What They Say: (about the brush) "Triage Thermal Collection’s triangle brush is both unique, universal and can be used for all types of hair. The three flat surfaces produce a smooth line through the hair – the rounded edge provides a bend and a bit of soft bounce to the hair tips."
(about the Balm) "A rich, botanical, leave-in conditioner and smoothing/straightening balm."

Jamie’s Thoughts: My naturally curly hair is a challenge unto itself – straightening it takes patience, the right weather, and a sense of humor. I have tried countless potions, serums, you name it. Curly girls out there will know what I mean when I say, “I’ve finally figured it out, and they had better not discontinue any of these 9 products it takes me to get it done.” At this point, I’m better at blow-outs on my hair than any of my hairdressers have ever been.

Faced with a new brush and a new balm to use (the horror!), I waited for a dry weekend and got right to work. The balm is thin without being runny, and smells a bit fruity (in a good way). It is easy to work with, it works well, and a little bit goes a long way. I know a lot of straightening products claim to be this way, but this one actually makes good on that promise. I put a quarter sized dollop in my hand and moved it through my entire head. As each section came down for drying, I added a TINY bit more to the ends only. Be careful not to get this too close to the roots – you’ll lose volume.

One interesting sidenote: Creative Products claims that the balm works better as you go – the more you blowdry, the better it gets. I thought this claim to be ridiculous, but they’re right. This is a great balm for those girls who just “have to get that piece one more time.”

The brush, as all super-grippy brushes do, took some time for me to master. I was impressed with the ease at which it turns the hair, and I only got the brush stuck in my hair once! (This is a good thing) I didn’t see the benefit of the triangular shape, but I definitely noticed the ceramic kicking in – I was done in 30 minutes, as opposed to my usual 45. That is a HUGE time savings, especially for anyone with long hair. I suspect this brush would make a difference in professional salons, where time management is crucial. It works well, but I don’t see enough improvement in bounce, shine, or shape to make me put my trusty paddle brush aside.

Retail Prices: Triage Triangle Brush $10.50; Conditioning & Smoothing Balm $14.95
(in salons and also online at www.creativetool.com, but double check pricing because right now their site is mostly for professionals and is a bit difficult to navigate)

DeLush Rating: Conditioning & Smoothing Balm
Triage Triangle Brush

Despite all the reviews and advertisements for expensive hair brushes that I see in all the fashion magazines, I have always been kind of a drugstore hairbrush kind of girl. I'm sure that a good hairbrush would make my hair shiny and smooth and perfect-looking, but it's hard to justify spending that kind of dough (like the Mason Pearson brushes, which can run as high as $125).

For the past several years, I've been using a Scunci hair brush (Walgreens, $5.99 for a similar brush), much like the one you see to your right. Because I bought mine when I was still in college, I doubt they still make that exact one. I'm assuming that I chose it because it came with a sidekick, a smaller, but identical version of the brush. Over the years, I've developed quite a collection of these, and my car, desk, and every laptop and carry-on bag I own contains one. It's a fine choice for those who are budget-minded and require a brush everywhere they go.

Onto the brush from Hamadi Beauty. I am not sure that my sample brush is the full retail size model (which runs $27) because the online retailers who sell their other products don't seem to also sell their hairbrushes. This is a very different brush than my $5.99 drugstore brush. For starters, it's made out of actual wood rather than plastic, although the basic design is somewhat similar. There's a similar amount of pulling and snagging with this brush to the Scunci. It is a very, very light little brush, which feels strange and somewhat toy-like when I am using it, but I think there's a benefit in that it takes a lot more leverage to really cause any serious breakage.

All of that lead-up was so that I could present my new favorite brush, which, like my Scunci brush is of the drugstore variety.

The Goody Ouchless hairbrush is really made for my fine, thin hair. No really -- Goody makes this brush in a variety of styles to suit each hair type: fine, medium, or thick; it's not just one size fits all. I have a problem keeping my long layers from tangling up when I get out of the shower, and I need a brush that will help me smooth and detangle without causing a lot of breakage and creating fly-aways that I have to apply lots of products to smooth down. According to the Goody website, "The Ouchless™ collection of brushes offer true snag-free styling. The innovative, one piece design doesn’t leave a gap for hair to get caught or snag. And the nylon pins are also one piece so the tips to come off and scratch your scalp. Not to mention its great for massaging the scalp because the embedded cushion conforms to the shape of the scalp. This is the ultimate in Snagless Styling™."

It looks like an ordinary brush, it really does, but after using this brush for the past month, I've seen an improvement in my hair. With the colder weather, the static makes the fly-aways more apparent than usual. Now, with this brush in combination with all the other high-quality hair products in my repetoire, my hair is sleeker and smoother than ever. This verdict is in: the Goody Ouchless brush is a winner.

Goody Ouchless Hair Brush: