“Hair straightener vs brush” is the question that everyone has been asking lately. It seems like there are two main camps of people who swear by either one or the other. And both sides have valid points to make! The hair straightener takes less time and does a great job with your hair, but it can be damaging if you don’t know what you’re doing. With the hairbrush, it takes more time because you have to do each section one at a time, but it doesn’t damage your hair as much. Ultimately, which side you fall on depends on how important having healthy locks is for you!
Related: Does Hair Straightener Damage Hair?
What is the Difference Between a Hair Straightener and a Brush?
A brush straightener is a hair tool that has an iron-type material in the center of it. It works by using electricity to heat up the pad or plates that are in the center of the brush, which then will be able to flatten your hair when you slide it down your strands. A hairbrush is just like any other kind of brush. It simply brushes through your hair and has no unique features except for maybe some grip on the bottom so you don’t lose your grip when brushing.
How do I use my brush Straightening Device?
Using this tool is very simple! First, make sure your power button is turned on (some models may not have one). Then simply hold it vertically with the handle facing away from you. Carefully run the device down a section of your hair, making sure to go slowly and straighten out each piece as you go.
What are some Benefits of Using one?
This tool is beneficial for those who want an alternative from heating up their locks or do not own a flat iron. This tool saves time and does all the hard work for you! All you have to do is brush it through a few sections of your hair and ta-da, perfectly straightened strands! Many customers also claim that this product doesn’t take off as much heat as a traditional hair straightener, which means less damage to the hair. Another benefit compared to a traditional flat iron is that this device can help bring back volume into lifeless locks!
Which one Should I use for my hair type?
Both come in a variety of sizes that should cater to all hair types. The Laila Ali has a 1 ” size that is perfect for those who love to keep it short and sassy. For those ladies who prefer long luscious locks, they have a 1/2 inch option as well as 1-1/4 inches. The Babyliss straightener also comes in two sizes. They have a 1″ width tool as well as one with 2″ widths which are ideal for just about anyone! Both tools heat up quickly and take no time at all to get the job done!
How much do I need to spend?
Depending on what you’re looking for, both options can be found for under $100. The Babyliss Pro BABNT151 Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron is available on Amazon for $99. It comes equipped with an auto shut-off feature, adjustable heat settings, and a 2-year warranty.
The Laila Ali Salon Professional 1″ Ceramic Straightener retails for around $100 (currently available on Amazon here ). It also has ceramic plates that are infused with advanced ionic technology to keep hair sleek and smooth while you style. This amazing straightener also has 5 heat settings, meaning it’s ideal for all types of hair! Whether your locks are giving you grief or you simply want to add an extra kick to your daily routine… both of these straighteners provide the results you need.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Laila Ali Salon Professional 1″ Ceramic Straightener is that it feels light and manageable to hold, which makes it easy to style without causing yourself arm strain. It also has an adjustable heat setting for those who like their locks on the cooler side (the lower settings provide a more professional look, while the higher ones give you a hotter straightening experience).
Why would I choose to use one over the other?
But, which one should you use? In the words of Cosmopolitan.com’s Contributor Beauty Editor Marissa Miller, this is a tough question to answer. “It really depends on your hair texture and what look you’re going for,” she said. “For example, if you have thick hair that takes a long time to style or tends to frizz easily then a flat iron would be best because it heats up faster and isn’t as damaging.”
“On the other hand if your hair is naturally straight or locks tend to curl better rather than stay flat then you probably want to go with a curling wand.” The result? A texturizing hold that’ll last all day—and night, if possible. If keeping your locks looking fresh is a priority, we strongly suggest investing in both. Otherwise, choose the straightener or curling wand based on hair type and desired result:
- Straight Hair: Curling Wand
- Loose Wavy/Wavy Hair: Hair Straightener
- Tightly Coiled Hair: Curling Wand
- Thick* or Frizzy Hair: Flat Iron
*If you have thick hair that takes a long time to style or tends to frizz easily then a flat iron would be best because it heats up faster and isn’t as damaging. On the other hand, if your hair is naturally straight or locks tend to curl better rather than stay flat then you probably want to go with a curling wand.
Don’t forget to check out our hair-straightener and a hair-curl section for the best tools and tips on how you can achieve any style you want!
- Hair Straightener: Hair straightener
- Loose Wavy/Wavy Hair: Curling Wand
- Tightly Coiled Hair: flat iron
4. Thick* or Frizzy Hair: Curling Wand and Flat Iron (twist) * If you have thick hair that takes a long time to style or tends to frizz easily then you’ll need heat protection. There are several options that you can choose from (depending on your hair type). You can go with a pre-styler like the Bed Head Masterpiece; another option is to use a leave-in conditioner like Macadamia Heat Protection Mousse which you blow-dry into damp hair before styling;
A flat iron is a tool that straightens your hair – it’s also known as a ‘flat iron’ and ‘straightener’. You can choose from ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline plates. Ceramic is the best heat conductivity while titanium is the least damaging.
Tightly Coiled Hair: Curling iron..!!
- Fine* or Thin Hair: curling wand *Fine hair refers to thin or delicate hair that tends to be more flyaway or fragile than the hair of people with medium-textured hair.
- Medium** Hair: flat iron, curling iron **Medium refers to moderately thick and wavy or straight hair that typically doesn’t have a problem with oiliness.
- Thick*** Hair: straightening iron ***Thicker is a general term used for medium to coarse-textured hair with a visible diameter due to the excess presence of melanin in the cortex, giving it greater body and sheen. This type of hair can also have large waves or small curls in it, this isn’t typically considered frizzy unless all other factors are equal.
- Curly &ily Hair: heat protector is a MUST! For oily hair, straighteners or curling irons will just damage the hair.
Hair that’s fine to medium in thickness with a small diameter due to little presence of melanin in the cortex. Fine hair doesn’t need much volume and tends to clump up when styled. It also feels silky smooth to the touch and has an overall shiny appearance.
New Article: Best Flat Iron For Short Black Hair
How Does each work?
Straighteners are made with plates that have flat, metal strips saturated with an electrical current running through it. Therefore, when you glide the straightener down your hair shaft, it’s removing hydrogen atoms from the cuticle layer via ionization which causes negative ions. These negative ions bond to each strand of hair minimizing the particles that cause frizziness and enhances shine for a smooth final product.
Since curling irons work with a clamp, they’re usually smaller than straighteners creating tighter waves or curls in finer strands of hair since there’s less tension on the hair while passing through. The best way to achieve this look is by alternating the direction and size of curls throughout the head so there isn’t too much bulk at one section and too little at another.
The hair straightener works by flattening the hair with a very hot flat metal surface and came about in order to achieve that salon-quality look, however, it’s important to remember that the higher the heat setting that’s used, the more damage can incur on your hair especially if you’re only washing it every three days which most people with this style tend to do. It can make your hair frizzy and dry leaving it looking dull and less healthy than before if not properly taken care of after straightening sessions. They also work better with longer or thicker strands of hair since they require higher heat settings for the best results while curling irons are better for fragile fine locks.
There are some other differences between these two styling tools as well. Hair straighteners can be used to flatten hair, create volume, or curl hair depending on the position of the plates and will only need to be pulled through sections of wet strands no more than once or twice which will result in a sleeker look overall.
On the other hand, round heated brushes are better for styling since they help set curls rather than create them using heat by pulling your tresses around its bristles for a few seconds allowing you to keep waves intact longer, especially if you’re taking advantage of thermal sprays that can protect your strands from damage during these sessions.
You should also choose between ceramic vs titanium heated irons when it comes to getting salon-worthy locks depending on how healthy your mane is, to begin with; while ceramic irons can be great for all hair types since they create a subtler and smoother look, titanium ones should only be used on healthy strands since their other properties make them better at handling coarse and dry locks.
Does it matter what kind of hair you have when choosing which tool to use to straighten your Tresses?
If you’re the practical type that doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a straightener anyways, you can also get your hands on affordable alternatives like flat ironing brushes (they’re way smaller than traditional straightening irons though), double-sided heated combs or even bras that work in a similar fashion.
What Are Some Pros and Cons of using either Method?
One of the main advantages of using flat irons is that they’re usually available in more sizes than heated brushes, so you can achieve different looks just by changing its plate.
They give your hair a more polished look than heated combs, but on average they take longer to use and it’s easier for them to cause damage. On the other hand, heated brushes are messier since their smaller plates create visible lines on long or thick strands, whereas straightening irons tend to smooth out all the curls without leaving any marks behind. Heated combs go through many heat settings which is nice if you plan on straightening your hair more often (like once every two weeks) since you can adjust the temperature depending on how quickly your hair responds to heat.
Also, heated combs are easier to use on wet or damp hair since they don’t have any exposed plates which could cause damage if they make contact with the strands when they’re too hot. Straightening irons, on the other hand, come in different sizes that are either longer or shorter based on how much surface area you want to cover at once. And although many of them now come with automatic shut-off features for safety reasons, it’s best not to take chances by leaving your iron plugged in overnight or while away from home for an extended period of time.
Although there haven’t been enough studies conducted on this topic so far, it’s said that straightening hair every day can lead to certain types of hair damage such as split ends and breakage.
Hair straightening brushes can be used for both wet and dry hair. They’re generally less damaging to the hair than flat irons because they only touch the outside of strands while hot air is blown through them from within the brush itself. This means that there’s no direct contact with the internal components of the brush (such as its ceramic heating element), reducing possible sources of damage like split-ends and breakage to a minimum.
Conclusion:
- Brushes are the better choice when you want straight hair that’s also shiny and healthy-looking.
- Straightening brushes allow for a more gentle, even heat distribution because their bristles aren’t as dense as those of flat irons which have just one surface touching your hair
- Brushes give off hot air instead of direct contact with the heated surfaces of a straightener
- Brushes make it easier to achieve straighter hair without going over strands multiple times or in different directions
- You can use hair straightening brushes on both wet and dry hair while a flat iron only works on dry
- Hairbrushes don’t need time to heat up like flat irons do 6) Brushes end up giving off less total heat than traditional