Hard Brush or Soft Brush for Waves

Hard Bristled Brush or Soft Bristled Brush?

A very popular hairstyle being requested at barbershops around the country are “Waves”, also referred to as “360 Waves.” Having already been a popular hairstyle, after the movie Barbershop 3: The Next Cut, the actor, and rapper Ice Cube sported this low-cut 360 wave look, increasing it’s popularity even more!

What You Need to Give The Perfect 360 Wave Style Every Time

When it comes to delivering a great 360 Wave for clients in your chair, using the right tools will be the most vital step in attaining the look. The tool that is going to make the most difference in the results that you will be able to produce will come down to the type of brush you are using.

Another item that will make the biggest difference with your hair waves is going to be a great and simple do-rag.  It is critical that after your daily brushing sessions, that you hold that that hair with the right tool.  The right tool in this case is a do-rag.  You can use many types of do-rags or hair wave caps or anything that will hold your hair down in place after your brushing session.

Hard Brush vs. Soft Brush

When hair professionals and barbers speak about ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ brushes, they are referring to the hardness of the brush’s bristles.

Soft Bristles:

Soft hairbrushes are typically made from 100% boar bristles and are softer than medium and hard brushes. During the steps of styling and getting the 360 wave style for your client, the soft brush can be used at any stage of the process. You can also suggest these brushes to your clients for the upkeep of the style after they leave your shop. The soft brush can also be used to spread the product through the hair, which can also be done by the customer at home for helping to keep the style in good condition, and adding shine and volume to the waves.

Top Pick for Soft Brushes

360 Wave Brush by Brush King

This brush is made from 100% boar bristles and is excellent in the polishing and layering steps. Having an excellent quality, and versatile uses, this brush has been and continues to be one of the top choices for barbers and clients in getting and maintaining 360 Waves.

Hard Bristles:

Hard hairbrushes are used primarily for clients with more coarse hair, and assists in creating the ‘depth’ within the waves. When these brushes are used, it will help in creating waves, but also in deepening the waves much quicker than a soft bristled brush. They can also be used to help in untangling hair, which can cause weak areas in the wave.

Top Pick for Hard Brushes

Crown Bristle Caesar Brush

This hard brush is outfitted with extra-long boar bristles and is ideal for creating “deep and defined” waves. Having the longer bristles makes this the perfect choice for clients with longer hair. Including 11 rows of bristles, this option will not leave you, or your client, wanting more.

Extra Top Pick Brushes for Waves

We never want to leave our readers wanting more, and so today we will suggest a few additional products that will help you in giving your clients the perfect 360 Wave look they are wanting. These products are also great to suggest to clients to help them in keeping their style looking fresh for weeks to come!

Diane Two Sided Medium Wave Brush

If you, or your client, is hesitant about having to buy two separate brushes, this could be an ideal choice. Having both soft and medium/hard bristles, this is an ‘all in one’ choice. This is excellent for the maintenance of the wavy style and is crafted for years of use.

Diane 100 Boar Wave Brush

If you have a client that is on a budget but wanting to have a good brush for the upkeep of their wave, this is an excellent option that you can suggest. Having medium-firm bristles that are 100% natural boar, this is a great option for most people no matter their hair length or coarseness.

Before we get into the details of if hard bristled brushes or soft bristled brushes are better for getting the perfect 360 wave style, we will give a basic overview on the process of attaining this look for your clients.

To be able and give this look to your clients, we will be talking today about how the DNA of a client will be a big factor in getting this look. To be clear, this is a hairstyle that will work best with clients of African descent.  The reason for it is that the hair is much curlier and that is what you are trying to get to when you start brushing your hair for 360 waves.

A persons hair has a lot to do with their pre-programmed DNA that is built into it. For individuals of European genealogy, the hair is naturally more straight. However, once it reaches a certain length, then it may begin bending and curling.

In the case of people of African descent and genealogy, the shape of the hair naturally bends and shapes into a more ‘spring-like’ or ‘coiled’ shape.

A Few Tips and Tricks For Barbers

How Water Plays a Factor: In your barbershop, you use water every day. One aspect that most people don’t realize and you can explain to them when they are in your chair is how water affects hair, depending on a person’s DNA.

For example: If a person walks in that is of a European descent and has frizzy and messed up hair that requests a haircut, the first thing a barber or hairstylist would do is begin wetting the hair. For this hair type, water will help in making it easier to style and begin cutting.

On the other hand, a person of African descent that has straightened and styled their hair would want to avoid using water. By using any water, it will activate the hair and begin coiling and curling again, taking it back to its natural style.

Heat and Tension for the Hair:

For barbers and hair stylists, heat can really help in equalizing and managing the hair. By using heat in the styling process, it can help in giving a semi-permanent ‘bend’ that allows the hair to be molded and styled in the direction we need.

On the other hand, tension will give the barber or hairstylist the ability to manage the hair by pulling and utilizing it in the direction of the requested style. By combining the use of heat and adding some hair product, the hair can be kept in place.

What’s Your Favorite Brush for 360 Waves?

There are many, many options when it comes to brushes for waves. We love to hear from our readers all around the country about what their favorite product is, and why. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know your favorite!