The best time to brush your hair is when it is almost or completely dry. But if you have tangles after washing it or after a swim, you can use a wide-tooth comb on your wet hair to restore order but make sure it has smooth tooth ends so you don't irritate your scalp.
One of the main benefits of using a wet brush is that you don't have to worry about breaking delicate strands of hair. Wet brushes have bristles with just the right combination of softness and firmness to untangle your hair without damaging it.
Only brush curly hair when it's wet, damp, or has a layer of slip between strands and the bristles. Brushing dry hair is an instant recipe for frizz and will loosen your curls right out of shape.
Detection combing can be carried out on dry or wet hair. Dry combing takes less time, but wet combing is more accurate because washing with conditioner stops head lice from moving.
“Whatever you do, do not brush your hair when it's wet because that's when it's at its weakest and becomes vulnerable to breakage (leading to flyaways), split ends and damage,” advises Rob. “Even worse you can actually pull hair from the roots that way.
Your hair is at its weakest when its wet, as dry hair is protected by the natural oils which coat each hair strand. Clean, wet hair has zero protection, meaning its more prone to split ends and breakage. So when you come out the shower and brush your hair, you are causing serious damage.
Sometimes the frizz that appears after you brush your hair is due to too much static, and not your hair texture. Boar bristle brushes are the best option if you're looking to reduce the amount of static produced, but you can also try spritzing in hairspray to the base of your brush.
Wet hair is much weaker than dry hair, so treat it carefully. One of the worst things you can do is tug a brush through it, forcing tangles apart, Wasser says. Instead, try brushing your hair before hopping in the shower to work out knots and air out the roots, James says.
Even though brushing through wet hair is usually a no-no, using a wide-toothed comb to set your hair while it is still damp can help prevent frizz and a lack of shine later.
Frizz-central
This is especially true for women who have curly hair since they feel like brushing wet hair doesn't hold up the integrity of the curl, and can cause it to frizz up more easily.
Ultimately, there is no downside to using a wet brush when your hair is dry, especially if you have fine/straight hair. In fact, I exclusively use Tangle Teezer's Ultimate Detangler (designed for wet hair) when it's wet and dry. If your hair is significantly damaged and/or thinning, I would recommend doing the same.
You should never brush your hair while it is wet. Wet hair is susceptible to breakage, and regularly brushing it while it is wet can do some real damage. Use a wide-tooth comb in the shower to distribute conditioner evenly and help remove tangles.
Generally, the comb is to be preferred when the hair is wet, because it is able to better untangle the knots without breaking the hair shaft. Instead, the brush is more aggressive on wet hair and it may risk to breake it. However, hair brushes are ideal for removing dandruff residues and massaging the scalp.
Over-brushing will lift the cuticles of your hair and break it, which makes your hair look dull because light won't reflect on it. For that reason, you should only brush your hair as much as it needs in order to be untangled and smooth!
Hair that's wet and filled with moisture is more fragile than hair that's dry, which can result in snapping when brushed. As such, it's recommended to brush hair in a dry state (guide-to-detangling-curls). This may mean allowing your hair to air-dry post-shower before beginning to comb through hair strands.
"I don't recommend it because it can cause more tangles and oil buildup," he explains. To add to his response, when you do not comb your locks, your hair dries in odd shapes (a not cute one, BTW) and may look buhaghag and frizzy.
"Yes, if you don't brush daily, you will notice more hair in your brush or when your shower drains after you give yourself a nice shampoo and scrub your scalp," says Manetti. Taylor agrees, "If you don't brush your hair every day, you will notice more hair is coming out at one time.
There's a way around unruly locks, according to the professionals: give your hair a quick blow dry before bed, making sure that it's around 80% dry before hitting the pillow. "Additionally, you can braid or wrap a silk scarf around your hair to keep it from getting tangled while you sleep," Jones adds.
After leaving the shower, start by dabbing off excess water with a microfibre cloth. Avoid rubbing the hair vigorously, as the friction causes the strands to tangle and generate frizz. Then, keep your hair wrapped for 10 to 15 minutes.