The act of brushing may be straightforward, but choosing thebest brush for your haircan be a daunting decision.

Hairbrushes come in an extensive variety of shapes and bristle types.

When looking at brush types, two main categories are flat and round.

woman brushing hair with a paddle brush

While both share the same selection of bristle and body materials, the difference in shape is key.

Paddle brushes are typically larger flat brushes that often have a squishy cushion under the bristles.

Flat brushes, particularly paddle brushes, are detangling powerhouses.

woman smiling and brushing hair with flat brush

To enhance your hair’s natural shine, consider a flat brush withboar bristles.

When it comes to styling, paddle brushes are a perfect choice for maintaining straight hairstyles.

These brushes can also help get you through your morning routine faster.

drying hair and styling with a round brush

However, unlike the more straightforward way of using flat brushes, round brushes have a steeper learning curve.

While smaller round brushes will provide tighter curls, they could prove unwieldy with long hair.

In contrast, larger round brushes can add volume or waves to lengthier hair.

For optimum results, wind each portion a single time and move methodically through your strands.

Once again, boar bristle varieties can work in your favor and provide a bigger boost of volume.

Another way to maximize heat styling is to select a metal-bodied round brush.

The metal will conduct heat during blow drying, and enhance your ability to form curls.

Metal brushes also excel at helping hair dry faster and creating a sleek finish.

Frequently these varieties feature a ceramic coating or plating on top of the metal.