We all know what it’s like to have a Bad Hair Day, right? Those days when your hair just won’t go right, despite how much you brush or comb it! You may have wondered what happens if you don’t brush your hair – what if you just left it to its own devices? Is it good or bad? What are the pros and cons? Let’s find out!
Is it bad to not brush your hair?
Your hair is your hair. There is no right or wrong, good or bad – it all depends on what makes you feel happy and comfortable with your look!
This being said, brushing your hair can have a lot of benefits for your hair:
- Brushing hair can remove the dead hairs – these are useless little things that will not improve your look- especially when they find themselves all over your clothes!
- Stimulating the scalp is another good reason to brush your hair. Brushing will wake up the follicles and encourage hair growth.
- Brushing hair can also distribute the natural oils, which is good for the health of the entire hair growth.
- A good brush can encourage blood flow to the scalp, which can in turn stimulate the scalp to produce new, healthy hairs.
- Dry hair especially can benefit from a good daily brushing, as the hair’s natural oils will be spread throughout the entire head.
- If you have thick or curly hair, you will need to go more carefully when brushing, and opt for a wide toothed comb rather than a bristled brush.
- Brushing twice a day is plenty enough; any more than this and you run the risk of causing damage or breaking the hairs.
If you’re looking for tips on how to brush your hair the best way, have a look at this little video:
Is it ok to not brush hair after shower?
Brushing your hair whilst it’s wet, although it might be a convenient time to brush, is actually one of the worst things you can do with it.
Your hair is at its weakest when it’s wet, so it is far more susceptible to damage than when you brush it dry.
Brushing your hair when it is wet is far more likely to lead to breakage, shedding and split ends, so although you may be pushed for time – just don’t do it!
If you absolutely have to remove the tangles while your hair is wet, you shouldn’t use your standard brush as this can cause big problems.
If you must brush your hair after the shower, go for a wide toothed comb. This will gently remove knots without damaging the hair too much.
Wait until your hair is completely dry before you brush it, whether you use a hair dryer, a towel or just let it air dry.
As a side note, try not to rub your hair with a towel too much – this has a similar action to brushing it wet, and can damage the hair shafts.
Does brushing hair stimulate growth?
- Brushing the hair can encourage the scalp to grow new hair, because it will stimulate the follicles and help the scalp to become more healthy.
- Head massage is massively beneficial to the scalp, as it can not only remove dead skin cells and oil build up but also help new growth.
- Brushing the hair, especially with a good stiff bristled brush, can mimic the actions of a good head massage, and can encourage hair growth.
- Hair brushing, particularly when you brush the scalp too, will stimulate the blood flow to the scalp, and encourage fresh growth.
- Another advantage is that brushing the hair can remove those dead hairs that we all shed on a daily basis, leaving room for new hairs to grow.
- Conversely, brushing your hair too much can actually inhibit new growth (I know, confusing right?)
- The old “100 brush strokes” is outdated advice. Overbrushing your hair can damage the shafts, and can actually pull out hairs that aren’t ready to come out.
- As a general rule, you should brush your hair in the morning and before bed – this will distribute the natural oils as well as removing tangles.
Do you lose more hair if you don’t brush it?
We all lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, whether or not we brush it. It may seem like you lose more if you brush your hair, but this is only because you notice it more!
When you are peeling hairs out of your brush it may seem like you’re losing a lot of hair, but in actual fact it is no different brushing it than if you didn’t.
Brushing your hair can improve its general health, by spreading out the natural oils from the scalp through the whole head.
But, brushing too much can cause breakage and split ends, especially if you brush it when wet.
Brushing from the root and dragging the brush through tangles on the way can cause a fair bit of breakage and hair pulling.
It is recommended that you grip the hair shaft and brush the bottom inch or two, to get through the knots. Move up the hair shaft this way until you have combed everything out.
We all lose hair on a daily basis, but this is normal and natural. If you feel you are losing more hair than you are happy with, it may be wise to consult a doctor.
Diet, genetics and lifestyle can all have an effect on your hair’s health, so if you feel you are deficient then it may be worth having a look at these factors.
Final words
Brushing our hair may seem like a bit of a faff – especially if you have a lot of it and need a fair bit of time to get all the tangles out!
However, as you can see, brushing your hair can not only benefit your self image, but the health of your hair and your scalp.
