The selection of your Mason Pearson Hair Brush is vital to your satisfaction with the product. The makers of these Mason Pearson Brushes use only the best pure boar bristles to make their brushes.

What is so great about boar bristles? Boar bristles are a natural bristle, so just like our hair it is porous and can absorb conditioner and things of that nature, Boar bristles can "absorb" the oils on our scalp and carry them through the rest of our hair. These oils have a lot to do with the health and the shiny appearance of your hair. Boar bristles also stimulate the scalp for healthy hair growth. But, if the wrong brush is picked, neither of these will be accomplished. The following areas factor into the choosing the right brush for your hair.

Kind of Boar:

Mason Pearson does not hurt any animals in its product development. Rather, when the boars shed their hairs naturally, Mason Pearson simply goes in to gather them. Afterwards, they sort and grade the hair according to which part of the body the hair came from. The boar produces 3 different types of bristle. The bristles from its back are the strongest and thickest, the bristles from its stomach are the softest and the bristles from its sides are the normal or average thickness.

Take into consideration the thickness of your own hair when choosing what brush you will purchase. The thicker your hair, the sturdier bristle you will need on your brush, so it can penetrate through your hair to your scalp. On the other hand, if your hair is thin, you don't want a stiff bristle or it will hurt your scalp and do more damage than good.

Mason Pearson makes 3 types of brushes. One style is pure boar bristle (there are different options on the pure boar bristle), one is a mixture of nylon and bristle and one is pure nylon. For those people who have "normal" hair, the mixture is recommended. The Nylon will help to get through your hair down to your scalp. Many people may think, "Well, I want a Pure Boar bristle brush." If the bristles don't get to your scalp, then you are only wasting money and time and energy trying to get results from a brush that isn't made for you.

The brushes that are made of only nylon, are recommended for those with extremely thick hair and for use detangling after you get out of the shower.

What makes nylon different from brushes you can buy at your local Target? Nylon is known for its slick surface. Unlike plastic when checked under a microscope will show jagged edges. The nylon is smooth and it will not grab on to your hair and pull it as you are brushing your wet hair, it will not cause friction, therefore, it won't cause split ends or breakage.

The mixture brushes are usually a safe choice if you feel that you are between hair types.

Size of Brush Head:

If you have long hair, you want to buy a larger brush head. It will reduce the time and effort you have to put into brushing your hair and will make it easier to make sure that it is done correctly. If you have short hair, save yourself some money and get a smaller brush head.

The following are suggestions for hair brushes depending on your hair length and hair thickness:

1. Very Short: Children's (very fine/ thin hair), Pocket Bristle, Small Extra Military (fine to normal hair), Pocket Mix, Popular Military (normal to thick), Pocket Nylon (extremely thick/detangling).

2. Short to Medium: Children's, Sensitive (very fine/ thin hair), Pocket Bristle, Handy Bristle (fine to normal hair), Pocket Mix, Handy Mix (normal to thick), Pocket Nylon, Detangler (extremely thick/detangling).

3. Medium to Long: Sensitive (very fine/ thin hair), Handy Bristle, Small Extra Bristle (fine to normal hair), Handy Mix, Junior Mix (normal to thick), Pocket Nylon, Detangler (extremely thick/detangling).

4. Very Long: Sensitive (very fine/ thin hair), Popular Mix (normal to thick), Detangler (extremely thick/detangling).

Cleaning Your Brush:

Mason Pearson includes a cleaning brush with most every brush they sell with the exception of the smaller sizes. The cleaning brush is easy to use. Simply run the brush through vertically a few times. Be careful not to go back and forth, but rather in one direction. Then go horizontally a few times and that should remove any hair that has been left there. If your brush gathers too much oil from your hair, then it may attract particles of dust and lint and things of that sort. When this happens and to prevent it from happening, dip your cleaning brush in diluted soapy water and then clean your brush after you have removed the excess hair. This will help to reduce the amount of oil and make sure it is clean for your next use. It is very important to remember not to dip your Mason Pearson brush directly into the soapy water. Only dip your cleaning brush in the water. Afterwards, you should stand your brush on its side or have it laying face down so the water can drip out from your padded brush to ensure that bacteria does not begin to grow under the rubber.

E-tailer Signature:

Make sure that when purchasing a Mason Pearson Brush online that the e-tailer has the Mason Pearson logo with the e-tailers name printed under it. You want to make sure that shopping around for the best price isn't going to get you the short end of the stick when it comes to quality and authenticity.

Mason Pearson Hair Brush Comparison Chart

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Article Written - May 26, 2008.