Natural curls might look amazing, but they are actually a lot of work! Using countless products and tools every time you wash your curly hair can now be a thing of the past thanks to this new effective method of creating textures in your African-American hair: the sponge brush! In case you do not know how to use a sponge brush or what it actually is, I will tell you all about it in this guide!
Sponge brushes, a.k.a hair sponges, have become very popular for several reasons. First, they are very easy to use and can style natural afro hair in only a matter of seconds. Second, sponge brushes are very cheap and easy to find, so you can save a bit of money by using this kind of brush regularly on your hair.
However, sponge brushes also have their downsides, the biggest one being that they are not quite suitable for finer hair and are supposed to be used only on curlier, shorter hair. If you have thick, curly, short hair, this is the best tool you can use to style it. If your hair is longer or finer, you will probably have to find another way to style it.
With that being said, I would like to tell you more about how to use this kind of styling tool, how to choose the perfect one for your hair, and how often you can use it. By the end of this guide, you will know all about sponge brushes and whether using one is an option for you!
Table of Contents
What is a Sponge Brush?
A sponge brush is essentially a type of brush that looks like a sponge. It usually has holes on one side while the other side is flat. The holes can be different sizes. The brushes also come in different sizes, shapes, and colors.
If you are looking to purchase your first sponge brush ever, I would recommend starting with a smaller one and purchasing a larger one only when you feel comfortable using it. It takes a bit of time to get adjusted to the technique of this brush. This means that in the beginning, your curls might look a bit frizzier.
However, this is not something that should worry you. After reading this guide and using the sponge brush several times, you will turn into a real curl professional. The only thing you need is the right sponge and the right technique!
How to Use a Sponge Brush
I have finally reached the most important part of this guide. After telling you everything you need to know about the sponge brush, I will also give you a detailed step-by-step guide on the best way to use the brush. In just a few simple steps, you will achieve the best curls you have ever had.
Before I start with the steps, I would like to remind you that sponge brushes work best and are supposed to be used on short, curly hair. If you try using the brush on longer, finer hair, the curls will not look as good as they would on curly hair.
Step 1 – Wash Your Hair
Before using your sponge brush, you will have to prepare your hair. As I mentioned before, you can achieve the best results if you wash your hair before you use the sponge brush, so that is exactly what you should do!
Wash your hair with shampoo as you normally would. There is no need to use any special products.
Step 2 – Condition and Detangle
My personal preference is to use a leave-in conditioner on the hair at this point just to make it a bit smoother and easier to brush. If you want, you can skip the conditioning part and move on to the next thing.
After washing your hair, the next step is to detangle it. You must know how tangled curly hair can get, so you need to brush it thoroughly to keep it from looking like a real mess. This step will also make it so much easier for you to make nice, defined curls with the brush.
Step 3 – Use Sponge Brush with Circular Movements
There are a few things that you need to know about using a sponge brush. It is not like a regular brush – it requires a special technique to make the hair look good. The best way to make great curls is to use the sponge brush in only one direction all over your hair, slowly going from one side of the head to the other.
Also, notice that there are two sides of the sponge brush, each of which creates a slightly different look from the other. The flat side uses the holes to create tighter, more defined separations, while the “spiky” side creates a softer effect. You can play around and experiment with how you can best use each of these two sides.
Another thing to think about is how you move the brush. You should make circular movements. Also, you can apply as much pressure as you would like, but do not get too into it as too much pressure can damage your natural curl pattern.
It should take anywhere from three to five minutes to brush through your hair. It could take more time if your hair is longer than a few inches, or if you are quite slow in making your circles, but the general time will not exceed ten minutes.
How Often to Use a Sponge Brush
One of the reasons why sponge brushes are so popular is because they are a very easy, quick, and heatless way to style your hair. That means that your hair will stay healthy and you will not need to worry about damaging your hair with the brush – there is no chance of that happening unless you start doing something really freaky to your hair with the sponge!
The sponge brush can be used every day. I recommend using it on freshly washed hair, but you can also use it on dry hair a few days removed from the last wash. The results might not be as good as the ones you get with washed hair, but your hair will still look great!
How to Choose the Right Sponge Brush
As I mentioned earlier, there are sponge brushes that come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. If you are not familiar with sponge brushes, chances are that you do not know how to choose a good sponge brush for your hair. So I want to give you a few pointers that will help you choose one easily!
Sponge Size
First of all, the sponge size is very important. I suggested starting with a smaller brush until you get used to it and then moving on to a larger one. However, I did not tell you that smaller sponge brushes are more suitable for shorter hair while larger ones are better for hair that is up to 10-inches long, so that is something that you should keep in mind!
Hole Size
Aside from the sponge size, another important factor is the size of the sponge holes. The smaller the hole, the tighter the curls. Sponges with larger holes will produce bigger curls. Depending on the type of curls you want to achieve, you can choose between the different hole sizes.
Durability
Finally, there is the problem of durability. A lot of the sponge brushes are not very durable which means that you will have to keep buying new brushes every few weeks.
It’s best if you check the durability of the sponge before you buy it, and you can do that by gently pressing it. If the sponge feels squishy, it might not be that durable. You will need something that is more firm – that way, you will be able to use the pressure necessary to get results.
FAQs on Sponge Brushes
You could use some more information on sponge brushes before I let you go and start brushing your hair! After the guide, I think it would be best if I mention the most frequently asked question on this topic. So here it is!
Do sponge brushes work on straight hair?
Hair sponges will not work on straight hair. They are generally used on African-American hair as a way to define the curls. If you have straight hair, using the sponge will not help you make any curls. You would be better off using another technique to make curls on your hair, possibly even a curling iron!
Sponge to Embrace Your Natural Hair
Learning how to use a sponge brush gives you freedom and helps you love your natural curls and kinks, and make them look their best in the easiest way. These brushes are extra-easy to use and it only takes a few minutes to define your curls. They do not damage the hair, and they cost practically nothing. You will love styling your hair with a hair sponge!
Let me know if you have any previous experience with this type of brush and what it was like. I cannot wait to read all about it!
