Whether we accept it or not, despite the innumerable options out there for a hair extension brush, there are different types that work better for one kind of hair over another.

Beauty Launchpad's article on brushes goes behind the scenes to try and untangle some truths out of industry experts on the necessity of a good brush and the need to pick the right kind to suite the hair type and the hair style. Here's a bit of the article by Liz Barrett.

When was the last time you looked through a brush catalog and knew exactly which brushes to order for your store? How about when customers walk in and ask you for advice on hairbrush purchases, do you know where to direct them? There used to be a time when such experiences were easy; that is no longer the case.There are so many different styles of handles, bristles, barrels and finishes that even trained professionals find it difficult to choose the proper tools for their trade. “It’s a matter of preference and personal taste,” says Jeff Rosenzweig, president of J&D Beauty Products in Hauppauge, New York.

“Most brushes are purchased for a perceived desired effect—the fact is, many brushes that look different can produce a very similar effect.” He says there are many factors at play, and they can be broken down into four categories: technology, aesthetics, quality and comfort. (See the breakdown in “Behind the Brush” on page 30.)

It’s also important to note that brush purchases aren’t always made on an as-needed basis. “Although there are people out there who never change their styles and who feel comfortable with the tools they’ve been using for years, salons and consumers always want something new,” says Jeff Schwartz, vice president of sales at The Cricket Co., based in Novato, California. Therefore, it’s beneficial for beauty store staff to understand what the customer is looking for in a brush. “Different sizes are needed for different lengths of hair.

Different bristles are needed for different hair types, conditions and styling objectives. And evolving technology has made some models more technologically advanced than others,” says Anne Maza, vice president of marketing at Olivia Garden in Pittsburg, California. This means that some brushes look different because they actually are.

But even as technology varies from brush to brush, there isn’t as much difference between brushes as most people think, according to Tony Parkinson, president and CEO of Camelot Hair Care Products in Miami. “We only make 12 collections covering every aspect of hair, from fine to coarse and short to long, as well as styling brushes for updos, detangling and extension work,” he says. “The Marilyn Brush has become 50% of a shrunken brush business because there’s very little difference between brushes.”

Photo courtesy of NAhA 2007/texture wiNNer

Click here for a peek at Donna Bella Milan's hair extension brushes.