We Put the Viral Bounce Curl Brush to the Test
Both EdgeLift brushes are made with vegan boar bristles. The brand says these help to smooth and define curls, while the edge design, composed of divots, helps to separate those curls into uniform groups of strands.
The Define brush has larger divots, and the Volume brush smaller ones. Both brushes define the curls, but the Volume brush, as the name suggests, also adds fullness by creating smaller, and more, curl clumps. Both brushes have a top edge, with divots larger than their relative side edge, designed to be used on bangs, layers, and shorter hair.
Both brushes have a pointy end you can use for parting the hair, which I did. Not everyone will need this part, but I found it helpful. And it adequately replaced my fine-tooth comb, which means there’s one less tool on the counter.
The website suggests a simple how-to process, which our testers roughly followed: First, detangle the hair with a detangling comb or brush, and apply your styling creams and gels. Then section your hair (some people like two sections, others three or four). Brush each section from root to tip, tilting the brush so the hair falls into the grooves, separating as you brush.
Continue brushing through each section, and then style the front pieces or bangs either with the top edge (which has larger divots) or by finger coiling (wrapping the hair around your finger to form a ringlet). Finally, scrunch your curls, and then diffuse or air-dry.
In testing, we found the process sounded longer and more complex on paper than it really was. “I was honestly a little intimidated when I saw tutorials online, but using it is actually incredibly intuitive,” writer Neha Tandon said after testing the brush for two weeks. And the reality is that these directions were general guidelines rather than a strict order of operations. For example, some people scrunched as they went after brushing each section, rather than just at the end.
Still, the video tutorials are deeply helpful. There are plenty of different methods you can try out. So watching clips on Instagram, TikTok, or the Bounce Curl website that are tailored to your hair type or hair length can be paramount in building your own Bounce Curl brush routine.
After testing the brush, I cleaned it according to the website’s instructions. I removed the hair from the bristles with my hands, and then I coated the brush with a spray cleanser (I used alcohol) and rinsed it after 10 minutes. Finally, I let the brush air-dry completely before using it again. I tested this method on both of the brushes, and it was quick, easy, and effective. So I’d recommend following these instructions when your brush gets grimy.
