Brush your hair 100 times
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My grandmother, Harriet, whom I never knew, was born in the late 19th century. She had long hair, which was always pinned up. My sister, many years my senior, used to love watching her brush her hair and longed to stroke it, but was too shy to do so. I suspect Harriet would have enjoyed the contact. She had no daughters, just three sons, the youngest of whom was my father.
Maybe Harriet was exhorted to brush her hair one hundred times a day. It’s certainly a maxim I heard frequently in my childhood, though I was never encouraged to follow it. I had long, thick hair and have worn long, or longish, hair for most of my life.
Me, aged 11.
It is important to brush one’s hair, because it distributes natural oils and stimulates the scalp, so improving blood flow to maintain healthy hair. I’ve never quite believed that there is such a thing as ‘healthy hair’, because hair is dead and has no nerves. As far as I understand it, it records the health you were enjoying, or not, as it grew, much as fingernails are an indication of your well-being.
Apparently, the ‘average person’, whoever that is, loses a hundred hairs every day. Regular brushing, we are assured, reduces the loss and is, I quote,’especially important for people with thinning hair or anyone who wants to maintain their current hair length.’
So, all you balding people, hie thee to the hairbrushery and purchase a brush, forthwith.
It is not advisable to brush your hair one hundred times a day, because, and I quote, ‘Excessive stimulation such as brushing . . . can erode the hair’s cuticle (the outermost layer), causing mats or tangles which weaken the strands making them more susceptible to breakage if brushed too hard or often.’
When should you brush? Should you brush at all? Why does the hairdresser use a comb on wet hair and not a brush? Too many questions . . .
You should brush your hair at least once a day. ✔ I brush morning and evening, like my teeth, though obviously not with the same brush – that would be just silly, and can you imagine a toothbrush tangled in your crowning glory? Ooh, shivers! 🥶
The advice is to brush after, no, before you shower, but before bedtime so that the natural oils can be distributed evenly and will not disturb your sleep! ‘Oh, I had a terrible night – couldn’t sleep a wink. The hair oils were weighing me down something chronic and giving me such a headache.’ 🤢
So, follow the conflicting advice. Brush your hair before you step into the shower, brush it again after you exit the shower, or else don’t bother and just vigorously, but not too vigorously, brush it before you climb into bed.
The final piece of priceless advice I came across was to encourage more volume in your hair by ‘brushing it in a pool or in the ocean (this will help increase blood flow.)’
My Mum used to tell me the 100 times a day thingy - I had long hair down way past my shoulder blades .... could never really be bothered brushing it that much, think I might have even struggled with half that amount. That is a lovely photo of you aged 11 Janice!
ReplyDeleteI sit on the side of the bath & brush my hair each night & I am always appalled at how much of it falls into the bath (no water in it I might add).
It is surprising how much hair comes out every time it's brushed - worryingly, sometimes! 😮
DeleteI haven't used a brush in years, just a comb, wide toothed for combing out after shampooing, followed by a regular comb to smooth it. Before washing it, I lean over the basin and comb all the hair forward and comb out all the loose hairs so I don't have to scoop them up off the shower floor and drain. After washing, I finish with a cold water rinse to seal the hair cuticles. I always wanted long hair, but it only grows to a few inches past my shoulders and stops.
ReplyDeleteI never use a comb, I don't know why not.
DeleteMy mother-in-law always wanted long hair, but her thick, curly hair grew out rather than down, so she never succeeded.
Oh, such conflicting advice! My hair was never cut until I was 13. It will quickly grow past my waist which I've done several times, but have had it short for at least 20 years. I do brush it often and am dismayed to see how much falls away. You were a beautiful 11 year old and such a pretty dress you were wearing.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say what a lovely face your grandmother had; I can see your resemblance.
DeleteMy hair was not cut until I was 12, but it never grew as long as yours.
DeleteI loved the dress I'm wearing in the photograph. My mother made it - she made most of my clothes - and it was so pretty.
Thank you for the compliments. 😊
Mother's advice for their young daughters seemed to be shared very simply and very often, so the advice remained in the mind for life. I also knew "Brush your hair 100 times" and "never clip your finger nails; emery-board only". "Brush your teeth 2 times a day, 2 minutes each time" came a bit later.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard the emery board advice - that's interesting.
DeleteShort hair for me, just about my whole life.
ReplyDeleteI spend far more time grooming Nobby's furs than I do my own!
Cheers, Gail.
Short hair is easier, in many ways. Mine is always tied back, never loose, so it might as well be short!
DeleteDoes Nobby shed at all, or would his fur just grow out and out?
Confused about the brushing in the ocean . Just standing in the sea or with head under water ? - guess I will never know!
ReplyDeleteMy hair is heavy and needs to be really short as it drives me nuts otherwise - both brushed or unbrushed!
The ocean advice puzzled me, too. I suppose it's meant to be brushed amid the ocean breezes - sounds daft to me.
DeleteI have long hair, which I mainly keep tied up. I noticed that it was very dry on the ends, so started brushing it 100 times a day just a few days ago, hoping that it would help to distribute the oils better and get rid of the crispy look. At least I won't have forked out for a costly product if it doesn't have any effect!
ReplyDeleteI just love that expression - *crispy look*. Do let me know if the new brushing regime works.
DeleteAs I am unable to shower or wet my hair after surgery, I was horrified to find if I ruffled my hair, which isn't very thick, I could see dandruff flying everywhere, so I've taken to brushing it every day and that has pretty well stopped the dandruff. Icky. At least fair hair like mine doesn't show dandruff like dark hair does.
ReplyDeleteBrushing long hair underwater seems...difficult.
Have you tried dry shampoo? I agree that dandruff and dark hair is not a good combination.
DeleteI was going to but I never got around to it. Tuesday after a hospital visit, I should be able to shower and wash my hair. I think I will regardless of what I am told.
DeleteI hope the visit went well.
DeleteI always had long straight hair, which my mum was always brushing to keep it tidy, I now always have shorter hair.
ReplyDeleteMy hair was as straight as a yard of pump water. It was awful when the nits arrived and had to be dealt with.
DeleteMy mum said the same about mine.
DeleteI've never brushed my hair 100 times a day. It gets brushed to eradicate tangles and I stop when that's achieved.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
DeleteLovely photos. I could sit on my hair as a youngster ( why would I want to 😉😂 ) but most of my adult life I've kept my hair cropped, it's very thick and unruly. So it only needs the quickest of brushes in the morning, and I never use a comb.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I longed for my hair to grow long enough to sit on, but it never did.
DeleteI used to see a little girl at the local school who had long auburn hair, definitely long enough to sit on.
Your photo looked like my hair back in my youth. But as my mother loved to keep it pulled taut to my scalp, by the time I was 8 or 9, the school nurse told my mother to cut my hair. I was going bald in the front. My father had a fit as he was the one who wanted long hair on me. But he did not brush or wash it ,of course, lol. I brush my hair 3 times a day, and maybe it equals 100 strokes.
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Lynn, though it does sound quite funny.
DeleteSuch a cute photo of you. Yes, I remember hearing brush your hair 100 times. I have worn short hair most of my life (I did have banana curls when I was 4 yrs old and hated having my hair brushed). I don't own a comb or brush. I wash my hair, rake it into place with my fingers , and let it air dry. Long hair takes too much work to maintain. How do you spell lazy? C - J 😺
ReplyDeleteYou see, I find short hair much too difficult to keep looking half-decent. Mine is just wash and leave.
DeleteMuch too late.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Too late for my husband, too, though it might help my rapidly thinning grandson. He's 27!
DeleteI, too, grew up hearing the 100 times a day advice but I never did it. I haven't brushed my hair in years. I use a comb and comb it just enough to style it. I wait until it is almost dry after washing. I never wore my hair in braids or a pony tail, and, the last few years, I've had it cut short.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that I am hopeless at styling my hair, so, long and dragged back off my face suits my (lazy) way of life.
DeleteI have curly hair, and it's difficult to keep it in order. So, I get it cut and keep it short.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a fan of long hair on men and boys, so short and neat works for me.
DeleteWhat a pretty child! And such lovely hair you had too.
ReplyDelete*had* being the operative verb 🤣
DeleteIf I did that, my hair would be so greasy! What beautiful plaits you had! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you:-)
DeleteWhat a touching glimpse into your family’s history and your grandmother’s daily life. The image of Harriet with her long, pinned-up hair and the tender memory of your sister’s longing to stroke it is so evocative. It’s interesting how certain practices and maxims, like brushing hair one hundred times a day, weave their way through generations. Your own experience with long hair adds a lovely continuity to the story. Thanks for sharing these personal reflections. Hi wishing you a happy weekend. I just shared a new post please read: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/09/how-to-style-prepreworks-stretchy-slim-round-neck-knit-vest.html.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melody.
DeleteLovely photographs of Harriet and yourself, and I can see why you liked that dress ... it's lovely.
ReplyDeleteYes, I too can remember being told about the 100 brushes, but I don't think I ever did!
Nowadays, my hair gets brushed in the morning and tidied up if necessary during the day.
All the best Jan
I've realised that I brush my hair twice a day, usually, morning and evening, unless I'm going out.
DeleteI hope your weekend has gone well.
Well, I am going to have to start brushing my hair, I guess. I am a comber but see the advantage of brushing. I love the photo of you, aged 11.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how you get on. 😀
DeleteI think I need to do this; will begin tonight. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI hope it has the desired result.
DeleteI remember my grandma telling me to brush my hair a 100 strokes a day- I never did though. My hair has always been fairly short.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if it was advice given but never acted on 😂
DeleteMy great-grandmother Aloysia, whom I never knew, had the most wonderful hair - well, judging from the photos, that is - which unfortunately I didn't inherit. The only one of my siblings to inherit her hair is my brother, and he prefers wearing his in dreadlocks :-o
ReplyDeleteI brush my hair first thing in the morning and last thing at night but no amount of brushing seems to make it look right :-) xxx
I sometimes feel I should wear a paper bag over my head!
Delete