Hamburg  - Thorough hair care requires several different kinds of brushes and when buying a brush it's important to consider how it feels on the scalp.

"There are excellent all-purpose brushes that are perfect for daily brushing," said Marlies Moeller, a hair stylist from Hamburg. "However, they are not sufficient for massaging or a specific kind of styling."

Round brushes in two or three sizes are needed when using a hair dryer to style the hair. In addition a small brush is a useful item to keep in a handbag. Moeller says price shouldn't be the first concern when buying a hair brush.

"A good hair brush sits well in the hand, and high quality brushes, such as those with wild boar bristles, massage the scalp," Moeller said. "There's no comparison between this and a cheap plastic brush."

According to Moeller, plastic brushes damage the scalp when used over a long period of time and roughen the hair shaft. High quality hair brushes are expensive, "but they have a longer life and your hair and scalp will thank you for using them." (dpa0