers or a comb.
if I try to brush my hair when it is wavy/curly, it turns
into a massive blob of fluffy stuff.

When my hair is all out totally curly, I don't even think about
running a comb through it until the day has ended.
I'm lucky to hold a curl long enough for a picture unless
I leave it fresh-wash braided for a day or two.

I use a wide-toothed comb for my curly days,
a soft boar bristle for others and
a fine toothed comb for after the shower, because
I detangle both before and during the shower, so
I have fewer tangles.

One must consider the hair type. If you more easily
use a comb, that is wonderful and vice-versa with regard
to a brush.

While brushing and oil distribution is a good thing, I think this is more
for those with dry hair or those who may not wash as
often or daily. I brush my hair to encourage the hair to get
back in order and to smooth it down, not to detangle.

:D

I agree that it depends on one's hair type.

I really enjoy brushing. I use my comb to detangle and then my brush goes through my hair without any (at least audible) damage. Nothing makes my straight fine hair shine quite like a good brushing, so I think it might be smoothing more individual strands than my comb does (especially now that my brush bristles have a coat of oil on them :) ).

I agree with Lisa Janey.... the straight haired ladies may use a brush more often, and I find this is true even though I am a straightie.

Geez, KarenMarie, have you forgotten what I look like already? ;) I'm Pixna, not LisaJaney (though I must admit, I would not mind having LJ's quick wit and multiple talents!). My tufts should be a dead giveaway that it's me! ;)

Geez, KarenMarie, have you forgotten what I look like already? ;) I'm Pixna, not LisaJaney

ROF,

This is too funny! I knew you were Pixna, I guess
I just had LisaJaney on the brain, and this is really a hoot
because I was on the phone while clicking on your message,
and then the clown face made me crack up laughing
but I was trying my darndest not to while trying to remain
professional on the phone, and yet here I was dying to
laugh and hurry the woman's speach along.

I was paying no
attention to her whatsoever because I was reading your post,
realizing what I did and giggling all the more because that face
was on the screen and I didn't even get the order confirmation
number right, LOL.

You and Lisa Janey both have me in stitches most of the
time, so your wonderful senses of humor are what mixed
me up. Still ROFLMAO!

:D

Another hair revolution, started here. I bid farewell to my brushes...

Sometimes I use my brush, but then I only brush my scalp, not the length. When I brush my length it always gets caught in tangles, and I don't think that's good. But then my hair is never completely straight, but always has a lot of frizz and curly hairs mixed with the straight ones.

Brushing my scalp once a while feels good. But I don't do it that often. Since I started taking MSM I haven't had any headaches, and therefore I haven't needed my brush as much. And I've finally found shampoos that don't make my scalp itch, so I don't need my brush for that either.

Once again, I'm swimming upstream against the current. :?

I brush probably 99% of the time. I comb with a wide tooth comb only when my hair is wet and after I do that I smooth it with my brush.

And yes, my hair's straight - not stick straight but close to it.

I love brushing my hair from the scalp all the way to the ends.

...and then the clown face made me crack up laughing... [and] ...that face was on the screen and I didn't even get the order confirmation number right.

So you think my face is funny, huh, huh??!! Well, I oughta....... ;)

Actually, it cracks me up too (thanks to Avrilon's artistic talents!). It must sound awfully strange, but I am perpetually laughing at myself! :D Sorry my good looks made you goof up your order confirmation number. Maybe you could write me off as a tax deduction?? ;)

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} from all of us at Bozo Central!! :DD

I'd say it depends not only on hairtype, but also brush quality and/or technique. I only brush after I detangle. I brush more at night to stimulate my scalp and distribute scalp oils. I'm very gentle and brush maybe 50 strokes or less. If I brush during the day it's always after I detangle and usually to smooth my hair, so it's just a few strokes. Sometimes I'll apply just a few drops of oil to my hair with my hands and then use my BBB.

As for quality, my cheap BBB gave me splits no matter how gentle I was. The Jean Pierre brush I purchased recently has not given me such problems. I must say, I also just enjoy brushing. :-)

Of course, the bottom line is, is what you're doing to your hair damaging it? Whatever that may be....STOP :!:

I agree too, it's a hairtype thing. The more I learn about my waves, the less I use a brush in interest of preserving them and the length in general. I rarely manage to get all the way to my scalp with anything BUT a comb anyway. Youv'e heard of bullett proof hair? Mines BBB and soft bristle proof. I still run a paddle comb to get Jojoba distributed every now and then, but I have to use a comb to detangle unless I want lots of hair everywhere (except on my head where it belongs)

and find that my hair misses its daily brushing (whenever I don't do it...it gets substantially dry...particularly the ends). I also detangle thoroughly first b4 I let the BBB near my hair.

I have wavy hair and the longer it gets, the straighter its gotten. I have no more frizzies once my hair dries completely and I think the brushing has a lot to do with it.

Hi, my name is KT and I'm a brusher :)

Only 30 strokes, but done every morning without fail. It feels great on my scalp, and keeps my hair shiny and soft. I once wondered if maybe brushing was the cause of my splits/breakage/flyaways problem, so I stopped for a couple of months...and it got worse :no

I guess everyone is different - everyone has a different combination of hair, brush and technique, and some combos work and others don't. I think the only way to know is to do what I did - try it for a while or stop for a while, and see what happens :?::?::?:

I use either an MP large extra pure BBB, or a Kent satinwood base with white pure BBs. I detangle with a wide-tooth comb first, and brush whilst leaning over slightly to one side with all my hair over that shoulder for 15 strokes, and then to the other side for 15 strokes. I brush from roots to ends, following each stroke with the flat of my hand. I only brush completely dry hair.

I own a BBB, but it mostly sits in the drawer.
I comb - first with a widetooth, then with a medium, and then with a fine. The first time I did this - I couldn't believe how much lint was in my hair! :P
I can't get a brush to my scalp either - and my hair is almost completely stick straight.

Gren

This is my hair bane! My brush would fill with fuzzies and hair that gathered around them. I'll try working my way down to a fine comb to see if I have an experience like yours. Good idea, thanks, Grenwich!

I rarely brush anymore and what I mean by this is I don't brush more than once a day if that.

I detangle with my fingers or my comb and when I brush it's just to do a scalp massage, but I've even been using my comb for that before I shampoo.

I also use my brush to smooth my hair for an updo or a pony tail, but I brush very lightly. I'm a straighty too, but I still think brushing can be damaging over time for straight hair.

Pretty straight here too. I don't ever brush to detangle but I do love to brush the scalp frequently. to me it's a guilty pleasure...:DD...g