We love new products! And of course, when something hot comes on the market, we have to try it!
There is a lot of hype on social media right now about the latest curly ‘must have’, the new ‘Viral Curl Brush’, also known as Viral Styling Brush.
Styling techniques and ‘game-changer’ products come and go. Usually, they go viral, trend for a few months, then something new (and often better) comes along. Finger coiling. Diffuser bonnets. The rake & shake method. Brush styling. They have all had their seat at the pop culture table. And we get it, everyone wants tools to help create ‘their best curls’.
The latest trend in curl styling - the Viral Styling Brush is gaining a lot of attention. Needless to say, we bought into the hype and tried the brush. Here’s what Jonina from LOHY. had to say..
“My immediate thoughts are that the functionality of the brush doesn't align with our brand value of Curls Made Easy. Curls can be (at times) complicated enough, so why complicate them even more with an OTT (over the top) and lengthy styling routine that will only add more stress”.
LOHY.’s motto is Curls Made Easy! Why? Because who has time for difficult techniques? Or time consuming styling routines?
Jonina recognised that people are short on time, and if a routine is TOO complicated or time consuming they won't stick to it. The Curls Made Easy routines were created with this in mind.
LOHY. designed the Flexi Brushes with one thing in mind. Simplicity.
Our Goal: One brush that can quite effortlessly do all three Jobs.
Because of its unique design, The Flexi Brush can also be kept in the shower for immediate and quick styling when you are pressed for time.
So does the Viral Curl Brush work? It does. If you have time to section your hair and use the brush as it's designed to be used, it does work. But here are a few reasons why Jo doesn't love the latest internet sensation.
"I just don't love pillow brushes. Pillow brushes are notorious for holding onto gunk (especially when the brush is pushing product through the hair - they don't always get rinsed and this causes a scummy buildup)”.
- Pillow brushes (also known as cushion brushes because they have a soft rubber base where the bristles sit). When washed properly with warm water usually end up breaking. This is due to the glue that secures the cushioning to the brush paddle becoming weak over time from hot water and detergents. Flexi brushes are designed to avoid this completely.
"When using the brush you have to section your hair and apply products as you go, which is VERY time consuming. That really annoyed me because I was like ‘man, you can’t just grab the brush and work the product through your hair’. You have to go section by section, apply the gel as you go and set your clump sizes… I guess that just 'irks' me in the fact that it’s a limited use tool. You can only use it for one thing - to set and make even curl clumps".
Flexibility Over Perfection- Adapting CGM For Real Life
At LOHY., we believe in making curls easy, which means we don’t always stick to every rule in the strict Curly Girl Method (CGM) Handbook.
One example is dry brushing—while CGM purists advise against it, Jo has demonstrated how it can be done with the right tool, like a flexi brush, and proper technique. It’s about simplifying your routine while still achieving great results.
There are a few other CGM-approved techniques we tend to skip for similar reasons.
The bowl method is a popular one, where you repeatedly dip your hair into water to define curls, it’s time-consuming and often impractical. Co-washing (using only conditioner, no shampoo) can leave some hair types feeling weighed down, and we’ve found that a good balance with shampooing offers more flexibility and cleanliness. Finally, while CGM discourages alcohol-based products, our Hold It Hairspray, though not CGM-friendly, is great for lasting hold without the sticky residue (and can assist in speeding up drying time!).
Ultimately, we aim to simplify curly hair care because at LOHY., it's all about Curls Made Easy.
We’re not here to dis' another brand's design, and although we think our brush is superior (of course!!), we acknowledge that the viral curl brush works! It’s simply not going to be our go-to recommended brush.
Jonina's final thoughts.. "I think for me realising, what I love about LOHY. is Curls Made Easy. So, the Detangler wins for me. Purely because there’s much more ease of use, I can distribute my product, I can define my curl clumps, I can set my volume at the roots - all with one product."
If you're a product junkie who loves a new tool, or you have loads of time to experiment with styling, give it a try! However, if you want Curls Made Easy, there are faster and more superior styling alternatives available, at a fraction of the price!
LOHY. XX