What is Nika Round Brush 53mm?

Nika Round Brush 53mm is the largest brush in the NIKA round brush series: a 53 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. The 53 mm diameter builds movement and volume on medium to long hair without turning it into a curl.

Who it is for

• Stylists finishing medium to long hair, where a smaller barrel would over-curl the ends.
• Blow-dry services that need body and a smooth surface rather than defined curls.
• Salons that blow-dry all day and want a brush that dries the section quickly instead of holding it under the dryer.
• Clients who blow-dry at home and want a professional brush in the size their stylist actually uses on them.

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.
• 53 mm diameter: enough curve to lift the roots and turn the ends, without the tight bend a small barrel leaves on long hair.
• Full-circumference bristles: the section can be rotated through a complete turn while the dryer follows, which is what smooths the cuticle.
• 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

Root lift that holds, ends that turn under or out cleanly, and a surface that reflects light because the cuticle has been closed with tension rather than with heat alone. The vented barrel shortens the time each section spends under the dryer, which matters both for the client's hair and for the length of the appointment.

How to use

1. Rough-dry the hair 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 work with sections no wider than the barrel, so the hair wraps in a single layer.
3. Place the brush under the section at the roots, lift, and keep tension while the dryer follows the brush down the length.
4. Point the airflow along the hair from roots to ends, never against it, and keep the nozzle moving.
5. At the ends, rotate the brush a half turn and hold, then finish with a shot of cool air before releasing.
6. Let each section cool completely before touching or combing it: this is when the shape actually sets.

Tips and routine

In a full set it is the size for the lengths: this one on long hair, Nika Round Brush 45mm 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: a round brush concentrates the airflow on the section, and unprotected mid-lengths pay for it. Miracle Keratin Spray before the blow-dry gives slip and makes the section easier to control, and Shimmer Smoothing Serum on the ends afterwards closes the finish. Section with Nika Fine Toothed Comb and hold the worked sections with Nika Hair Pin Set. On fragile or over-processed lengths, prepare with Breakless before adding heat.

FAQ

Which size for which length?

53 mm for long hair. 45 mm for shoulder-length and medium hair and bobs. 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.