By Gennifer Miller, HealthyTextures.com

Hi guys! I've been getting a few e-mails from ladies who want to start taking better care of their hair but have no idea where to begin. So, I decided to put together a series of posts as a road map for those who want to start the journey to better hair care. In this segment, we will talk about combs and brushes!

WIDE TOOTH COMB
To start taking better care of your hair, you will definitely need some tools. The first item I would get is a large wide tooth comb. Wide tooth combs are used to help detangle the hair after washing. However, I use my wide tooth comb as my everyday comb. It helps detangle my hair very quickly in the morning. If you have thin hair, you want a comb that has medium length "teeth". If they are too long and thin, they might end up poking into your scalp, which is pretty painful.

COMBS FOR ALL HAIR TYPES
Instead, grab a comb with medium length teeth. For fragile hair, select a woodencomb as these tend to be easier on the hair and scalp. For thicker, easily tangled hair, opt for a comb with longer teeth for maximum manageability. You can find these items at your local drugstore or Supercenter (Target, K-Mart, etc). One last thing, always inspect combs for any nicks or imperfections as they can snag and damage the hair.

RATTAIL COMB
Next, if you intend on setting or molding the hair, you might want a nice rattail comb. Rattail are really helpful at aligning the hair strands so that the hair lays nice and smooth on a roller or flexi-rod. However, they can easily cause breakage if the hair is not properly conditioned and thoroughly detangled. So, always make sure to deep condition weekly and detangle the hair well before using the rattail comb.

If you do not intend to set your hair, you can skip this purchase. However, keep in mind that the sharp end of a rattail can also be used to ease out knots from the hair. Therefore, it might be a good tool to have lying around. I, personally, haven't found any difference between a cheaper rattail comb and a more expensive one. So, save your dollars and pick one up at your local drugstore for about a dollar.

PADDLE BRUSH
After rattail combs, let's move on to brushes. I recommend a good quality paddle brush. Paddle brushes are used to brush and detangle hair. However, since I typically use a comb as my everyday styling tool, I use my paddle brush to help wrap my hair at night. I find it to be very effective and gentle as a wrapping tool, particularly after I detangle with my wide tooth comb.

Paddle brushes usually have either a round or square head. I find the square head to be easier to manipulate but its up to you and your personal preference. A good paddle brush can also be found at your local drugstore. Just make sure there are no seams on the balled ends as these will snag the hairs.

BOAR BRISTLE BRUSH
Next, I would pick up a quality boar bristle brush. This is most commonly used to smooth a wrap or as a finishing brush on straight hair. Nothing lays down fly always or unruly strands better. Don't be afraid of its rough texture. The boar bristles help to distribute natural oils from the scalp to the rest of the strands and remove shed hair. Boar bristle brushes also come in different textures. You can buy a soft, medium and hard brush. Soft brushes are ideal for thin or fragile hair. Medium/hard is great for thick hair and coarse hair. But, buy the texture that YOU are most comfortable using on your hair.

When purchasing a brush, look for ones that advertise natural boar bristles. Nylon is ok, but natural boar bristles are best. Remember to use this brush gently. Do not rip through the hair. Instead take small section and gently brush from the root down the shaft. If you feel like you are snagging the hair, comb the section and use the brush again. Lastly, if you are uncomfortable using the brush, throw it out or don't purchase it. Only use what you feel comfortable using on your hair.

ROUND BRUSH
Last on the list is a round brush. While I don't advocate ladies with textured hair blow-drying frequently, if I need to do it, round brushes help control the hair and help it lay smooth and flat. Boar bristle round brushes are supposed to be the best for "our" hair but I find them to be quite harsh when you factor in all the tugging and pulling. I have a regular smooth round brush with balled tips. Its easy to use and the hair should feel as thought it is gliding over the hair. Like all of the other combs and brushes mentioned in this article, round brushes can be purchased at your local drugstore.

Well, that's if for brushes and combs, stay tuned for the next segment: "Brushing and Combing 101: Dos and Dont's"