5 Things To Keep In Mind When Brushing Wet Hair

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Here’s a loophole to that hair brushing rule_

Have you heard the old wives’ tale of never brushing your hair when it’s wet? That it causes damage to your beautiful locks and leaves it unruly? Well, there’s some truth to that, but not entirely! This controversial hair brushing situation is a little more complicated than you’d expect.

The science behind wet hair

So, these old wives’ tales didn’t come out of thin (h)air. When your hair soaks up water it swells, causing the hair shafts to be more open to damage. In scientific terms, the keratin that coats each and every strand of your hair forms weaker hydrogen bonds, making it more susceptible to damage –– which means any tugging, pulling, stretching, will cause it to break, split, or frizz up when dry. Simply put? Wet hair equals weak hair, so steer clear of brushing it when wet.

Let’s be honest, no matter how many warnings you’ve received, the plethora of articles you’ve read against wet hair brushing, compelling times call for committing this cardinal hair sin. The truth of the matter? Brushing wet hair will cause a small amount of damage (damn! those old wives), however there are several ways in which you can be safer when going about with it.

Here are five things you need to know about brushing wet hair.

1. Pat dry

Squeeze and pat your hair dry with a microfibre towel or a cotton t-shirt (especially if you’ve got curly hair). No, do not even think of doing that vigorous drying technique your grandmother taught you –– this’ll cause your hair to tangle even more and break, and nobody wants that! Gently pat it dry to remove any excess water that’s dripping out of your hair.

2. Be patient

Patience is key, even if you’re in a super-duper rush. Let your hair air dry before you go at it with a comb. Never, and we mean NEVER comb your hair when it’s dripping wet. If you do, don’t be shocked when you find a bunch of your strands lying between the teeth of your comb. Wait for 5-10 minutes before combing it, to avoid the sequel to ‘The Grudge’ screening in your bathroom.

3. Fingers first

Always run your fingers through your hair instead of using a paddle brush or a comb. Even if you are using a wide tooth comb, you will end up breaking a few strands on the way. Your fingers are the best tools to prep your hair and detangle it, with minimal damage possible.

4. Detangle away

Use a cream or a serum that’ll condition the lengths of your hair, soften it, and help you run your fingers through it easily. You can either opt for a shine serum or a leave-in-conditioner to help detangle your hair. If you find any tangles along the way, simply untangle it with your fingers instead of removing it with a brush or a comb.

5. Comb carefully

Leave your paddle brush and fine tooth comb aside! You’re going to need the big guns for this one. To keep damage at minimal, use a wide-tooth comb and divide your hair in different sections. Start with the ends of your hair, and then work your way up in short, mini strokes. The wide gaps between the teeth allows you to prevent tugging your hair.

If you’ve got curly hair, just skip this step entirely! Brushing out your curls or coils will only make them angrier and cause your hair to frizz up later, when it’s dry. What you can do is, use a strong leave-in-conditioner that’ll help lock in the moisture and define your curls. Just detangle the knots, do not comb your entire hair!