Can brushing your hair prevent hair loss?

How the hair growth cycle works

The first step in preventing hair loss is understanding the hair growth cycle. Hair goes through three stages from the beginning of its life until it falls out:

1. The anagen phase, during which hair follicles generate new cells to produce the hair shaft. This phase can last between 1 and 3 years, with the hair growing at a rate of about half an inch per month.
2. The catagen, or transition phase, lasts between 2 and 3 weeks. Active hair growth stops during this phase, as the follicle is cut off from its blood supply to usher in the next phase of new hair growth.
3. The telogen phase, or resting phase, lasts about 3 months, during which the hair remains anchored in the hair follicle. When this phase ends, the hair falls out.

What causes hair loss?   

Hair loss can be caused by both physiological and environmental factors, such as:

• - hormonal changes (these are a factor for 97% of men and 15 to 20% of women with this problem)
• - serious illness or heavy medication/treatment
• - emotional or physical stress and fatigue
• - excessive use of hair care products, especially those that are harsh on the hair
• - using a low-quality hairbrush and brushing too vigorously, which can damage the hair follicle.

Preventing hair loss with a boar-bristle brush 

Brushing your hair every day with a boar bristle brush is THE step to add to your hair care routine to prevent hair loss. Not only does it help remove the impurities that build up in your hair throughout the day, but it also promotes blood circulation in your scalp through its massaging action, which helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. This means that your hair shaft is strengthened with each use.

Altesse Studio developed boar bristle hairbrushes that help repair your hair. Our expert bristle placement technique—perfected over the years in our French workshops—and our handcrafting expertise, combined with our premium selection of “first cut” boar bristles, make these brushes truly unique.

Made naturally from keratin, just like hair, boar bristles glide through the hair without snagging or pulling on the follicle, unlike plastic bristles, which can pull out hairs during the growth phase. Each tuft is set into a flexible natural latex cushion that absorbs the pressure of the brushing motion, while the olive wood handle provides an ideal grip for gentle brushing. 

How to brush your hair to promote hair growth?

You should brush your hair twice a day: in the morning, to enhance shine and tame your hair; in the evening, to remove the impurities that have accumulated throughout the day. 

Ideally, you should brush your hair twice a day. Once in the morning, to give it body and shine, and once in the evening, to help remove all the impurities that have built up during the day. This not only helps keep your hair looking beautiful, but also promotes blood flow to the scalp and stimulates hair growth…while also helping you relax before going to bed!

The time-honored“100-stroke brush technique” is great for stimulating hair growth, and can be broken down into 4 sets of 25 strokes each, as follows:

• - Flip your hair upside down and brush from the nape of your neck to the ends of your hair.
• - Flip your hair back up and brush it from your forehead to the back of your head.
• - Tilt your head to the left and brush from your right ear toward your left ear.
• - Tilt your head to the right and brush from your left ear toward your right ear.

For more information on this topic, watch our video on the benefits of brushing your hair for preventing hair loss.

Which brush is best for your hair type?  

For fine to normal hair (the most sensitive to pulling): our care brush features fine, tapered bristles that gently massage the scalp and stimulate growth without putting any tension on the roots.  

For thick or curly hair (the densest hair types): our care brush, specially designed for these hair types, features a specific bristle arrangement that allows the boar bristles to work through the density of the hair. It reaches the scalp directly to stimulate microcirculation, without disrupting the curls or causing frizz.  

A daily ritual, a tradition of craftsmanship dating back to 1875  

Brushing cannot restore hair that has already been lost, but it helps care for the hair you still have and creates the ideal conditions for new growth.  

Since 1875, our artisans have been crafting brushes designed to support this daily ritual. Proven effectiveness: 85% of users report a reduction in breakage and hair loss*.  

*According to the RS Développement efficacy study, February 2022.