What’s in Your Bathroom Drawer?

The Essential Combs, Brushes, Pins & Clips Every Hair Routine Needs

You don't need a drawer overflowing with hair tools.

In fact, most people probably own too many brushes, combs and random clips—and still don't have the few tools that actually make doing their hair easier.

As a hairstylist, I'd rather see you invest in a small collection of tools that each have a purpose.

Think of this as your Hair Therapy Tool Kit. 💚

1. The Wide-Tooth Comb

Your Wet-Hair Essential

If you're going to own one comb for detangling, make it a good wide-tooth comb.

The larger spacing between the teeth allows you to work through the hair more gently without unnecessarily pulling and stretching it.

Great for:

• Detangling conditioned hair

• Curly and textured hair

• Distributing masks and conditioner

• Working through wet hair gently

Hair Therapist Tip 💚

Start at the ends, work through the tangles, and gradually move upward.

Never start at the scalp and force a knot all the way down.

2. The Rat-Tail Comb

For Precision

That little pointy comb your hairstylist always has nearby?

There's a reason.

A rat-tail comb is perfect when you need clean, precise sections.

Use it for:

• Creating a straight part

• Sectioning before curling or flat ironing

• Separating hair for braids

• Creating clean ponytails

• Touching up your roots

You may not use it every day, but when you need one, nothing else works quite as well.

3. The Detangling Brush

Your Everyday Workhorse

A flexible detangling brush is one of my bathroom-drawer must-haves.

The goal isn't to rip through tangles faster.

The goal is to remove them with less unnecessary tension.

Use it on damp or dry hair depending on the brush design, and still remember:

Ends first. Roots last.

Your hair will thank you.

4. The Paddle Brush

For Smoothness

If you like straight, sleek hair or you simply need a good everyday brush, a paddle brush is incredibly useful.

Its larger surface area makes it perfect for:

• Smoothing longer hair

• Brushing out a blowout

• Creating sleek ponytails

• Distributing natural scalp oils down the hair

• Finishing straight styles

Remember our wash-day lesson?

Brushing before shampooing can also help loosen tangles and distribute some of those natural oils away from the scalp.

5. The Round Brush

Your Blowout's Best Friend

If you've been following the Blowout Masterclass, you already know:

The dryer provides the heat. The brush creates the style.

Your round-brush size changes your result.

Smaller round brush:More curl, bend and movement.

Medium round brush:Bounce, shape and volume.

Large round brush:Smoother finish with softer movement.

For longer hair and big bouncy blowouts, I generally prefer a larger barrel.

And yes—a good round brush can absolutely make blow-drying easier.

6. The Styling or Edge Brush

Small Tool. Big Difference.

This little brush is perfect for those areas your big paddle brush can't control.

Use it around:

• Hairline

• Edges

• Short flyaways

• Ponytails

• Buns

• Updos

A soft-bristle version can help smooth without requiring excessive pulling.

Now Let's Talk Clips

Please stop trying to do your entire head of hair without sectioning it. 😂

Your hairstylist isn't clipping your hair up just because it looks professional.

Sections give you control.

7. Sectioning Clips

The Unsung Hero of Styling

These should absolutely be in your drawer.

Good sectioning clips help separate hair while you:

• Blow-dry

• Curl

• Flat iron

• Apply treatments

• Color your roots

• Style thick hair

For someone with a lot of hair, strong salon-style sectioning clips can make doing your own hair dramatically easier.

8. Duckbill Clips

For Precision & Setting

Those long, skinny metal or plastic clips are incredibly useful.

They're great for:

• Holding small sections

• Setting curls

• Creating volume at the roots

• Keeping your hairline in place while styling

• Pinning sections without leaving as much of a dent

They're inexpensive, take up almost no room, and you'll find yourself reaching for them more than you expect.

9. Claw Clips

For Putting Hair Up Without All the Tension

I'm a fan of a good claw clip.

It's an easy way to get your hair off your face without always pulling it into a tight ponytail.

Just make sure the clip is large enough for your hair.

If you're forcing all your hair into a tiny claw clip and hearing crack, crack, crack...

That's not the one. 😂

10. Bobby Pins vs. Hair Pins

Yes, They're Different!

People tend to call everything a bobby pin, but these two tools have different jobs.

Bobby Pins

They're designed to hold hair securely in place.

Great for:

• Securing flyaways

• Anchoring a bun

• Holding smaller sections

• Updos

Hair Pins

They're typically more open and U-shaped.

Instead of clamping the hair tightly, they're great for shaping and supporting a style.

Perfect for:

• Buns

• French twists

• Soft updos

• Pinning curls

Once you understand the difference, styling becomes so much easier.

One More Thing...

Clean Your Hair Tools!

We clean our faces.

We wash our pillowcases.

We shampoo our hair.

And then somehow the same hairbrush gets used for six months with enough hair and product in it to qualify as a small pet. 😂

Your tools collect:

• Natural oils

• Dead skin

• Dry shampoo

• Styling products

• Hair

• Dust

Remove loose hair from your brushes regularly and wash washable brushes and combs periodically according to their material and manufacturer instructions.

And don't forget your clips.

Product builds up on those too.

Clean tools belong on clean hair.

The Sparkle Sessions Bathroom Drawer Checklist 💚

You really don't need 25 different tools.

My ideal basic collection would be:

COMBS✓ Wide-tooth comb✓ Rat-tail comb

BRUSHES✓ Detangling brush✓ Paddle brush✓ Round brush✓ Small styling/edge brush

CLIPS✓ Strong sectioning clips✓ Duckbill clips✓ Large claw clip

PINS✓ Bobby pins✓ U-shaped hair pins

That's enough to detangle, section, blow-dry, smooth, curl, pin, polish and maintain most everyday hairstyles.

Sparkle's Hair Therapy Take 💚

The best bathroom drawer isn't the one with the most stuff.

It's the one where every tool has a job.

A proper comb helps prevent unnecessary pulling.

A good brush helps you create your style.

Clips help you work in controlled sections.

Pins help you finish it.

And clean, well-maintained tools help you take better care of your hair.

Good hair isn't only about the products you buy.

Sometimes it's about having the right tools in your hands.

Healthy Hair. Confidence. You. 💚