How to choose brushes for hair coloring

Selecting the appropriate hair coloring brushes can significantly impact the outcome of a flawless appearance. With the correct tools, you can achieve flawless application and gorgeous results whether you’re a professional stylist or someone who enjoys applying color on their own at home. It’s simple to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available, but choosing the right brushes for your purposes can be made easier by being aware of a few fundamentals.

First, think about the kind of brush that works best for your coloring style. A small, precise brush makes it easier to control the application and get into tight spaces when working on detailed projects. An oversized brush can cover more surface more quickly and evenly when working on larger areas. Because every brush type has advantages and disadvantages, consider what you’ll need for the desired effect.

Material is yet another crucial component. Natural bristles can be softer and more flexible, but synthetic bristles work well for evenly retaining and dispersing color. The decision between synthetic and natural hair dye typically boils down to personal taste and the particular needs of the product you’re using.

Finally, remember to maintain your brushes. Taking care of a high-quality brush will make it last longer and perform better. A high-quality brush is an investment. Your brushes can be kept in excellent condition and prepared for your next coloring session with routine cleaning and storage.

You’ll be well on your way to selecting the ideal brushes for your hair coloring needs if you keep these suggestions in mind. Have fun coloring!

Types of brushes

A hair coloring brush is a tool with bristles and a handle that helps distribute coloring composition evenly throughout hair.

Although brushes come in a wide variety of variations, the basic classification suggests splitting them into:

• Classic;
• With a comb.

All that’s left of a traditional brush is its handle and bristles. A brush with a comb has a single working portion that is furnished with teeth and bristles. However, if everything was restricted to this area, nobody would have to worry about how to pick a coloring brush.

Apart from the inclusion or exclusion of a comb in the pattern, brushes are classified according to:

• Width of the bristle part;
• Bristle stiffness;
• Origin of the bristles;
• Material of the handle;
• Bristle cut.

Bristle width

This is how the width gradation appears:

• 3 – 5 cm – classic model for full or partial hair coloring. Also used for applying paint in complex techniques – balayage, ombre, air-toch;
• 1.5 – 3 cm – medium, for stretching the color or working with thin strands. Used as an auxiliary tool in addition to the classic wide brush for hair coloring;
• 1 – 2 cm – narrow, used for working with small strands – for example, for highlighting, as well as for creating patterns.

Bristle hardness

There are three kinds of brushes based on the hardness of the bristles:

• Hard;
• Medium hardness;
• Soft.

Hard is excellent for coloring long hair because it combs the strand evenly thanks to its dense bristles and elastic structure. To avoid irritating or harming the skin, soft is utilized when working at the roots. Medium hair is almost universally applicable and can be styled in any way; however, it may not always hold up to uniform coloring on very long or thick hair.

Type of bristles

The working part’s filler bristles can be:

• Natural;
• Artificial.

The most common natural material used is horse or badger hair. Artificial bristles are typically made of nylon because it is strong and can withstand repeated contact with chemicals.

Material of manufacture

Based on the material used in manufacturing, there are currently two types of brushes available in stores:

• Plastic;
• Combined.

The most popular kind of tool is the plastic brush because it is easy to clean, fast to dry, and can withstand repeated washings.

A plastic top and a metal tail make up combined brushes. In this instance, the tail is required to keep the strands apart during the dyeing process, but there are concerns about the safety of this technique. It is a fact that dyes can oxidize and change color when they come into contact with metal. Naturally, a strong color change requires a contact time of more than ten seconds, but even a brief interaction between the metal and dye can result in a small amount of spot color change.

Bristle cut

The bristle cut, or the brush’s functional portion, can be:

• Straight;
• Beveled;
• Curly.

Both straight and beveled brushes are used to apply paint strand by strand; however, a beveled brush is also more appropriate when dealing with roots. Curly brushes can be used for both simple and intricate coloring techniques.

Silicone VS classic brush

Since silicone brushes have a totally different design and working principle than traditional tools, we did not discuss them in our discussion of brush types. A silicone hair coloring brush has a spatula attached to its working part instead of the typical bristles.

The spatula may be used for:

• Straight;
• Beveled;
• Serrated.

There are also models with varying working surface widths, ranging from 1.5–2 cm to 3-5 cm. The silicone brush is still relatively new among the masters; only a small number of them use it, citing inconvenience. Supporters of the silicone tool, however, are certain that using it offers far more benefits than using its bristly brother.

Benefits of silicone brushes:

• Economical consumption of dye. Silicone does not absorb part of the composition, and the absence of bristles allows the paint not to clog between the hairs;
• Accuracy of application. It is much easier to control the distribution of the composition with a spatula, which is especially important when implementing complex techniques and designs;
• Comfort. Silicone is much more pleasant to the scalp when it comes to coloring the roots.

The absence of an additional combing effect is the only drawback. The silicone model lacks the bristles’ ability to separate hairs during composition application, resulting in a less uniform distribution. This is a feature of the model made of silicone.

Finding brushes that guarantee accurate application and blendability is the ultimate goal when choosing hair coloring brushes, ensuring a seamless and effective coloring process. In order to match your hair type and the complexity of the color job, take into account elements like brush size, bristle type, and handle comfort. Selecting the appropriate brush not only improves the outcome but also adds enjoyment and reduces stress during the process.

How to choose a brush for hair coloring

• Ergonomics. The brush should fit comfortably in your hand. Sometimes in stores you can find brushes with handles of simply incredible shapes. Yes, it is unusual and beautiful, but most likely it is not convenient. The best option is a narrow handle, tapering to the tip – it is comfortable to hold, and the tip can also be used to separate strands;
• Design. A brush with a comb is convenient to use for long hair, to immediately comb the dyed strand to distribute the dye, but usually stylists use a separate comb with frequent teeth;
• Material. It is better to use a plastic model – it is inert to detergents, paints and oxides, and also lasts a long time. Also take a closer look at silicone devices;
• Pile. The trend for natural brushes has not affected – stylists continue to give preference to artificial bristles, as it is less picky and lasts longer. Natural bristles are capricious, often dyed the color of the paint and are difficult to clean;
• Bristle width. We recommend that hairdressers have brushes of different widths to meet any client"s requests. Wide – for classic coloring, medium – for small strands, narrow – for drawings and other high-precision "jewelry work";

• Pile stiffness. Ideally, have three brushes of different hardness to select a tool depending on the type of manipulation and hair length. If you can"t buy several varieties at once, take a closer look at the medium-hard bristles, as they are more versatile;

• Bristle coating. Ask the seller if the brush you choose has an anti-slip coating. If the brush does not slip off the strand, the procedure will be much faster, and the result will please you with the uniformity of the color distribution.

For the best results, selecting the appropriate brushes for hair coloring is essential. The correct tools are essential whether you color your hair professionally or at home. An excellent brush helps guarantee uniform application, so your color turns out exactly how you want it.

Think about the kind and feel of the bristles when choosing brushes. While natural bristles may be better suited for blending and producing softer effects, synthetic bristles are excellent for applying color consistently. The brush’s shape and size are also important; larger brushes effectively cover a larger surface area, while smaller brushes are ideal for precise work.

In the end, getting good brushes will help your hair coloring process go more smoothly and enjoyably. You can easily achieve gorgeous hair color by learning about the various types and selecting the ones that best suit your needs.

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