A sculpting brush is a type of hairbrush used to add volume to hairstyles. Particularly useful for back-combing or use on short hair, the sculpting brush can be made out of a variety of materials and is usually fairly inexpensive. It is a versatile and useful brush, and is considered by many to be a hair care essential.
Typically, a sculpting brush is medium-sized, with a rectangular bristle base. The bristles are plentiful and are great for holding hair in place while you blow-dry or apply styling products. Some sculpting brushes use criss-crossed bristles in order to add additional volume and catch more individual hairs. It is considered best for use with textured or layered hair cuts, as it helps to emphasize choppy or razor-cut ends.
The sculpting brush is excellent for creating volume, especially in short or layered hair. The method most commonly used when trying to add volume is called back-combing. To back-comb your hair, take a small section and use your sculpting brush to brush the top inch or two in the opposite of its natural direction. When you lay the section back down, it will naturally puff up slightly, giving the illusion of volume. To hold the style, you may wish to use a styling product, such as styling mousse or a volumizing hairspray.
Backcombing is best achieved with a sculpting brush, but there are several components to getting the look exactly right. Make sure you brush only the top portion of the hair strands, as back combing the entire piece of hair will result in frizz and loss of definition. Be certain you continue to use the same method of combing over your entire head, in order to achieve uniformity. Using a brush with lots of bristles will also help catch fine or flyaway pieces of hair. Backcombed hair can be sculpted into a variety of styles, from texturized up-dos to 1980s retro fauxhawks.
Many hair care companies carry at least one sculpting brush, and they are available at beauty supply stores as well as online. Bristles tend to be made from nylon or rubber, with a similar base, rather than natural fibers. Using synthetic materials helps keep the style from becoming frizzy rather than voluminous, and help maintain definition between hair sections. Prices for these brushes vary, but most cost between $5-$20 US Dollars. If you have short hair or a particularly textured cut, a sculpted brush could become your most essential styling tool.
