What is Nika Vent Brush?

Nika Vent Brush is the drying brush of the NIKA range: a curved head built from open bars, with wide openings that let hot air pass through the brush instead of around it, bristles with rounded tips set along each bar, a metal collar at the base of the head and a textured handle with the NIKA logo and a hanging hole. It is the tool for the first part of the blow-dry, when the hair goes from wet to damp and a round brush is still the wrong instrument.

Who it is for

• Stylists who want to shorten the rough-dry before switching to a round brush for the finish.
• Detangling on every hair type: the nylon bristles are soft and flexible and work through knots without pulling.
• Hair that builds static easily, where a stiff brush leaves the lengths flying.
• Clients who dry their hair at home and want one brush that dries and detangles, without needing round brush technique.

Key features

• Vented head: the wide openings between the bars let hot air circulate through the brush, which shortens the drying time and limits heat stress on the lengths.
• Curved head: it follows the curve of the skull, so the bristles stay in contact with the section from the roots down instead of only touching it in the middle.
• Soft nylon bristles with rounded tips: flexible enough to work through stubborn knots without breaking the hair, and rounded so they do not scratch the scalp.
• Anti-static effect: the flexible bristles limit static build-up and leave the surface smooth and reflective.
• Textured handle with hanging hole: 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

Hair that reaches the damp stage faster, detangled and lying flat, ready for the round brush or for a finish left as it is. On fine hair the shorter time under the dryer shows in the condition of the ends. On thick hair it shows in the length of the appointment.

How to use

1. Detangle first, working from the ends upwards towards the roots and never the other way round.
2. Brush quickly from roots to ends, following the brush with the dryer at every pass.
3. Let the curve of the head sit against the curve of the skull, so the bristles reach the roots and not only the mid-lengths.
4. Keep the airflow pointing along the hair, from roots to ends, never against it, and keep the nozzle moving.
5. Work the head section by section and stop with this brush when the hair is around eighty per cent dry.
6. Switch to a round brush for the finish, when the shape has to be built and held.
7. Clear the bristles as soon as hair packs between the bars: blocked openings cancel the airflow the brush is built around.

Tips and routine

It comes before the round brushes, not instead of them: this one takes the hair from wet to damp, then Nika Round Brush 53mm 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. Once the hair is dry, smoothing the surface and preparing a pulled-back finish is the job of the flat head of Nika Paddle Brush. Work over a heat protectant from the first pass, since this is the phase with the most water and the most heat: Miracle Keratin Spray before drying, Shimmer Smoothing Serum on the ends at the end. Section with Nika Fine Toothed Comb. On fragile or over-processed lengths, prepare with Breakless before adding heat.

FAQ

What is the difference from a round brush?

A vent brush dries and detangles, a round brush builds shape. This one is for the phase where the hair still holds a lot of water and the only goal is to get it evenly damp; the round brush comes after, on sections, when the form has to be set.

Why is the head vented?

The openings between the bars let hot air pass through the brush rather than around it, so the hair dries from both sides and needs less time under the dryer. Less time under the dryer is the most direct way to limit heat stress.

Can it be used on wet hair?

Yes, and that is precisely the phase it is made for, unlike a round brush. Detangle gently though: hair is at its most fragile when it is soaking, so work from the ends upwards and do not force a knot.

Material and care

Clear the hair out of the bristles after every client and check that the openings between the bars are free: hair packed into the vents blocks the airflow and the brush stops doing the one thing it is built for. Wash occasionally in lukewarm water with a little shampoo, rinse, and leave it to dry bristles down so water does not sit inside the head. 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, or when a rounded tip is lost: a bare bristle end scratches the scalp instead of gliding over it. Total length, weight and material specifications are available on request from cliCHair.