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I\u2019ve never given much thought to the tool I use to style my mane. Brush? Comb? I just use the first thing I find in the bathroom. Sometimes it\u2019s a brush. Sometimes a comb. Come to think of it, I can\u2019t remember ever buying a brush or comb for myself. They\u2019ve somehow always been around. <\/span><\/p>\n But as I was brushing my hair with the pink, pillowy brush I borrowed from Kate the other day, I got to thinking, \u201cShould I really be using a brush right now or would it be better to use a comb?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n To answer this burning question, I called up AoM\u2019s friendly resident barber, Thad Forrester, co-owner of <\/span>Hudson \/ Hawk Barber & Shop<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> Thad gave me the lowdown on both brushes and combs, and when a man should reach for one over the other.<\/span><\/p>\n There are all sorts of brushes on the market, but a man will most commonly employ a paddle brush on his hair.<\/span><\/p>\n A paddle brush is oval or rectangular in shape and has lots of bristles sticking out of a soft cushion. \u201cThe paddle brush is a good foundational brush,\u201d Thad told me. \u201cIt\u2019s gentle on the hair and scalp. I like to use it to smooth wavy hair out or detangle fine or kinky hair.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In choosing the right brush for you, Thad offers this general rule: \u201cthe closer together the bristles are, the better they are for fine hair, and the farther apart they are, the better they are for thicker hair.\u201d You\u2019ll also need to pick between brushes with bristles that are made from either natural or synthetic materials (or a combination of both). Thad offers this lowdown on the pros and cons of each type:<\/span><\/p>\n Brushes range from the very cheap drugstore kind to uber expensive luxury varieties. Thad says that \u201c<\/span>A good quality brush doesn\u2019t have to break the bank. There are some great boar bristle, synthetic, and combo brushes available from companies like Diane, Kent, Denman, and Bass that range from $5 – $20.\u201d Consider experimenting with a few different types\/brands of brushes to find one that feels good on your hair\/scalp, and makes your hair look its best.<\/span><\/p>\n Every man surely knows what a comb is: a single, rectangular piece of material with a solid upper from which spring a line of tines or \u201cteeth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe main thing that differentiates combs are the width of the comb teeth,\u201d Thad says. \u201cThe smaller the width between teeth, the more precision and detail you can get with your hair styling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re styling your hair with a side part, you\u2019ll want a comb that has narrower spacing between teeth so you can get that kind of defined line in your comb-over. Think of the classic Mad Men<\/em> type hairstyles<\/a>. If you\u2019re going for a style that\u2019s a bit looser, go with a comb that has more widely spaced teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have really thick or coarse hair, I\u2019d use a wide-tooth comb. You\u2019re less likely to pull and damage your hair with it,\u201d says Thad.<\/span><\/p>\n To keep your hair styling tools to a minimum, Thad recommends picking up <\/span>a single comb that has more widely-spaced teeth on one end and more narrowly-spaced teeth on the other<\/span><\/a>. Utilitarian and versatile. <\/span><\/p>\n In addition to the varied spacing of teeth, combs can also be made out of different materials. Plastic is the most common, but wooden and even metal combs also exist. I once owned a stainless steel comb, as I liked the idea of it being so sturdy and indestructible. But I found that in reality, running metal tines over my scalp never seemed inviting, and I actually preferred plastic. Even though plastic doesn\u2019t have luxurious connotations, it does seem to make for the best kind of combs. <\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps surprisingly though, even between plastic combs, quality can differ, and it\u2019s worth paying a bit more for a good one. Well-made combs are sturdy yet flexible, which keeps the teeth and the comb itself from snapping and breaking (especially important if you carry one around in your pocket). Quality combs also sport straight, smooth teeth with comfortable rounded ends that will feel good on your scalp and won\u2019t scratch your skin or pull out your hair as they glide through its strands. Kent is a well-vetted brand in this category. <\/span><\/p>\n When should a man use a brush on his hair and when should he use a comb?<\/span><\/p>\n Thad\u2019s general rule is that for longer hair, you want to stick primarily with a brush. A paddle brush will keep your hair smooth, straight, and detangled without causing too much discomfort in the process. Brushes don\u2019t allow for precision styling, but when you have longer hair, you\u2019re usually not trying to get a sharp style. You\u2019re going for \u201cloose\u201d and brushes achieve that for you.<\/span><\/p>\n For shorter hair, Thad typically recommends sticking with a comb since you\u2019re usually going for more precision with your styling. A comb\u2019s teeth will leave those sharp, crisp lines in your hair. <\/span><\/p>\n While brushes aren\u2019t great for styling, Thad will often combine a brush and comb on a customer\u2019s hair. \u201cBrushes are great for distributing men’s hair product<\/a> evenly throughout the hair without it clumping up. I also like to use a brush to establish the basic structure of a hairstyle and then go back with a comb to give it a more precise look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nThe Brush<\/h3>\n
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The Comb<\/h3>\n
When to Use a Hair Brush vs. a Comb<\/h3>\n