10 years ago, we spoke about brush styles and the results a particular style was best able to accomplish. Until recently, the type of brush (rounder, cushion, vent, styling) determined what one could do.

Now, due to multiple combinations of various bristle types with different brush bristle block sections, it is more appropriate to discuss what combination can do what.

I will describe different types of bristles then I will bring different types of brush styles into the picture so you can see the complexity facing you, the Spornette brush user.

As the name implies, boar bristles come from the hair of boars. These bristles are similar in many ways to human hair in structure. There are basically 3 variations of boar bristle combinations offered:

Boar bristles are ideal for:

Boar bristles will:

Nylon (or synthetic plastic) bristles have the capability of penetrating into and going through any hair texture. Most nylon bristles have a degree of flexibility so that if a snarl is present, the bristles will tend to “give” so that snarl will slide over the bristle.

Unless nylon bristles are either very thick or made with certain additives, they tend to get soft and may even melt under too much heat from a hair dryer.

Ion emitting bristles emit minus or (-) negative ions when going through hair. These ions are said to make hair shiny and supple. It is claimed that molecular size clusters of water are broken into even smaller clusters that can more readily enter one’s hair strands.

Moisture enriched strands tend to be supple, stronger, healthier, and more controllable.

A vent brush has openings through which air from a hair dryer can flow. The vents prevent air from blowing hair off a solid brush which can happen on non-vented brushes.

Rounders enable one to literally roll hair over or under the brush. Rounders are made with nylon bristles, ion emitting nylon bristles, and/or all three variations of boar bristles.

If the brush has boar bristles, one can wrap hair completely around the brush for styling or straightening. The bristles will hold the hair onto the bristle section.

Nylon bristles on rounder brushes permit one to penetrate into most hair textures and go through hair for brushing out sections. If the bristles are very short, one can, while using a dryer and an aerated brush, rotate the brush through hair very rapidly for setting bangs, flips, and small curls.

Many rounders feature metal barrels that assist in more rapidly drying hair sections. While some are solid pieces of aluminum or similar heat absorbing metals, the large majority of metal cores are aerated and feature bristles, which are relatively short compared to the barrel’s diameters. They are used primarily for setting bangs, flips, and curls.

Ceramic powders are often added onto a metal barrel and rapidly heat up to dry hair quickly when used with a hair dryer. The ceramic additives radiate heat which is why the barrel can help in drying hair rapidly.

As a general rule, the smaller the diameter of a rounder, the smaller the hair section length to be brushed or styled. Conversely, the longer the section to be worked on, the larger the brush diameter.

All cushion brushes feature a rubber or synthetic pad into which bristles are secured. The size, shape, and the thickness of the cushion helps determine, along with the texture of the brush bristles, the amount of “give” the bristles have.

The basic oval shaped cushion brush is what people have used for generations to brush out hair while, when used with nylon bristles, stimulates the scalp.

Paddle brushes (usually rectangular) are popular for mousse and gel distribution. The bristle patterns on paddles are usually randomly set so all hair strands are ‘brushed’ and mousses and gels are more thoroughly distributed.

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.

1. 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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

You can use either Spornette cushion brushes or round brushes (rounders).

1. Choose the proper Spornette cushion brush based upon hair texture.

2. Adjust the heat on your hair dryer to medium.

3. Start brushing from the scalp (crown) toward the end of the hair section and apply heat from as directly above the brush section as possible onto the brush. Repeat brushing throughout the hair from crown to section end till the combination of the brushing and the gentle, warm air straightens your hair.

1. Choose the proper Spornette round brush based upon hair texture.

2. Start underneath a hair section, closest to the scalp, and rotate your rounder in a straight direction towards the end of a hair section, wrapping the hair relatively tightly onto the brush.

Apply gentle warm air directly onto the hair section closest to the dryer so the full affect of the heat will assist in hair straightening.

Vent brushes are vented to permit heated air to circulate through the brush. This enables hair to dry evenly and quickly with maximum control.

There are 2 styles of vents...

Most bristles are heat resistant which means you can apply heat directly onto the hair and bristle sections. However, you must use common sense and not overheat the hair! Vents should be tipped for gentleness.

• Towel dry your hair.

• Apply mousse or gel by the roots of your hair.

• Tilt your head downward and brush hair from the roots outward in an upward direction while applying heat from a dryer.

• Brush hair towards the front so it goes against the root’s growth pattern. When completely dry, use the dryers’ cold button for maximum support.

Brush from the front to the back against the direction of the roots' growth pattern as hair on the top or front of your scalp tends to grow forward. Apply heat as this creates a lot of lift on the crown. When dry, flip the hair back for a full volume look.