Hey My Honeys!!
Welcome to the “HIVEblog“, a safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and learn ALL we can about Locs!
Now, I know I might ruffle some feathers with this post, BUT today we will talk about why brushing your locs is a BAD idea. I have taken the time to research reasons given by influencers and “locticians” all over the web. There are 5 reasons I want to pinpoint and explain to you why that’s just BAD advice.
Before we get started I want you to ask yourself a few questions:
What is the purpose of brushing/combing your hair?
Would I brush my braids or cornrows regularly? Why or why not?
What REAL benefit could I get from using a brush on my locs?
While researching this topic I came upon 5 top reasons people give to why they believe you should brush your locs. Lets go over them and I will give my professional opinion on why these reasons are not beneficial.
”Popular” Reasons: *It is suggested that you brush on dry hair, focusing on the ends, to reduce lint, frizz, and build-up.
1. Reduce Lint & Buildup- Helps remove surface lint and buildup in your locs.
2. Reduce Frizz & Prevents Breakage- Brushing with our loc brush from scalp to roots allows the moisture you've added to your scalp to evenly distribute. Your locs, now being moisturized, are less likely to break it helps to minimize frizz.
3. Detangling Roots- Simply use our loc brush to help you detangle your roots as often as you like while also using your fingers daily to glide through your parts to ensure your locs aren't marrying together.
4. Helps with Hair Growth- Brushing your locs stimulates the hair follicles just like a hands-on scalp massage would. This stimulation causes more blood to flow to the scalp, delivering tons of oxygen and nutrients to your follicles for quicker growth.
5. Softens Locs- Loc brushing contributes to making locs softer by brushing it while applying your moisturizing routine.
Bee’s Response: *Brushing dry hair in any style can cause breakage. You can achieve the remaining points in a more effective way.
Simply washing hair can reduce build up and it is less abrassive on the hair if you remove lint with your fingers. Looking at your hair daily before bed to check for any lint is an easy way to incorporate this habit into your daily routine.
Sugar and salt are both exfoliants strong enough to remove dead skin. A brush, no matter how soft, is still abrassive and can break the strands in your loc. Over time they can weaken and break because of routine brushing. The act of brushing is actually what can cause the hair to frizz and break. Also, it is proven that a brush can help distrubute some of your hairs oils through your strands. However, with your hair in locs it is impossible for a brush to evenly distribute oil through all of your hair strands. Applying and massaging oils with the hands would be most effective.
You should never use a brush to detangle your roots, especially with the hair being loc’d. Routine maintenace, be it once a month or once every two months, can help keep the roots seperated and groomed. You can also just run your fingers through your locs every morning to help keep them seperated.
As mentioned, you can stimulate hair growth with a simple finger scalp massage. This alternative isn't abrasive and allows you the opportunity to massage the entire head in less time.
The “softening” effect that you receive after brushing your locs comes from you breaking the surface layer of hair. Doing so will make them “soft” simply because they cause them to frizz. Which will lead to collecting lint and possibly thinning them out over time.
In conclusion, not all hair grooming equipment is needed for every shot style. I am sure people have the best intention however, no one would ever tell you to brush your box braids. So, i am telling you to NOT brush your locs. But, if you do and see in need of some repairs you can book w consultation with ME as soon as possible. 😁🐝
-Bee
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