One thing I do when brush styling is wait until the very end to do any scrunching or shaking. I get all the brushing out of the way first to organize the clumps and then I flip side to side and give a good shake and then scrunch. It seems to make it go faster for me than when I scrunch each individual section.

Ok love i have your life changer! You know how you kind of wrap the ribbon around the scissors when you curl a ribbon for a present? That’s the main thing I see you missing with your brush styling! Watch a couple of videos from maybe Gena and see how she starts wrapping the hair about the side of the brush from the root. Also because my hair is so long I get no root definition if that’s all I do, so personally I wrap it around the brush handle most of the time on my less defined style but I know most people don’t. I’m doing my hair now let me do a video to show you!

Both are beautiful. Seems like you have a little more volume with brush styling, but for me personally, that wouldn't be worth the extra time. I find brush styling to be too time consuming. Like you though, I haven't done it as much. I like quick and easy which is why I love your method.

Brush the sections all at once without separating them and use a bit of tension with the brush.

For brush styling waves I know a lot of people who use a paddle brush and don’t section for each curl. They do a top section and a bottom one and take bigger sections, it works for some people I know!

I think the brush styled one was more defined. Both of them look amazing on you.

I’d be curious to see the regular brush styling vs the same technique with a denman brush and see if it made a difference?

I can tell a difference. I like the look of the brush styling technique. I’m still experimenting myself as I started my curly hair journey about six weeks ago.

I did not hear the fan, but I DID hear the delightful baby noises! So precious! I need to go find a baby to snuggle!

You are SO right about “squish to condish” Once i learned that from you and started implementing it into my routine, it was a game changer!

The one thing I have found that really helps to clump the curls is to use my finger on the edge of the brush to create slightly more tension. I brush from underneath and brush away from my head, that way I don't have to figure out which way my curls want to go, plus you can angle the brush down to create slightly more tension. I learned this technique from Curly Chelle here on KZfaq, she is great at brush styling. I use the Denman paddle brush and it doesn't have as much tension as the styling brush but by placing my finger on the edge it helps to clump the curls without causing breakage. And yes, more water is your friend when brush styling.

I'd suggest larger sections for when you brush it out and only separate the hair from your temples to around your crown. 2 large sections to separately style and to scrunch after you've brushed everything out. The results did look amazing though lol

I've been brush styling since the beginning of my hair journey, and my denman was my best friend, but recently I bought the behairful brush and I've seen a big improvement in my hair (I'm between wavy and curly, and with the denman I would find a lot of stringy parts, but the behairful gives me a more constant pattern). Also, be mindful that I don't have that much hair, so the behairful gives me the tension that the denman can't give me. Lastly, I don't brush gel or holding products, it doesn't work for me, I brush style, scrunch after brush styling everything, plop for like 10 min, and then I glaze and scrunch the gel/mousse

I've been brush styling for the past year and it does get easier and faster the more you do it, takes me about 10-15 minutes to get everything sectioned, brushed, gel applied, and then scrunch (in that order) before I go in with a diffuser. Also, a brush with more tension Will make the curl clumps more "ringlette-y". The bristles on a wetbrush-style brush just aren't stiff enough, or densely packed enough, to get the kind of tension you need to get the clumps to tightly curl, smooth, and stay together. You'll get more of a beachy style with a wetbrush, not the high-definition styles you would get with something like a Denman or a Behairful brush. Wetter hair does help, but without the tension, it just doesn't work as well. It can be a little scary to pull your hair that tightly through the brush to get tension, but as long as you're not yanking your hair and going slowly it really doesn't hurt your hair that much. My personal favorite is the Behairful brush, which is like a wetbrush and boar bristle combo. It detangles Really well and I don't need to be as precise with the direction I'm brushing in as I would with a regular Denman brush. However, I dunno if I'd recommend the Behairful brush now based on some videos I've seen about the company lately. I know Denman makes a brush similar to the Behairful brush (plus it's way cheaper than Behairful) so that one may be worth trying out.

I've also tried brush styling, but normally do all my styling upside down. I feel that brush styling makes my root/crown area flatter than upside down but I have quite a bit of length and maybe due for a haircut/more layering 🤷‍♀️ will have to give it a try again sometime! Took me forever also haha

I brush style my hair with that same brush and I love it! Make sure you pay attention to which way your curl goes, if you brush style it the opposite way your curl naturally forms it will go flat. Also I find if I turn the brush a little bit more than I see you did in the video it helps! I think you are right about the amount of styler! I love your swing curl method. I kind of use both brush styling and your method combined for my hair routine. Thank you for this video! Oh! I also put my leave in conditioner in then brush style and then glaze and scrunch in a harder hold gel I find that the curlsmith souffle is a light hold for me. Thank you again!! Great video!

I love your video! I also experimented with the two techniques and my results were similar. Yes, I had more curl definition using a denman, but since I have really thick hair, that process, for me, just wasn’t worth the extra time and effort. Your hair is beautiful with both methods!

Hi Courtney! Since you asked for suggestions…I have very similar hair to yours and brush styling is my fave, I really recommend 1)very wet hair, 2) the behairful brush, which has great tension and 3) use any leave-ins before brushing but any gel or hold products after brushing (when you scrunch). :D

I like the swing technique. I don't see a big enough difference to go with brush styling. The less time it takes with good results is better in my opinion. Plus for me when I brush style my hair seems to be more frizzy and not as good results as when I touch it less.

When I brush style, I find I can’t put gel in first or my hair gets super stringy and gross - if I brush first then do gel it turns out way better!

I have a very similar wave/curl to you and I couldn't see enough of a difference to warrant the extra effort. You have beautiful hair no matter what you do to it of course 💖

Probably for the amount of time using the brush takes, it didn't seem to yield an enormous curlier result. Wondering as the week progresses if you saw any difference before your next wash day. Thanks for the experiment.

I would love to see you try out the new Scrunch It Brush.

I’m subscribing because my hair looks like yours and I love Curlsmith 🥰🥰 thank you for posting this!!

This may have been your best video yet! ❤️ Great comparison with removing all the unnecessary variables. Loved that you actually measure your product for both methods, and I agree, with your thick hair you probably could have used more styler.😉 I'm a fan of the brush styling on you! It gives more volume and looks curlier to me, very pretty.

You said Tbsp twice and tsp once. You were going for "little t" teaspoon, correct? I think the brush styling looks better... the curl clumps look more... robust? Juicy?

I feel the same about my waves when brush styling. I have only tried it a couple times (seems like Denman doesn't have enough tension, better luck with a tangle teezer and holding a finger on it), i had better luck brush styling after leave in or cream but before gel. Brushing gel with my hair just made it stringier. The extra time didn't give any better results for me (i don't feel that would change even after practice). I typically style wet, upside down, some product, scrunch with a couple different microfiber towels to really get rid of the water weight, a bit more product, plop with the Moonstoneseven plop or a backwards microfiber turbie towel, hairspray, diffuse to initial cast, air dry for a bit, then finish with more diffusing. That seems to give me the best, consistent results for my waves. Upright styling in general is a mystery to me to make it work. 🤷‍♀️

I’ve really been enjoying Sophie Marie’s flip section method! It gives me more volume and definition than I have ever had before, I do it every washday now!

I think the brush styling has more definition for sure. It does take me twice as long as well to brush style, but it’s worth it most of the time to me! I get more curl at my roots, and I’m even starting to get some spirals which is insane to me. I didn’t even know my hair was capable of that.

🌿 I would never ever want to brush style! I want my hair to be in it's most natural state! So I rinse out my conditioner up side down, then I simply shake my whole head, in all directions, pretty aggresivly, I just shake! Shake out some water, get the clumps to a nice size, getting everything loose from my head! All in one very simple way! After that I take some of my own flaxseed gel and praying-hand-it in / scrunching it in all sorts of angles! Everything pretty freely, carefree, or what I should call it! This way my hair organises it self the way it wants and nothinh is complicated, time consuming or manipulated at all! That's what feels really good for me, I wish more people would relise how easy it can be!🌿

Finally found out my hair likes raking leave in and gel, the less water in my hair the more ringlets I get. Completely opposite of when I started CGM and my hair was super damaged

I can definitely tell the difference but honestly don't have the tito brush style. Your SCC method has been the best time vs. Results method ive found from any curly/wavy girl. I have the same fine wavy hair as you, although less dense, but your SCC imethod is the BEST I've ever tried! Thanks Courtney 😊

Brush styling added more curl closer to your roots. Both are beautiful.

Try the brush technique dividing your hair differently. I divide mine top from the rest and then the two sides. So you end up with three sections. I am using the Denman three row teasing comb instead of the brush half the time. You get slightly different results than the brush.

Your hair seems a bit more voluminous with the brush styling. I definitely agree with you needing another teaspoon of styler for more hold and your hair needed to be a bit more wet for the brush styling. I have found that applying my products and brush styling while I'm in the shower works best for me. I apply my leave-in and then I brush style. Once my clumps are formed from brush styling, I glaze and scrunch my stylers in. I get the juiciest curl clumps that way 😍😍😍

I like the brush styling side. Both are beautiful but it has more shrinkage and definition! I use the tangle teaser and I brush large sections up from the scalp from the bottom horizontally versus going in vertical sections. My hair would just never sit right doing vertical sections. I scrunch at the end versus as I go. At the end I flip upside down to scrunch and I'll sometimes add a foam. Before I diffuse I will ribbon curl any straight stringy or frizzy sections with my behairful brush. I do think brush styling helps halo frizz and it helps my silver hairs clump versus sticking out everywhere. Most days I flip coat scrunch but I enjoy brush styling for a more defined look.

It looks like the brush styling had more defined waves, but smaller clumps, but with the swing method your hair looks softer. I would say neither is objectively better or worse, it would depend on which look you like better. Stay cool!

It looks good both ways. I would go with the first. It is a lot less work!

It seems a little stringier on the brush styled side but still looks lovely. I think I prefer the SCC side though.

I like to brush style when I’m looking for definition over volume since it seems to eliminate most the frizz. I started seeing the best results when I paid more attention to the direction my hair curled. Typically I care more about volume though and can’t be bothered with brush styling.

I like both! The brushed side looks a little more piecey and voluminous. The SCC one looks a little more clumped?

In the beginning of the video I thought that I liked the brush styling better. But at the end I wasn’t sure I could tell the difference. I use brush styling, because I prefer styling right way up. That way I can better section my hair to get product in every strand. I am not very vigorous with my brush styling though, so the time spend on doing it is ok. Also, thank you for this comparison. I found it very interesting and entertaining.

I think I prefer the swing technique! I don’t think the extra effort of the brush styling is worth the extra time at all!

I think the brush curl gives you more curl. I watched a video where the girl explains to not touch your hair while drying with a diffuser and the ends ahw does last and once your hair is mostly dry then you can put it all in your diffuser. I can't tell what your towel is made of but the best towel for curly hair is like a cotton t-shirt for less frizz and a silk pillow case as well to help with frizz and breakage. I usually wash my hair once a week for growth unless I'm going out somewhere lol. My hair used to be like Shirley Temple curls but it's natural hers were not 😉 now that I'm 53 I'm losing curl, mostly the top and side sections. Some just show straight, which drives me crazy lol!!! 🤗

I will love to see a wash day with diffuser styling and another where you let it air dry.

I see very similar results on both. I think you are correct that more styler (2 tsp) might have been better. Since the brush styling takes so much longer, I'm not sure it's worth it for the results you got. However, only further experience will prove if you get better and faster at brush styling and, with that experience, get better results. It also makes me wonder if the two techniques give much difference for day 2 or 3 hair. I've only tried brush styling a couple times and found the results were not great, especially for the time investment. But again I know how repetitive experience makes an impact with any technique we tackle. 🙂

I'd love to see you try the method where they use the handle of the denman & twirl the hair around there! I don't get ribbons when I brush style how you did in this video, but I do when I use the handle!

I struggle with that root frizz and lack of coverage all the time. It's one of my biggest frustrations. But I don't usually have much success with brush styling, so I get stuck. I might try it again tomorrow when I wash.

Yes can tell the Brush has more ringlety waves and it looks beautiful. Also Tsp = Teaspoon Tbs or Tbsp = Tablespoon

Looks nice! I am also wavy, but tend to brush style more. I like the wet brush with the boar bristles on suuuper wet hair best! Because the boar bristles allow for slightly more tension than just the wet brush, and less than the denman. It also looks a little less like “rows” of clumps, allowing for a more natural look. I would say, I have noticed if I brush through my gel, I tend to get stringier results. I usually prefer brushing through just with a leave in or cream (2 sections only - top of the crown, and the bottom half of my head), and then glazing/scrunching in whatever styler, kind of a combo brush/swing method ;) So far just swing, or just brush has been less consistent, but the mix of brush for definition and swinging for movement works really well for me :) Thanks for that extra technique inspo 🥰

Your Hair ist so Amazing and healthy🥰❣️🙏..love the Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve Treatment...and the Styling Soufflé 🥰❣️... great Products...and squish to condish ist absolut Gamechanging..i do this every Waschday...👌

There was barely enough difference to take the time for the brush curling. They're both very gorgeous!

When I do a rake and shake/scrunch method, it’s way faster but the brush styling gives me more definition and the wash day lasts longer…well not this hot, humid summer in south central TX but normally.

The brush style had a bit more waves but not enough to make all that work worth it, imo. I wonder how the curls maintained shape after being dry for a few hours/half a day? That could definitely sway my decision for my own hair.

The brush styling techniques looks better, but they are both beautiful. Sooooo I would go the easier route and save some time 😊

The simpler styling technique is my favorite! The other one looks nice too but just takes way too much time and energy. I'm too lazy to try brush styling my hair. 😂

I can totally relate to the Texas heat. San Antonio is not only disgustingly hot, but it's muggy too. So gross. I like the swing curl clump method only because before my wavy curly journey I was a wash an go kinda girl lol I actually just chopped off a good 6 inches and have noticed HUGE changes in my curl clumps. They really like being lighter. All of this is pretty much thanks to you. :)

Maybe re-do the experiment using a little more water (spray each section) with brush styling, plus use more gel since your hair is longer. Would be interesting to see those results. Thanks for comparing these!!

As someone who brush styles, you did a great job! I wouldn’t change a thing. Just practice and you will get faster♥️

I used to not like brush styling but I've got a good routine down and I get better results and it doesn't take too much longer than styling in the shower. I bought the tangle teaser brush but found it to not be gentle enough unless my hair is fully detangled so I started using it for styling. I put leave in and a curl cream in my hair the way you usually do but I'm a little more relaxed about organizing curl clumps bc it doesn't really matter. Then I plop. When I take my hair out I sometimes add a little more water if I plopped too long. Then I divide my sections. I make a top section that is almost the same as what you called your top section except I take it back more to include the crown. Some times I divide it into a front and back section to make the sections easier to work with and clip the to the top of my head. Then I divide the remaining hair in the back of my head like I was splitting it to make pigtails and clip all the hair on one side of my head up. Then I start styling with 1 inch -ish root section at the bottom of my neck and then clip the rest of the hair up. I brush style that section pushing the hair flat against the side of the brush. And then angle the brush so the clumps can fall out of the brush at different times. Then I take another chuck of hair above that. I usually take pieces that are 3 inch horizontally and .5 inch wide and use the brush to pull the straight out to the side of my head. I keep going working from the underside to the top and I don't scrunch until I have several pieces to scrunch because I've found scrunching 1 piece isn't as effective as scrunched several. My hair does look similar to yours after it falls out of the brush and it is so temping to want to scrunch the curl back into it right away, but wait to do it. When I finish that side I do the same thing on the other side of my head. Then i give everything ive done a gentle scrunching. I scrunch half as many times as i really want to. When I'm done with that, I work on the crown section taking thin sections that are the while width of top section and brush it up and back just the way you did the first few times. I do this for the whole top section from crown to forehead letting the hair fall toward the back of my head. When I finish the front I gently flip my head over and scrunch what would be the top section. Then I start glazing in gel and scrunching. If my hair is dripping with water it is too wet and my curl clumps look droopy. If there is just enough water to hear the squish it is perfect. I love styling my hair this way. It is a complete game changer for me. I hope you give it a try. I don't think the perfect haircare brush worked as well for me for this, but it is perfect in the shower.

when brush styling, holding the section closer to the root and shaking seems to work better for me to form the curl clump/pattern.

I like the brush styled side better!

I use a denman brush and it works for me. I think you need to create more tension, it’s kind of like curling a ribbon…

Hey Courtney, your hair looks great styled both ways and I couldn't tell the difference in the end results at all!

I think the swing technique 🤔. I am really struggling when I brush style my curls are really stringy and frizzy, not sure what I am doing wrong 😔

Decided to let my hair go wavy this week, so clean products and techniques are very helpful. Also want to know wher3 you bought that gray shirt???

I like the brush turn out...but I like the other as it seems more doable for those of us that are scrunched for time because of work etc.

Random, but would you do a post or video on how you do your eyeshadow application? Love that look!

Very similar results to my eye, but a bit more waviness near the roots with the brush. I wouldn't have to patience to do that every wash day, though, and the difference isn't great enough to spend all that time. SCC wins for me!

Hey Courtney 😁 I can't say I saw a huge difference in your curl or tight waves, but I did see more body in the brush method. Interesting🤔. I'm actually 3b-c as far as most people refer to in the type of curl I have. So my opinion is rather inconsequential here. Do you perhaps have a moose/foam styling product you like? I don't know why but I feel like it may be better than gel as your hair gets weighted down more with heavier products aka: stronger gels. With your hair so wet it waters down the product so that could be a factor. If I was going to do your hair I'd use a cream leave in, brush style, then a good moose foam to pray-hand apply after the brush style, then plop...and diffuse. For your hair type I'd leave the plop on at least 20 minutes. I would also try to do your hair not dripping wet. So much water dilutes any product for styling, so it really could just be the answer to your original product selection. I know you don't like crunchy hair but if try to achieve that, then use an oil to scrunch out the crunch as your final step after diffused. My niece has far less curl and much finer hair than mine and like you, products can weigh her hair down and take away body and curl. So I found the method I just suggested helped her. She can't use the same styling products I do except leave-in and far less than me. My hair is air compared to hers. I'd give anything to find my hair "heavy" on my head...lol. So while my personal experiences can't help you, my help with my other friends and family may? With a new baby and other kiddos, your time is valuable (my niece is a single mother of two toddlers and two teenagers) so I get why you say "it's gotta count exponentially" to add more time to your wash day routine. I know you know Mell from Maines by Mell, maybe watch a few of her videos talking about PH being the key to getting your hair to set up correctly? Water and hair don't mix well with the exception of cleaning. Maybe "rewet" your hair with Curlsmiths Curl Activator spray to bring the moisture factor you are looking for while brushing? A product that acts like water, but isn't water? Those are my suggestions. But honestly, I watch your channel too enjoy my dream head of hair...lol. I started watching years ago to help my niece. Thank you for all you share here! Smiles and blessings...

I think I like the brush technique better but it doesn’t seem to make that big of a difference. You have beautiful hair all the time!!! 😃❤️

Your hair is lovely either way, I can't really see a difference. I don't brush style either, too much effort for basic or no results.

I really like the brush style. I try to do the same, but i am still struggeling with it.

Ahhhh!!! First of all. I love the baby sounds, Congrats! Next, I discovered I was curly/wavy about two years ago (thanks hormones) and started CGM but quickly got overwhelmed and did nothing but plop and gel for the last year and a half. Now I’m back and not wanting stringy, frizzy hair but every single video is a different technique and I’m once again getting overwhelmed. I’m not one to spend tons of money on different products and I’ll use a product up before buying something else even if it’s not the best. Anyway. Just trying to figure all of this out so I can stop resorting to the messy bun.

Did you notice a difference in longevity? That is one of the best perks of brush styling for me. 💛

The brush styling gave you more bouncy curls and more volume. I brush style every time. I do 4 sections. Back, sides and top. When I do the swing curl style technique I get clumps that are too big for my low density hair. I also find products aren't distributed evenly.

They look very similar. I use a Denman type brush or brush style and wrap around the handle. It turns out nice, but is time consuming.

They looked the same to me. Both are beautiful on you. Wish my wash days would look good like yours. My hair is still in the transition stage (month3 of swavycurlycourtney method).🥰

So fun! 👏🏻 They both look great because you have such beautiful hair but I do think the brush styling gave more definition. It *is* so awkward, though! 😂

I honestly would say it looks about the same but I like the brush styling cause I get more definition and volume I dont diffuse I air dry but yes more styling videos with different products 💜👍

I'm still trying to figure out what works best for my hair. I feel like styling upside down just doesn't work for me. My hair always looks crazy around the temples. I'd love to see diffused vs not diffused using the same products.

I thought on the right before hearing the explanation that you maybe got a haircut with more layers put in for the right photo (which was the swing method). I think it is because you get bigger clumps with your method which I personally prefer as a fellow wavy.

Your hair looks great with both methods. I thought you brush styled like a pro.

Congratulations, Courtney on your sweet baby!

Brush styled looks better, more defined, less stretched out but based on the time it takes maybe save the brush styling for special occasions when you really want it to look fabulous.

If you have had a boost in your audience watching your videos... It's me! Lol. Been binge watching your channel again! 💜 And I have a weird question for you- how do you get away with washing your hair upside down? Everytime I try to do it, my hair gets SUPER tangled! I've been trying to wash it this way to save time and so I don't have to get in the shower twice. Sadly, it's not working out because my hair just loves to tangel 😑

I liked your curls better with the Brush technique. I would not have time for that, but it was great.

Your technique was less stringy. But the brush styling seemed a little more curly. Maybe more styler would have helped

Sorry, couldn't tell much of a difference. I've tried brush styling, butvitvtakes too much time for not much different results.

I love brush styling but it takes so long 😩

Brush styling looks like tighter curls!

I am trying to make my hair more curly. Is there any product that you feel makes your curl clumps curlier?

I think upside down is equally good

Who won the dryer giveaway not sure were to look. HELP PLEASE

Me with semi permanent blue colored hair laughing at the thought of swinging my head around the bathroom getting a small mist of blue everywhere 😅

They both look great but brush styling was a bit more defined. Save brush styling for special occasions!!

I need curl smith to come out with a purple shampoo and conditioner

How did you choose how to section the top of your head?

What kind hair brush are you use

I've been watching your Videos for the past two weeks and I'm kind of obsessed with the CGM. Just started and purchased some products to start with. Still my whole life I have had waves out of the shower and a completely straight layer of hair on top of light waves once my hair was dry. Does anybody have any tips or can explain, why in the back I habe ringlets (like real curls) and in the front it's completely straight?