What is Nika Round Brush 45mm?

Nika Round Brush 45mm is the medium brush in the NIKA round brush series: a 45 mm round brush with a vented barrel, bristles set all around the circumference, a metal collar at the base of the barrel and a textured handle with the NIKA logo and a hanging loop. At 45 mm it sits between control and volume, which makes it the size that handles most heads in the salon: shoulder-length hair, bobs, fringes and the sections a larger barrel cannot reach.

Who it is for

• Stylists working shoulder-length hair, bobs and long bobs, where the ends need a defined turn rather than a loose movement.
• Blow-dry services on medium hair that has to hold shape until the next wash.
• Anyone working the front sections, the fringe and around the face, where a large barrel is too clumsy.
• Salons that want one brush covering the widest range of clients, with the larger size kept for long hair only.

Key features

• Vented barrel: the openings let hot air pass through the barrel rather than around it, so the section dries from both sides and spends less time under the dryer.
• 45 mm diameter: tight enough to give the ends a real direction and to lift a fringe, wide enough not to leave a curl on medium lengths.
• Full-circumference bristles: the section can be rotated through a complete turn while the dryer follows, which is what smooths the cuticle.
• Reaches the front sections: the smaller barrel works close to the hairline and around the face, where a larger brush cannot be angled properly.
• Textured handle with hanging loop: keeps its grip when hand and hair are damp, and hangs at the station instead of rolling off the counter.
• All-black finish: consistent with the rest of the NIKA station tools.

Specifications

Results

Ends with a direction that holds, root lift at the front where it is most visible, and a smooth surface obtained with tension rather than with heat alone. On a bob it is the difference between hair that falls flat and hair that keeps its line for days. The vented barrel shortens the time each section spends under the dryer, which matters both for the hair and for the length of the appointment.

How to use

1. Rough-dry to around eighty per cent first: a round brush works on damp hair, not on wet hair, which just stretches under tension.
2. Section the head and keep the sections no wider than the barrel, so the hair wraps in a single layer.
3. Start at the back and leave the front sections and the fringe for last, while the hand is still fresh and the shape can be checked in the mirror.
4. Place the brush under the section at the roots, lift, and hold tension while the dryer follows the brush down the length.
5. Direct the airflow along the hair from roots to ends, never against it, keeping the nozzle moving.
6. At the ends, rotate the brush a half turn and hold, then finish with cool air before releasing.
7. Let each section cool completely before touching or combing it: this is when the shape sets.

Tips and routine

In a full set it is the everyday size: Nika Round Brush 53mm on long hair, this one on medium hair and bobs, Nika Round Brush 32mm on short cuts and fringes, Nika Round Brush 25mm on the perimeter and the shortest sections. Always work over a heat protectant, since a round brush concentrates the airflow on the section: Miracle Keratin Spray before the blow-dry, Shimmer Smoothing Serum on the ends afterwards. Section with Nika Fine Toothed Comb and hold the worked sections with Nika Hair Pin Set. On fragile lengths, prepare with Breakless before adding heat.

FAQ

Which size for which length?

45 mm for shoulder-length and medium hair, bobs and the sections around the face. 53 mm for long hair, where a smaller barrel would leave a curl instead of a soft movement. 32 mm for short cuts, fringes and root lift. 25 mm for very short hair and the perimeter. Most salons keep more than one and switch during the same blow-dry rather than forcing every head onto a single barrel.

Why is the barrel vented?

The openings let air pass through the brush, so the section dries from the inside as well as the outside and needs less time under the dryer.

Can it be used on wet hair?

It is not the right tool for it. Rough-dry first and start brushing when the hair is damp: wrapping soaking hair under tension stresses it and the shape will not hold anyway.

Material and care

Clear the hair out of the bristles after every client, working from the base of the barrel outwards: hair packed against the barrel blocks the vents and the brush stops drying properly. Wash occasionally in lukewarm water with a little shampoo, rinse, and leave it to dry bristles down so water does not sit inside the barrel. Do not soak the handle, and do not leave the brush on a hot surface or clamped inside a styling iron. Replace it when bristles start to bend or break: a deformed bristle drags the section instead of guiding it. Total length, weight and material specifications are available on request from cliCHair.