Curly girls think outside the box. For one, we have to. Ten years ago there were only a few products on the shelves for curlies and now we seem to take over every hair care aisle in any store. It feels good! Despite finally getting our just due, we still think outside the box for what our hair needs. Sometimes we find unique tools that are not designed for us, but we find a way to incorporate it into our regimen.
I’m talking about horse hair brushes. Yes, brushes that were created to brush the tangles out of horse manes. Many curly women swear by it! As long as you are not sharing it with your horse you should be just fine. This very unusual brush has an innovative design comprising uniquely flexible comb rows that gently loosen the tangles.
It is created to prevent hair pulling or breaking strands by moving with the hair and not against it.
There are anywhere from 7 to 9 flexible comb rows that bend out and snap back without harming the hair. Made of nylon, it usually weighs around 1.4 ounces and around 8 ¾ inches long. It is created to prevent hair pulling or breaking strands by moving with the hair and not against it. It is made of nylon and has a wavy handle with a grip for easy use. The winning component in this brush is its flexible rows that are not attached at the top, which allows for optimal flexibility in brushing.
How does it compare to other brushes?
According to women who have tried all three, it seems to beat out other brushes like the Tangle Teezer and the Denman. While I have heard and read reviews in which curlies raved about both the Tangle Teezer and the Denman, I have also heard that they can cause breakage for some women. I have yet to hear any negative experiences with the horse hair brush, other than complaints of steep markups by a few retailers.
Some brands are renaming and revamping the brush as a detangling brush for curly hair, but it is just the same old brush no matter where you get it.
Members of our community have bought theirs at their local horse supply or agricultural shops, like Tractor Supply Co Store, for around $5. You can also find them on Amazon by Tangle Wrangler for $11.99 and Chicks Saddlery for $1.29.
Article continues after video.
If you’re considering giving this brush a try, watch these videos to see how the brush is used and whether these women like it (hint, the first video is entitled “the BEST detangler brush””>.
The Best Detangler Brush
CoilyHeadChick does an excellent review of this unique brush that glides rather easily through her hair. Now she has her hair saturated in shampoo but most who use the brush say to do that with conditioner. I think using conditioner would be a much better bet as well. She even sells the brush on her website (which she mentions”> but they are pretty popular and can be found just about anywhere including Amazon.com.
Natural Hair Detangling Regimen
My Natural Sistas discussing her detangling regimen using the Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush, which is very similar to the horse detangling brush. It also has flex-bristles (as she calls them”> that enable “fluid movement”. She shows the unique design and how it stretches as you brush through the hair. She starts from the bottom and works her way up from there to brush through and fully detangle a section of wet hair. No snags as she detangles with a breeze. The Felicia Leatherwood Pink Detangling Brush was $10 back when this video was created but now $16.
So, are you on board or have you already tried it? We would love to know below so comment and let us know if you love it, hate it or buying it.
You finally decided to start your healthy curly hair journey with the Curly Girl Method. “Embrace my curls” or “Curly and proud,” you repeat to yourself. A few website clicks later, and you find products that are labeled “Sulfate and Silicone Free“. You take the plunge and purchase them without checking the ingredients because you trust the labels. Now you have $70 worth of hair product on its way. Recommendations continue to pop up on your social media feed, and $300 later, you still haven’t found what works for YOUR HAIR!
“You’ll just have to try it and see if it works for you!” or “This is all about trial and error!” others would gently say.
I am here to tell you that there is another way to choose your products instead of trying everything that is on the market. Understanding how to read ingredient lists has transformed my curly hair journey without decimating my bank balance!
In the very early stages of my journey with the Curly Girl Method, I made these mistakes several times. A shampoo would have the label “Sulfate Free” at the front, and then later, I would have a hard time dealing with dryness and would finally see a Sulfate listed in the ingredients. From my experience over time, I came to understand that when advertisers label “Sulfate Free” at the very front, they are referring to one of the harshest Sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. However, this does not mean that the product is entirely free of Sulfates. On several occasions, I have found other drying Sulfates in the list, despite the “Sulfate Free” label.
Curly Girl-friendly ingredients to look for
In the Curly Girl Method, we avoid harsh Sulfates and drying Alcohols (they dehydrate the hair), Silicones, Waxes, and Mineral Oils (they build up). As replacements, we look for ingredients that are mild, moisturizing, and soluble for curly hair in order to minimize dryness and foster better moisture retention.
If you are following the Curly Girl Method like me, look for cleansers that are mild for curls, such as:
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Coco Betaine
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate or Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Slip is very helpful for detangling curls because it decreases friction. Silicones are used in traditional mainstream products to add slip and shine. The issue with Silicones is that they don’t penetrate the hair shaft to make it better and they also build up.
They are removable with Sulfates, but in turn, the frequent use of Sulfates dehydrates the hair. It becomes a vicious cycle. Soluble ingredients for lubrication, on the other hand, make the hair better over time. They also add shine and flexibility to curly hair. If you follow the Curly Girl Method like me, you can replace Silicones with soluble ingredients that are located near the top of the list, such as:
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Behentrimonium Chloride
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Polyquaternium 55
Cetrimonium Bromide
I came to learn this helpful information from Wendy (a scientist) on the Hair Science-y Blog and Tonya Mckay here on NaturallyCurly.
Ingredient amounts in products
The Natural Haven Bloom Blog has helped me to understand the importance of ingredient concentrations in products. For example, just because a product is advertised with an “Argan Oil” label doesn’t mean that this product has high amounts of this oil. When ingredients are listed, they appear in descending order, calculated by either mass or volume.
As a result, when we read lists, we should always focus on the first five ingredients because they are the main ingredients (in higher amounts). A product that is labeled “Argan Oil” may well have some Argan oil included in the list, but the amount should be the most important thing to look for. If Argan oil is included near the end of the list, the amount is very small and insignificant.
If you have an allergy to a specific ingredient, relying only on front labels is likely to cause problems. Here I am sharing four steps that you can take to safeguard yourself:
Read ingredient lists very carefully;
Try a single new product at a time. This is helpful because if something unusual happens, you will know that the only difference in your routine is the brand-new product;
Patch test the product on your skin before using it for the first time, even if you can’t spot any ingredients that are harmful to you: Apply a small amount of the product on a patch of skin that is located on the inner, lower arm. Rub it in and allow it to dry. Avoid washing the area for at least 24 hours and then watch for signs of a reaction;
Observe closely how your scalp reacts after product application, even if the product has passed the first three steps above. If you notice a burning sensation, itching, redness, lumps or anything unusual on your scalp, you will know that this product isn’t suitable for you.
Always remember: If you happen to have a serious allergic reaction to a product, please seek medical attention immediately.
In summary, if you are looking for a product that is healthy for curls, focus on mild cleansers that won’t dehydrate your hair. Choose conditioners and styling products that have soluble ingredients for slip and elasticity. Reading ingredient lists is a good habit when caring for your curls and overall health. It also saves money and time. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.
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