HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU BRUSH YOUR HAIR?

BEAUTY TIPS: HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU BRUSH YOUR HAIR?

from the article "Val Answers Your Top 20 Haircare Questions"
By Val Monroe
O, The Oprah Magazine  |  March 21, 2011

Questions about hairstyling, color and maintenance? Don't worry—O beauty director Valerie Monroe has the answers. She gives you the straight (or wavy, or curly) story on how to keep your hair looking its best.


Q: How often should I brush my hair? And what kind of brush is best?

A: In spite of the old biceps-building 100-strokes-per-night advice, you should brush your hair minimally. Routine brushing damages the outer layer, or cuticle, of the strands, which can make hair look lusterless and frizzy, says Paradi Mirmirani, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco; better to use a comb with widely spaced teeth and smooth tips. But if you like the way a good brushing feels (as I do), avoid boar bristles, which generate damaging friction; instead, choose a model with plastic, ball-tipped bristles. The Goody Ouchless Cushion Brush ($7.99; drugstores) is a fine choice.

MY THOUGHTS

Did you ever fall for that 100-strokes every night?  I did.  Who wouldn't?  You heard from everyone. Now we know better.