Massage me please! (Mason Pearson Hairbrush)

Member Name: Lunar_see

Product:	Mason Pearson Hairbrush
Date:	10/03/09 (314 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Long shelf life, easy to use, keeps hair in great conditions

Disadvantages: It is pricey but worth it

For as long as I can remember my Granny has always told me that I need to use a good, strong, solid hairbrush to protect my hair from ruin and to keep it in good strong healthy conditions. I have always followed her advice because like me, my Granny had long blonde flowing locks throughout most of her life, the only ways in which we differ is that I have mine trimmed, something she would never agree too and I use hair straighteners which were not available in her days.

Mason Pearson is a name synonymous with hairbrushes for me, I remember when I turned 10 years old being presented with my very own brush which was just like Granny's and even today I still have and use that very same brush, it has been abused over time and has been thrown in anger and repeatedly used many times a day but it is still capable of doing the job it was designed to do.

The original Mason Pearson hairbrush design comes from the late 1880's which is 20 years after the company first came into existence. The founder of the company Mason Pearson was himself an engineer who later turned into an inventor. After entering a partnership which became known as Raper, Pearon and Gill and the company a general brush making company their brand become known throughout the UK and by 1885 the well known rubber handled paddle brush had come into existence and over the years it has been brought up to date and has generally been designed to move with the times. They are currently based on Bond Street in London and can be contacted through their website.

I like Mason Pearson brushes because they last a lifetime, even if like me you don't take that good a care of them. They are designed in such a way that when you brush your hair, your scalp is massaged at the same time, infact I like nothing more than getting home from work and handing my brush to my partner and asking him to simply brush my hair because I find it so relaxing and de-stressing. Although my hair isn't very thick texture wise, I have found with other brushes which I have bought on a whim have led to flyaway static which has made my hair difficult to not only maintain but to style whereas if I use my original brush this is not really a problem and also after washing and drying my hair, I find I can use my brush with ease on my hair leaving it tangle free. The plastic handle which is polished by hand makes it easy and comfortable to hold when brushing your hair and ask the bristles reach the scalp, instead of scratching it, instead they help to remove any loose hairs and for those people with flaky scalps it also helps to loosen and remove those bits of scalp without causing further problems, something a friend of mine told me.

When it comes to choosing your brush with Mason Pearson there is a choice of three. If like me you have fine hair it is recommended that you choose the Boar Bristle tufts which is specifically designed for those people who may be suffering with thinning hair, has fine hair or has a very sensitive and gentle scalp. Should your hair be described as normal to thick then there is a brush called Boar Bristle & Nylon tufts and finally if your hair is of very thick texture there is Nylon tufts which is known for its detangling capability. Also when choosing your brush it is worth bearing in mind the length of your hair because if you have long hair, Mason Pearson suggests that you should have a wider paddle on your brush and with each brush option there is a different size paddle option to choose from. The choice however is up to you on upon their website they do have examples of their brushes and for which hair type they are designed for.

As I said I have had my brush was a long time (remember a lady never reveals her age) because I was given it when I was 10 years old and I think the reason it has lasted so long is partly because I have taken good care of it to some extent, it does within its little box which I have kept, even though it is barely surviving now, a little guide on how to care for your brush and upon the instructions it does tell you that your brush is not designed to be used on animals and that you should never leave your brush in strong sunlight as heat will distort the handle, and perish the rubber. Cleaning your brush from time to time is also very important and mine came with its own cleaning brush which I use to clean mine which can be purchased by the Mason Pearson Company. It is also important to remove any stray hairs and loose scales of skin from your scalp as this clogs up the brush bristles and you should also wash your brush frequently to ensure it is kept in a clean condition, if you brush your hair a lot and have greasy hair, imagine what state your brush is in every time you brush your hair having not cleaned it *yuck*, so washing your brush is really important too and it isn't a difficult task to complete and all your simply do is use warm water to clean it with, the instructions themselves are a little more specific but as long as you follow them your brush will be fine.

Although in the past I have bought other brushes to use alongside my Mason Pearson brush, in all honesty none of them have lived up to its very high standards and I always end up going back to the box I keep it in and using it again. I do adore my brush, without it I would be lost and for me it has a special meaning because it was given to me by my now sadly deceased Granny who also had her very own brush and it might sound silly to be sentimental about a brush but it does and has lasted for a long long time, a lot longer than any of my modern day hair product and equipments, I am now on my second pair of GHD's and third pair of hair tongs, yet my hairbrush has out lived them all. So if you are looking for a good quality hair brush which will last a lifetime, Mason Pearson is probably the best you will ever get and they retail around the £15-£50 mark depending on where you buy them from but they are worth every penny in my view and are well worth buying.

Summary: A life lasting hairbrush