HSI Paddle Brush Vs. Round Brush

When you've gone to grab a new hair brush at the drug store, you've probably not stopped to think about why there are so many different kinds. You just picked up the one you needed, or was cheapest, and split.

However, there's a lot more to your hairbrush than you think. Here's why there's a huge difference between paddle and round brushes, as well as how to pick one for yourself.

Why is your hair brush important?

Your brush does a lot more than just pull the tangles out of your hair. Depending on the brush you use it can reduce frizz, help style your hair, distribute oils through your hair evenly, and more.

We no longer need to brush our tresses 100 times before going to bed, but brushing with the right tools has a whole heap of benefits to your hair that you didn't know about until now. That's why here at HSI Professional we offer all kinds of brushes to suit your needs.

What's the difference between paddle and round brushes?

The difference is when you use these brushes. A paddle brush is the best all around detangler. They're great for pulling knots out of your hair on cold windy days, or just getting your hair to lie flat and look neat. A round brush on the other hand is best used when you're styling your hair.

They help create volume and often contain vents for air flow, so they're best used when you're using a blow dryer to style your hair. They come in a huge variety of sizes, so you can pick one that's right for the length of your hair.

When to use a paddle brush

• To dentangle your hair: This is the basic use of any paddle brush. The bristles on such a brush can easily glide through the hair, pulling apart any knots and snags without damaging the hair itself. They're also great to use as a daily brush. For the best results, you'll want to use a brush with nylon or boar bristles. These bristles glide through the hair best, without causing static or getting caught. If you want some good quality brushes, look through our range of HSI Professional Hair Products and pick one out for yourself.

• For straightening hair: If you're looking for a sleek and shiny finish, a paddle brush is where it's at. When you use them in conjunction with a blow dryer, you'll get fantastic results. Depending on your hair, you may not need to use a flat iron at all afterwards. If you do, you'll find it's a lot easier to get straight hair, as the blow dryer and paddle brush have done most of the work.

• To brush out wet hair: Anyone who tells you brushing wet hair will damage it doesn't know about wet brushes. These paddle brushes have flexible nylon bristles that can pull through your wet hair without pulling at it. It's much easier to brush out your wet hair with it!

When to use a round brush

• To get the perfect curl: Thanks to the shape of round brushes, it's easy to curl your hair around them and get a smooth, perfect curl. All you need is the brush and your blow dryer. Just be careful not to wrap the hair too tightly around the brush though, or you're going to have trouble getting it out again.

• To get more volume: When used in conjunction with your blow dryer, a round brush can create much more volume than your hair would naturally have. It's a great tool to have if you don't want to commit to curling a whole head of hair every day, but you still need that little bit of extra oomph.

• For added polish: Looking to get your hair looking that little bit extra polished? Then the round brush is what you should be using. The best ones are ceramic ones, as they use the heat from your blow dryer to smooth out and style your hair. The HSI Professional range has plenty for you to choose from.

Tips for choosing the best hair brush for you

Keep these things in mind when you're looking for a new hair brush.

• What will you use the brush for? Is it general every day use, or for styling? The answer will affect which brush you buy.

• Look at the bristles. The best bristles to have are boar or nylon bristles.

• Some bristles will have ball tips on the end. Check to see that they're moulded on, rather than glued, to avoid them coming away in your hair as you're brushing it.

Use these tips to find the best hair brush for you, and get the most out of it.