Why I don’t regret spending $400 on a hairbrush
Photography and words by Constance McDonald
Nearly four hundred dollars for a hairbrush? In this economy? I know you’re judging me. That’s half a flight to Italy (with Sichuan Airlines, yes, they do serve Lao Gan Ma with every meal) or a good haul of pre-loved Yohji Yamamoto, Blumarine or Comme des Garçons on eBay.
Alas, three years ago I spent hundreds of my hard-earned dollars on the legendary Mason Pearson Popular brush. If you don’t hang out on long hair Reddit forums like I do, it’s basically the Rolex of hairbrushes. Celebrities from Kim K to Kate Middleton to Phoebe Dynevor use it, it even has a cameo on The Devil Wears Prada, as Andy gifts them to her besties when she first gets the job.
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The brush itself weighs around 230 grams. As of today, 230 grams of silver costs about the same as this hairbrush. So, is this Mason Pearson thing actually worth its weight in, well, hair? You’ve asked the right girl but bear with me, I’ll need to go down a little rabbit hole to explain.
Like any fringe community (sorry, I’m so clever today), the long hair-ers have strong opinions about things you’ve probably not thought about for longer than a minute in your life. Down there, in the warren, animated arguments break out between members about whether one should blunt-cut the end of one’s hair into a straight hem, or keep the horse-shoe shape of natural breakage (known as ‘fairytale ends’).
A lot of members own a Mason Pearson hairbrush. I am one of them.
Brushing my hair with my Mason Pearson. Still from Pure Stars, 2023. Directed by Stanton Cornish-Ward.
The Mason Pearson brand story
The 130-year-old brand has not changed the way it makes its brushes since it began. Maybe Julia Margaret Cameron brushed her hair with one? Or maybe royal beauty queen, Empress Sissi of Austria?
Despite its age and limited product offering, the brand is still owned by the singular lineage of the Pearson family. Additionally, cleverly, in today’s age of recording and sharing unboxing videos, its packaging has stayed true to its 1880s’ inception.
Its product is, allegedly, still made in England too. I say allegedly because I emailed Mason Pearson’s marketing team about visiting the factory (I have it starred on my Google Maps) but the reply was a hard no. “As much as I would like to grant your wish of a factory tour, we do not allow access to anyone external due to confidentiality reasons, and this includes photography, I’m afraid.”
While there are other brushes on the luxury market, such as La Bonne Brosse, they’re relatively new. Mason Pearson’s heritage undoubtedly sets it apart. I will admit, I love heritage. I love a brand that’s managed to keep going, year after year.
Additionally, cleverly, in today’s age of recording and sharing unboxing videos, its packaging has stayed true to its 1880s’ inception. Mason Pearson has not changed the way it make its brushes since it began. Maybe Julia Margaret Cameron brushed her hair with one? Or maybe royal beauty queen, Empress Sissi of Austria?
The anatomy of the brush
Before plastic hairbrushes became the norm (Tangle Teezer or Lady Jayne, in a pinch), all brushes were natural-bristle brushes.
I’m sure growing up you saw and used a matching brush and mirror set on the guest room’s wooden vanity at your grandmother’s house. They are often an intricate twirl of silver or peach-coloured Bakelite, made with boar, horse or pig bristles. I can see you, at 12, alone, brushing your hair with one of these… feeling like you absolutely should have been cast in Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Mason Pearson’s Popular brush has a combination of boar and nylon bristles. The boar bristles are supposed to distribute the natural oils from your scalp down your hair shaft and the nylon bristles are there to eliminate static.
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The Mason Pearson Instagram often shares photos of #celebrities using their brushes: Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, Kate Middleton yadda yadda yadda. Once you have clocked the silhouette of the brush you will start to see it in the backstage photographs at every fashion show.
Is it worth $400?
Do I get compliments on my hair when I brush it with the Mason Pearson? Yes. Do I get compliments on my hair when I do not brush it at all for three days? Yes.
My friends love using my brush, on their hair and mine. I brush my mum’s hair with it. I have brought it with me on planes, used it in public toilets and at Department of Conservation huts on the Abel Tasman tramp. The Mason Pearson is an heirloom piece steeped in history, luxury and perhaps, a little mystery.
Has it magically transformed my hair into something that could have never been achieved by another brush? Probably not.
If you love the allure of Mason Pearson whispering from his grave and you find curiosity in old-world beauty tools, like me, then maybe it is worth every penny. In a world where new celebrity-endorsed beauty brands are being launched daily (ICYMI, ScarJo is slinging lip gloss now), owning something steeped in lore has its own kind of je ne sais quoi. I promise to keep it forever.
Keep up with Connie via her Substack, here.
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