The alarm buzzes. Reluctantly, you roll out of bed with eyes half shut to keep the blinding sunlight out for just a few seconds longer. When you open them fully, you’re standing in front of the bathroom mirror, assessing how your day will go with a simple question: Good Hair Day or Bad Hair Day?
We’ve all been there. We’ve all grimaced at the knotty, ragged bed-head that seems to taunt us with its unruly curls or limp locks. Luckily, we have weapons to help us on our quest for a Good Hair Day. We have creams and gels, sprays and powders. But the unsung hero of your beauty cache is the hair brush.
Many people don’t spend much time thinking about brushes. They’re so simple, so reliable, that they tend to be taken for granted. But how did hair brushes come into use and who invented them? In this blog, we’ll take a look at some critical times in Hair Brush History that shaped the tool you use every morning.
Humble Beginnings
Hair brushes have been in use for literally thousands of years. Historians theorize that brush-like devices were used by our ancestors not for vanity, but for health improvement. Brushes could be used to pick out bugs and parasites, as well as untangle serious, uncomfortable knots in long, untamed hair. Kind of gross, right? Thank goodness for shampoo!
As time passed, humans evolved and became concerned with appearances, as well as hygiene. Paintings from ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians show men and women with hair that could only have been styled using some type of brush. In fact, archaeologists have discovered mirrors, combs, and brushes in ancient Egyptian tombs. So that’s how Cleopatra got that coal-black pin straight style! These tools were made from natural materials such as bones, shells, porcupine quills, flint and animal hair, with handles made of copper, bronze, or wood.1
Hair Brushes Hit the Mainstream
Fast-forward to the late 1700’s. A man named William Kent began stitching bristles into the handle of the brush. This technique was known as “hand drawing” or “long holing” (don’t ask me why :p ). His started a business in England that still survives, and manufactures over 250 different types of brushes. 2
In 1885, Mason Pearson developed an automatic brush-boring machine. The old method Kent employed required 12 people to work on a single brush; so naturally, Pearson’s invention greatly sped up brush production and increased affordability. Customers were also attracted to Pearson’s brushes because of his second invention: the pneumatic rubber cushion. This addition not only helped to spread oils through long hair, it also massaged the scalp, increasing blood flow and hair health from the roots. (Plus, who can say ‘no’ to a red, velvet brushpad?)
Patents and Further Development
Hugh Rock was awarded the first U.S. patent for a hairbrush in 1854. The brush featured a scalloped metal handle, adorned with intricate carvings and designs. Along with comb and mirror, the brush was part of a three-piece collection that became a popular gift for babies and brides. You’ve probably seen this set—or a look-a-like—in museum displays, or your mother’s rich friend’s house.
Other notable patent holders were Samuel Firey, whose brush was made of natural bristles and elastic wire teeth, and Lyda Newman, whose ventilated brush with detachable handles will be highlighted in a future blog (stay tuned! 🙂 ).
This brings us to modern day, where there are virtually thousands of different hair brushes on the market. The variety of shape, color, price, and function is astounding! We’ll break down the different kinds of brushes later on. For now, thanks for reading and have a Good Hair Day!
2. www.kentbrushes.com