| y think of hairbrushes as utilitarian tools for grooming | | | | – a handle, a paddle (also called a club or a |
| – but it hasn’t always been that way. | | | | block), and bristles (or teeth). |
| Once upon a time, comb, hairbrush and mirror sets | | | | These days, many of us simply pick up a hairbrush at |
| were treasured luxuries that were often given as gifts | | | | the corner drug store or department store without |
| to new brides, or as romantic anniversary gifts from | | | | paying much attention to quality, design and materials. |
| husbands to wives. Even today, a popular baby gift is | | | | This, say hair care professional, is one of the worst |
| ‘Baby’s First Brush’ in pink, blue | | | | things that you can do for your hair. The brush that |
| or gender-neutral yellow with silky soft bristles. And | | | | you use every day has more to do with how your hair |
| why not? Even the Bible refers to hair as a | | | | looks and feels than the expensive shampoos and |
| woman’s crowning glory. It’s only to be | | | | conditioners that people pay for without blinking. |
| expected that grooming tools for proper care of hair | | | | According to those who work with hair every day, the |
| would be important. | | | | best brush for most people is one made of genuine |
| Hair brushes are ubiquitous. They occupy a rather | | | | boar bristles. Boar bristle hairbrushes do more than |
| unique place in our culture. How many of us have a | | | | detangle and style hair. The natural material picks up |
| memory of sitting on a stool at mother’s feet | | | | sebum – your hair’s natural oil – |
| while she dragged a brush through our tangles? Who | | | | and distributes it evenly from scalp to ends. It gently |
| hasn’t held a hairbrush to their lips and sung | | | | massages the scalp to stimulate healthy sebum |
| along with the radio? There’s something | | | | production, and smoothes the shaft of the hair to |
| sensual, appealing and comforting about having your | | | | make it shiny and manageable. |
| hair brushed. Having your hair brushed is one of the | | | | For coarser, thicker hair, nylon bristles may be more |
| most deliciously decadent and sensuous treats in the | | | | appropriate. A bit stiffer than boar bristle, the nylon |
| world – and yet, there’s a sweet | | | | bristles can detangle and work through thick waves |
| innocence to it. | | | | without tugging or pulling. For curly, wavy or thick hair, a |
| The earliest hairbrushes, some historian theorize, were | | | | nylon and acrylic half-round brush is ideal for daily |
| made of natural materials like porcupine quills which | | | | hairbrushing needs. |
| could be used to pick through hair and tug out knots. | | | | Why not get the best of both worlds? Boar and nylon |
| Animal hair brushes were originally used for painting | | | | combination brushes have the firmness needed to get |
| some 2.5 million years ago, and the theory is that those | | | | through thick hair, and the natural qualities of boar hair |
| brushes were later adapted for use in hair grooming. | | | | bristles. While it’s easy to walk into any store |
| There’s no note in history to name the person | | | | and buy a cheap hairbrush, you really owe it to your |
| who first thought of drilling holes into a wooden paddle | | | | hair to use the best hairbrush you can get. Fine |
| and inserting firm animal hairs into those holes, but | | | | construction pays off – while a beech wood |
| whoever it was certainly can claim the title of genius. In | | | | brush with 100% boar bristles will cost a bit more than |
| the centuries since, the hairbrush has undergone some | | | | a molded plastic one from the corner store, it will last |
| evolution, but the basic design remains the same | | | | years and keep your hair healthy, shiny and soft. |