Tip-top tools for top-notch hair

Using the right tools and keeping them in good maintenance will keep your hair looking fabulous.Your hair needs to be combed or brushed regularly to keep it healthy and well groomed. You’ll want a comb or brush that is right for your specific hair type and you’ll want it to last. Here are a few pointers to ensure success.

Match comb to hair type
Make sure to buy the right comb for your hair type. If you don’t, you risk damaging the comb as well as your hair and scalp. As a general rule, if you are of European descent, your hair will fall into one of the three broad categories: fine and thin, medium or coarse and thick. Asian hair tends to be thicker and African hair tends to be coarser, although it can sometimes be fine or medium. Caucasian hair is oval, whereas Asian hair is rounder and African hair is alternately thick and thin. This is what makes it curly as well as fragile and prone to breakage at the thin spots.

Protect a comb’s teeth
To protect a comb, use it only on hair that is wet or on very fine hair where a brush might create a "flyaway" appearance. But do not use it on dry, thick hair—unless you believe that combs have a tooth fairy—because you are more likely to break off the teeth. Combs that do lose teeth should be discarded and replaced immediately.

Keep combs clean
Keeping your combs clean will help them stay in good repair. Remove hairs and wash them regularly in warm, soapy water. To remove the yucky build-up from the teeth of your comb between washings, press adhesive tape, masking tape or transparent tape along the teeth, and lift it off. Then dip the comb in an alcohol or ammonia solution to sanitize it.

What kind of hairbrush?
With so many brushes available to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? That depends on your personal preference, hair type, what you want to use it for, and the "look" you want to achieve.
For most types of hair, a brush with stiff natural bristles and widely spaced tufts is best. The more space between the tufts, the better the hair will flow and the more thoroughly it will be brushed.


-If you have fine or thinning hair, look for a brush with soft bristles. Bristle tips should be uneven in height. This will provide more thorough penetration than level tips that will just skim the surface.
-Besides bristles, brush filaments are made of rubberized quills, nylon and metal (for coarse hair). For everyday grooming and to help clean hair, experts say bristle is best. Quill brushes are best for blow-drying and styling.Keep hairbrushes clean
Makers of top quality hairbrushes recommend you replace them after six months of use, but you can extend that many times over by keeping your brushes clean and well-maintained. Just follow this regimen at least once every two weeks: Wash hairbrushes regularly.


-Before washing a hairbrush, use a comb to gently lift away trapped hairs, taking care not to scrape the back. If the brush has a rubber cushion base, block the air hole with a wooden matchstick.
-Wash the hairbrush in warm, soapy water (never ammonia or harsh detergents). Submerge just the tufts, not the brush back or handle.
-Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Shake off excess water and wipe gently with a towel. Let brushes dry naturally in the open air (but not in direct sunlight), bristle-side down. Never dry hairbrushes on a radiator or next to direct heat.

Vacuum your hair dryer
Take a look at the intake vent at the back of your handheld hair dryer. All that dust you see stuck in there is making the motor work harder to draw in air to blow on your hair. Press the tube of your vacuum cleaner—with no attachment—directly against the vent to suck out the dust. If the dust doesn’t come right out, pluck it loose with a toothpick and vacuum again. Your dryer will last much longer if you keep the vent clean.

*Article  from the Best Health magazine ( www.besthealthmag.ca )