TIL a lot of stylists are still using the wrong brush for smoothing treatments

I was at a big beauty show in Chicago last month and I kept seeing stylists on stage using round brushes for smoothing treatments. Like, the kind you'd use for blowouts. It made me cringe because a flat paddle brush is the only thing that gives enough tension for a proper keratin or brazilian blowout. I learned this the hard way three years ago when a client came back after two weeks with frizz because I used my regular round brush. My mentor at the time showed me her Denman paddle brush and said 'this is your smoothing tool, not that other thing.' Since switching, my smoothing treatments last the full 12 weeks every time. How many of you are still using round brushes for this? What's your go-to tool for getting that glass-like finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_burns952d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I saw a video about this last week... some stylist was breaking down why the paddle brush is key. She said the flat surface keeps even pressure on the whole section, so the smoothing product gets sealed in right. A round brush just doesn't give that same flat, tight pull you need.

joseph_torres2d ago

Come on, is it really that big of a deal? I've used a round brush for years and my hair turns out fine, @evan_burns95. Seems like people are overthinking a simple tool.