What is Nika Paddle Brush?

Nika Paddle Brush is the flat brush of the NIKA range: a wide rectangular head with rounded corners, a dense field of flexible bristles set on a cushioned pad, and a flat handle carrying the NIKA logo. The width is the whole point. It covers a large area at every stroke, which makes it the fastest way to detangle and smooth medium to long hair.

Who it is for

• Detangling long or thick hair, where a narrow brush needs three strokes to do the work of one.
• Smoothing the surface before a ponytail, a bun or any pulled-back look.
• Daily brushing at home, on hair that tangles overnight or under a coat collar.
• Salons that want one brush at the styling station for combing the hair through after the wash, before the service starts.

Key features

• Wide flat head: it takes a large section at each stroke, so a full head of long hair is detangled in a fraction of the passes.
• Cushioned pad: the bristle bed flexes under pressure and follows the shape of the head instead of dragging across it.
• Flexible bristles: they give way on a knot rather than forcing through it, which is what protects the length.
• Solid head, no vents: this is a detangling and smoothing brush, not a drying brush. It is the counterpart to Nika Vent Brush, not a substitute for it.
• Flat handle with NIKA logo: it sits flat on the station and does not roll.
• All-black finish: consistent with the rest of the NIKA station tools.

Specifications

Results

Hair that comes through detangled and lying flat, with a surface that catches the light because it has been smoothed along its whole length rather than in narrow strips. On long hair the difference shows in the time it takes; on thick hair it shows in how much less the client feels the brush pulling.

How to use

1. Start at the ends and work upwards towards the roots in short passes, never from the roots down: a knot pushed downwards only gets tighter.
2. Hold the length above the section being worked, so the pull stays on the brush and not on the scalp.
3. Once the ends run free, brush the full length from roots to ends in long strokes to smooth the surface.
4. On damp hair, work with a light hand and let the cushioned pad flex: hair is at its most fragile when it is wet.
5. For a pulled-back look, brush the surface in the direction of the finished shape before gathering the hair.
6. Clear the bristles when hair starts to build up at the base of the pad, and never pull the whole mat out in one piece.

Tips and routine

It is the brush for before and after, not during: it detangles and smooths, while the hair is dried with Nika Vent Brush and the shape is built with a round brush. Nika Round Brush 53mm on long hair and Nika Round Brush 45mm on medium hair and bobs take over once the hair is damp. On hair that is soaking and badly tangled, start with Big Comfort Comb and switch to the brush when the ends already run free. A leave-in makes the first passes easier and cuts the pull: Miracle Keratin Spray on damp lengths, Shimmer Smoothing Serum on dry ends to close the surface. On fragile or over-processed lengths, where mechanical detangling is itself a stress, prepare with Breakless.

FAQ

What is the difference from a vent brush?

The head. Nika Vent Brush is open, so hot air passes through it and the hair dries faster; this one is solid, so it works the surface instead. Use the vented one to dry, this one to detangle and smooth. They are complementary tools, not alternatives.

Can it be used on wet hair?

Yes, with a light hand and always from the ends upwards. Hair is at its weakest when it is soaking, so on a badly tangled head it is better to open the ends with a wide-tooth comb first and bring the brush in afterwards.

Does it create volume?

No, and it is not meant to. A flat head smooths the hair down and closes the surface, which is the opposite of what a round barrel does at the roots. For lift and movement, use a round brush.

Material and care

Lift the hair out of the bristles after every client, working it loose from the base of the pad rather than pulling the whole mat off in one go: that is how bristles get bent. Wash occasionally in lukewarm water with a little shampoo, rinse, and leave it to dry bristles down so water does not sit inside the cushion. Do not soak the handle or leave the brush submerged, since water trapped under the pad will not come out. Keep it off hot surfaces. Replace it when bristles start to bend or break, or when the pad loses its spring: a flat cushion drags the hair instead of following the head. Total length, weight and material specifications are available on request from cliCHair.