I don't use a brush. After showering, I run my fingers through it, add mousse, and blow dry (currently sporting a long layered angled bob that I'm continuing to grow out from a pixie). It's long enough to curl so I pick out certain pieces and half curl with flat iron. Then I add dry spray wax and/or beachy spray, heavily separate all the curls so they're very loose, back comb where need be, pin pieces if I feel like it and add a tad finishing spray. Sounds like a lot of junk, but it's really not. It doesn't look crunchy or gross. What does look unappealing is if I leave my hair product naked.

A friend of mine also doesn't use a brush and when she had the conversation with someone else they were grossed out by this. Which I (we) don't understand because the brush doesn't equal shampoo - it's simply a tool.

Very short hair...haven't brushed my hair in years. I comb it after I wash it to comb through a curl cream and then use my fingers to arrange it. After that, it's generally just fingers.

After years of trying to force the Rachel-from-Friends blowout look on my very fine hair during my 20s, my children came along and I figured out by neglect that I have naturally curly hair. It's been a bit of gel and a diffuser ever since. I keep it medium length and styling takes all of 3 minutes. I don't use a comb or brush before or after or any time during the day because it causes the curls to frizz.

I don't use expensive products, but I do spend $$ for a good cut from one of two stylists I know. They understand my hair is fine and curly... not thick and curly. There's a big difference. At your age (which is my age too) our hormones may be causing changes in hair texture so perhaps talk to your stylist about a new style or new products that can help.

Comb it after the shower, use a round brush to blow dry, then my hair doesn't see a comb or brush again until the next day. I have short, straight hair. It has also started to behave erratically with age! Humidity does very weird things to me these days.

crl_ & I don't have the same type hair, but we share the same approach - a good haircut & finding a style that works with it.

I'd always wished for straight hair (even tried ironing it back in the day...) but my hair has a natural waviness & is prone to frizz in humidity. I either have to have it to my shoulder - wore a bob for many years - so there was enough weight to curb the wave once I blew it dry on a big round brush. Or, a short cut with longer layers. In between, & I'm a slave to products.

I get my hair trimmed & roots touched up to cover grey every 4 weeks. In the morning I shower, blow dry and roll in a few large Velcro curlers to further smooth & give a little lift. I put on my daytime sunscreen & a touch of makeup, remove curlers & finger style.

That's it, unless I'm out in weather or wind, then I just brush it back in place. A good haircut & working with what you have is key. I often receive compliments on my hair, but I still want mine to be like crl_'s. I would love to never have to blow dry!

Brush it gently a couple of times a day unless it really gets messed up by the wind/rain. Mine is straight, fine and blunt cut just about chin length, and I wash it frequently because of all the running I do (sometimes twice a day). Except for touching it up during the day if needed, I don't usually mess with it until I get home. I'll brush it back if I'm going running in the afternoon and before I get in the shower & before bed and that's about it.

Mine occasionally gets a little 'frizz' looking when it's humid, even though I have no curl. I'm trying a drop of dry oil (Aveda product) to see if this helps. As I've gotten older I notice a change in the sleek look near the front hair line that my hair used to have.

Long, wavy hair here that never gets brushed or combed during the day. Granted, some days when I get home in the evening and look at myself in the mirror I realize I look a little like I've been through a wind tunnel, but that's the nature of this beast ... er, hair. I do brush it out in the morning before showering to get out all the kinks just so that it doesn't tangle when I wash and condition. To style, I blow dry and then if I'm in a rush (which I usually am), I'll scrunch through a bit of curl cream and hit the ends with L'Oreal OleoTherapy oil. I love the way it smells.

very thick curly frizzy hair that can get out of control big by the end of the day of 'wash day' unless there is absolutely no humidity! I don't comb it until I put it into a pony tail which is usually the next day- then I comb with a wide tooth comb. I wash about every 3 days... it never gets 'greasy' even with all the product I need in it! occasionally I will brush it before washing... especially if it's been a few days since I've washed it and it is exceptionally out of control...(I could easily create dredlocks with some humidity!)

I have thick, wavy hair that is in a shortish/layered style. I'm another who uses my hands. I don't think I even own a brush. I use a wide tooth comb after washing and applying product and then mess it up with my fingers. LOL If I see myself in the mirror I might pick at my hair a bit or if I've laid down or such as the other day when I had my teeth cleaned (it looked like they had been all over my head!), but normally that's it unless we go out that evening.

I'm glad you asked this question. I've always wondered, thinking I was the only one who didn't brush several times a day. My hair is a little longer than shoulder length - straight and medium in texture and I generally brush it just in the morning, unless I've been in the wind outside!

I'm curious to learn how you can style your hair with your fingers? Is that just for curly hair?

I've had a pixie for years. Fine, thin, barely there hair. When I get around to looking in the mirror, I might wet it just to smooth out the bumps. I don't own a brush, just a wide tooth comb that's only used in emergencies.

Magdalena....that isn't you in the picture with what looks like long, thick, beautiful hair?

I've never been great at doing my fine, thin hair. I try different methods and products to no avail. I feel I'm at the point where I should divorce my hairstylist, but I can't bring myself to do it since I have been with her for so long. It's a good thing I am not super fussy about haircuts...I figure my hair will always grow back....but I made the mistake last time of not having a picture. Of course it's too short and I'm really having a hard time with it. I'm do for a cut next week but I'm going to cancel so it can grow out some more. Grrrr.

I am a teacher. I feel lucky if I can get a bathroom break between 8:00 and 3:30-ha. Hair? Forget about it. ;)

Joanie, I forgot about that pic! Yes, that's me and my favorite wig. My thyroid is messed up (Hashimoto's) and if my hormone level fluctuates even a little bit my hair falls out. My endo said I have sensitive follicles. cute. Luckily, I've been pretty stable over the past year.

Whenever I'm feeling a little self conscious I whip on my wig. My real hair is the opposite of that wig - short, thin, curly and blonde. So I wear it more like an accessory since everybody knows that's not my real hair.

My advice would be to find a good product to control frizz and hold style.

From about my mid-30s on, I wore my hair very short and washed it daily, no combing except when I got out of the shower. Now, at 70, my gray hair is to my shoulders. I often wonder if people mistake me for Miss Havisham. I finally can shampoo every other day without grossing myself out. Still, I comb (actually a vent brush) in the morning and then use my fingers throughout the day. My hair is thick and sorta straight but it's developing a wave and even a crinkle or two. When I need to freshen it up, I just spritz with water and scrunch-ish.

ETA: I play with my hair constantly if it's not pulled back, either just on top or a complete ponytail. Can't leave it alone. Plus it tends to fall forward. I'm always considering cutting it all off, but now that I've had it longer for awhile, it's a harder decision.

Shoulder length wavy curls here. Moroccan oil has been a godsend. Never use a hairbrush unless I decide to blow out. I run a pick through my hair most times when I'm in the bathroom.

I play with my hair throughout the day. I like the silky feel of it and when I think it looks limp I put it up in a knot, take down often, run my fingers through it, and in general, find my hair to be on par with a Japanese rake garden.

Calming, energizing and triggering happy memories.

No brush and only wide tooth comb in the shower.

Ha ha! Japanese rake garden, love that visual...I guess I treat mine like a Japanese rake garden too:) I need to be very mindful of that when I'm in work meetings:)

MagdalenaLee, I have Hashimoto's too and my hair is very fine. Fortunately, I still have enough and wear it curly so that it seems thicker than it is. But I go through periods where clumps will fall out in the shower... I'm preparing for the day when I need a wig. It will be difficult because I really like my hair right now and finally have found an easy way to work with it.

So do some or many of you not use a hairbrush because you believe it to harm your hair, or because not brushing is easier / more efficient / less time consuming?

I don't use a brush either. I don't like what it does to my hair, it takes all my natural curl out and makes it fly away. I don't shampoo every day but I do wet it throughly every day. I use a little spritz of bed head foxy curls and sometimes a curl cream. I put it on wet, work it through with my fingers, shaking it upside down and let it dry naturally. Once it's dry I run my fingers through to loosen up the curl. I too have thyroid disease and lose a lot of hair at times. Luckily I have natural curl so it's pretty easy to maintain. For most of my life my hair was waist length(hot) and natural spiral curls. Now it's short and cool with a lot of silver in front mixed in with the raven black.

When I take time to do anything, morning and night usually, I use a brush. Only comb it when it is wet. I have baby fine, thin, straight, blah hair-okay growing up. Not so great now.

Delilah, that is all over facebook and it makes me laugh every single time. Reminds me of all those sad years I permed my locks.

kswl, I don't use a brush because it's not the look I want.

BB - Yes, my (ahem) friend posted it to my timeline. Maybe I should make it my profile picture?

Rake garden, like bumblebeez. I pretty much handle it all day. Bad habit I know, but one I've never been able to break.

My hair is long, thick, and coarse. Every morning I wash, condition, blow dry, then brush with a Tangle Teezer. Then I torture it more with a curling iron, pinning the curls while they cool in the hopes that they will last more than an hour. It goes up in a knot when I get in the car, down when I get to work, my hands are in it all day, then back up when I get in the car and for the rest of the night. Rinse and repeat :o

Cyn, I had three college volunteers in my afternoon art class that lasts from 2:30 to 4:15. All had to take a bathroom break. I thought, really?

Deliliah, that is my hair! Scrunchies are my best friends.

My hair is short, thick and coarse. I never use a comb or brush, just put product in with my fingers and blow dry.

So do some or many of you not use a hairbrush because you believe it to harm your hair, or because not brushing is easier / more efficient / less time consuming?

Kswl, I just don't feel I need one. Many people will use a brush while blow drying to train/direct/style the hair. I have a small cowlick in the front, but use my fingers to direct and correct. Once my hair is styled I usually don't mess with it. I'll still use my hands if my hair's longer and I decide to make a style change later in the day.

I think people are more likely to end up with damage from flat/curling irons and bleach than brushes.

Brushing my hair tends to make it static-y. So I don't. My dd (5 years old) has slightly curly hair and brushing it tends to either pull the curl out or make it frizzy (depending on the weather and how long since it has been washed.)

kswl2, re using a brush vs fingers -

I have the good fortune of having a sister who is a stylist and has done my hair for years. Consequently, I get frank feedback which has kept me from sticking with haircuts that become comfortable for me but whose shelf life has expired.

She knows me well enough to know that while I'm not interested in following trends, I don't want my hair to look like it's in a time warp. I like my hair to look neat and healthy - I was never drawn to the deliberate messy/tousled look. But for a time I was clinging to a style that lacked movement, despite a good cut, because I was combing or brushing it into place to look "just so".

I use my combs and brushes to dry and style, but once that's done my sister urged me to just use my fingers to place and direct my hair. It still looks neat and polished but fresher and less "done".

"but once that's done my sister urged me to just use my fingers to place and direct my hair. It still looks neat and polished but fresher and less "done". "

My hair is straight and all I can do using my fingers is out it behind my ears. Which I do mostly always. Do you use a product to make your hair go where you want it to? Is your hair in layers?

My cut expired decades ago, but the hair itself likes the style, iykwim. The thought of using stuff in it is a departure for me..... I have had one can of hairspray since the mid 1990's. But I am at least considering something new!

Delilah, my hair would look like that photo if I brushed it. Perhaps not that exaggerated, but it would be on that spectrum. I used to force it straight and it involved a lot of time and a lot of product. Then soon after my first child was born I had gotten out of the shower, he started crying and I tended to him and left my air as is... no brushing, nothing. An hour later I glanced in the mirror and my hair had nice, wavy curls. I began experimenting and learned that combing and brushing my hair separated all the curls and caused my thin strands to just frizz all over the place. All I do now it put some curl gel on when it's wet (very carefully to not separate any naturally forming curl), let air dry for a while, and then use a diffuser if needed. If you did nothing to your hair after its wet, what would it do? It seems like you're doing an awful lot of effort trying to force it out of its natural state. And forgive me if I'm suggesting something you've already tried long ago.

Wash and blow dry daily with a round brush. Use a vent brush and a bit of hairspray before walking out the door. Repeat next morning.

I live and die by how my hair looks. I have just as many bad hair days with longer hair than I did with short hair. Except with short hair, all you can do is get it all wet and start over. With long hair it can be pulled back and forgotten.

Thank you all for these replies! I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one without a brush in my purse, but at the same time, I need to figure out something to do so I don't look so frizzy and windswept so soon after I leave the house. My hair has changed a lot with age and I'm not dealing with the same creature I was in my 20's and 30's.

I think my hair has actually gotten thicker with age. It might be because as it turns gray/white it's gotten coarser. I'm grateful to have a full head of hair.

Wow, I cannot imagine not combing or brushing my hair after a shower. My hair gets into knots that are nearly impossible to get out. I even use globs of conditioner after I get out of the shower and do not rinse it out. I wish I could run my fingers through it and be done!

Coming out of lurkdom due to a dire need for information. :) I have very curly hair. When pulled straight it is to the middle of my shoulder blades, but it draws up to shoulder length. Most days I wear it in a ponytail, because I run and work outside. Some days, I'd like it to look nice. I live in the South, with the humidity. I wear it long for two reasons: 1) my mother made me wear it short as a child, when all of the other girls had Marsha Brady hair. Everyone thought I was a boy. 2) If I wear it short, in the summer it looks like a Brillo pad.

To those of you who referred to curl gel or other products, can you please be more specific? I want to be able to wash and go, partly because I've never figured out how to blow dry it without frizz. Also, I rarely want to take the time. I've tried a number of anti-frizz products, but have had no luck.

Thanks in advance!

Aok, my stylists have sent me home with all kinds of expensive products for my curls. The one that actually works best for me is this Garnier Curl Sculping cream from a drugstore (green tube). A dime-size amount applied after I get out of the shower when hair is wet. I don't comb, just apply it and scrunch my hair with my hands.

I use a diffuser to dry my hair, which helps with frizz control more than a standard hair dryer.

aok, I recommend the curly girl method which involves 'no poo' shampoo or just conditioner (well conditioned curls), little heat (air dry or low heat drying) and a shaping gel. I only have wavy/loose curls that fall easily so to go curly I need more hold. You probably need a medium hold styling gel...but I think gel will help dry out and frizz non-conditioned hair so the no-shampoo part is important.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/what-wash-and-go-means-when-you-have-type-2-3-hair/

Curly hair type (different types of curls need different conditioning, etc)

http://www.ilovenaturalhair.com/hair-typing/

I brush my hair well before I go in the shower just to get rid of loose hairs, then nothing usually. If I'm wearing my hair straighter or in a bun I brush before bun...simply because I love brushing my hair.

Curl? What is curl? My hair is straight as a pin. I wash it 2 - 3 times a week and blow it dry. On non-wash days I dampen it and blow dry. Fortunately, with a good cut, there are many days I can just comb it and go. I comb it multiple times throughout the day and take it in and out of an elastic around the house.

I showed my husband this vine when he asked why I didn't brush my hair more often.

LOL! That video clip is SO me!! Thank you for the tips, I am going to try them. It's a stay-home kind of weekend, so I can experiment without worrying how I look. Sometimes I do air-dry my curls, and often think "gee, they look nice, I hate to brush them." Duh, dummy, you don't HAVE to use a brush. I'm going to pick up a wide tooth comb and some curl gel, and I should be fabulous by Sunday!

I don't understand curl either. Although because I have long hair, if I don't do anything it will be slightly wavy by the way it dries.

Stick straight or curly, both take the same amount of effort.

+1 for curly girl method from another curly girl.

If I touch my curls when they are dry they turn into a frizzy hot mess!

So I guess my answer to OPs question is never?

Comb and arrange when wet, leave alone when dry.

Obviously this doesn't work for straight hair though.

I'm learning that with my daughter who has straight hair. I just don't know what to do with thin, fine, straight hair!