Comb Vs Brush: Which One You Should Use and When

Hair Comb

I know the question is whether it’s a comb or a brush. But whatever you choose, we must have a clear idea of the types and purposes they serve. Let’s have a look at the most common types of hair combs and their uses.

Wide-tooth Comb

I am sure you all are familiar with this one. It normally features spaced-out teeth. This one is best friend to those who have long, thick or curly hair, or for someone whose hair gets tangled and frizzy or rebellious easily.

I would say this one is a multi-purpose hair comb for me. When I apply any hair mask, this particular hair comb helps me the most. It doesn’t put much pressure on hair roots and spreads hair mask throughout the entire scalp and length.

Though I am not a fan of combing wet hair, If you have to do so, a wide-tooth comb is the best option.

It’s also a good option for detangling hair. If your hair is weak and prone to breakage, always try to use a wide-tooth comb.

Fine-tooth Comb

A Fine-tooth comb is ideal for finer and more delicate tasks. This comb has closely spaced teeth which makes it suitable for precision tasks. If you have thin hair or are looking for a sleek, smooth finish, go for a fine-tooth comb.

Some people also use this to get rid of lice problems, as the closely spaced teeth can trap and remove them from the hair.

Rat-tailed comb

It’s also called a sectioning comb. You may have seen at least one rat tail comb in your hair stylist’s hand. When you want to make partitions within your hair for any particular styling, like braids, it’s handy for sectioning hair very precisely.

This one is also a great choice for backcombing, especially when you tease your hair from down to up to make a puffy hairstyle. It will create more volume.

Dual-Purpose Comb

I am sure you all have at least one dual-purpose comb on your dressing table.  These combs feature a combination of a section of closely spaced teeth and another section of distinctly spaced teeth.

The main benefit here is its versatility.  When you use a comb with both wide and fine teeth, you can manage various hair types and styles, from detangling curly hair to smoothing out your straight, fine hair.

Hair Brush

Okay now let’s discuss hair brushes. Brushes typically consist of bristles arranged on a cushion or sometimes on a firm base. They are great for creating a sleek finish and adding volume to the hair.

Paddle Brush

A paddle brush is designed with a wide, flat base that is typically equipped with a cushion or solid base and has bristles spaced evenly across its surface. The cushion base is comparatively gentler for our scalp than the solid base.

The good news is that a paddle brush is suitable for all hair types. But if you have long, thick and straight hair, you will find it most useful.

I personally used paddle brushes for a long time. It was effective and comfortable for my hair type. But the only thing that bothered me is it’s a little wider. That’s why I am trying to use smaller brushes now.

Detangling Brush

You may guess what a detangling brush does from its name. The first and main purpose of using a hair comb or brush is to detangle our hair. A detangling brush helps to remove knots from the hair without putting much pressure and serves its purpose perfectly.

A detangling brush doesn’t help much with hairstyling, but if your hair is prone to getting tangled easily, choosing a detangling brush would be a great choice for you.

Vent Brush

Let’s talk about my favourite kind of hairbrushes. The word “vent” means the way of passing air or water. Like its name, the vent brush helps to dry hair easily by allowing the passage of air, regardless of your hair type. You can use a vent brush on your damp hair when you have to dry your hair faster.

The best part about a vent brush is that it’s not only suitable for wet hair but is also helpful in preventing breakage and splitting of hair. Though vent brushes are considered to be more suitable for curly or wavy hair, I believe it is also a good option for straight hair.

Small Oval Shaped Paddle Brush

As I said previously, the wider size of the paddle brush was a little uncomfortable to me and that’s why I am using a smaller paddle brush now.

It is as gentle as the wider paddle brushes for hair and scalp, and  I have found it very useful for a smooth finish.  At the same time, it is so handy that you can carry it in your handbag easily.

Round brush

This one is also my favourite! You will find different-sized round brushes in your beauty products store and can choose the one that best suits your criteria. Trust me, your hairstyling toolbox isn’t complete without a round brush.

Normally I always keep a big round brush and a small round brush in my collection The big round brush is best when you blow dry your long hair. And if occasionally you want to blow dry just the front layers instead of the whole length of your hair, you will need a small round brush.

Want to blow dry your little one’s bangs? That’s what your small round brush is for!

Nowadays, I try to blow-dry my hair in a cold setting. But even if I use a small round brush while blow-drying on the cold setting, it doesn’t fail to shape my hair beautifully.

Comb vs Brush: Who Won The Battle?

Honestly, as every type of hair comb or brush serves different purposes, we can’t declare a winner here. So the focus should be on choosing the perfect comb or brush according to your hair care needs. Let’s have a look at the whole comb vs brush debate at a glance and find out which one matches your requirements.