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The History of the Brush: Voted No.1

January 04, 2019

The History of the Brush: Voted No.1

The No.1 Brush: The Rest Are History

Did you ever stop to compare an iPod with the Sony Walkman? Probably not, as the Walkman was already on its way to the V&A. People are getting the same feeling with the No.1 Brush (above). No tangles, no tears, and a quantum leap in brush design.

In professional trials*, The No.1 Brush blew the competition away, with superior design features, benefits, user-friendliness and effectiveness. This new hair brush combines the latest developments in hair brush technology with Michael’s award-winning philosophy for excellence.

Michael Van Clarke 3’’’More Inches

*Top West End hairdressers took the 6 market-leading detangling brushes and blind tested them on 5 criteria including look, feel, usability and effectiveness. 9 out of 10 professional stylists voted The No.1 brush first overall.

The No.1 Brush will detangle, blowdry and style in one, whilst protecting the hair and boosting thickness. Handmade – using pins made from Japanese nylon, these super smooth, flexible bristles have been designed to minimise stress to the delicate hair shaft, helping to maintain healthier and thicker hair.

“I have been meaning since Christmas to extol the wonderful hairbrush. At first I thought, 'come off it, a hairbrush is a hairbrush,' but it is better than anything I've ever used. I peer at it daily, wondering wherein lies its magic, but probably only the hairdresser knows”.
Cambridge Professor

The No. 1 Brush does not pull or tug, which means brushing and detangling with no snapping or breaking. It is so gentle that it’s also an ideal solution to brushing children’s hair.  So, for those looking for a multi-purpose brush that is kind to hair without compromising style, the No 1 Brush is the latest and greatest design on offer.

Michael Van Clarke 3’’’More Inches

“I’ve been using the No.1 Brush since it arrived last week and there is just no doubt that it’s at the top of its game. I’ve used plenty of detanglers and then stopped using them because they don’t feel like proper brushes - this one feels like a regular brush in the hold but has a more silky run through and tackles tangles brilliantly. The brush is a mix of long and short, highly flexible bristles - importantly, it feels gentle on the hair; other detanglers can feel a bit savage. I bet we’ll see this everywhere as an editor favourite.”
British Beauty Blogger – Jane Cunningham


Ancient History

The earliest known comb, made from animal bone and found in Syria, is said to date from 8000 BC and is fundamentally the same form as the mass-produced plastic comb of today.

Combs are among the oldesttools found by archaeologists; very refined forms having been discovered in Persian settlements dating back 5,000 years

Paint brushes are believed to have been used as long as 2.5 million years ago and were later adapted to be used on hair. Excavations from Egyptian tombs have unearthed combs, brushes and mirrors.

Evidence from portraits, paintings and sculptures show that Ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians not only styled, but carefully curled, designed and braided their hair, proving that they must have used some form of hair brush.

    1500 BC Example of a comb from Ancient Egypt

    The needles of boars, porcupines and hedgehogs have been used since at least the Roman period to create hairbrushes. Rather than insert individual needles into a perforated base and secure them with wire, this example from West Africa shows that the entire skin of the animal has been turned into a brush with a central hollowed section for grasping in the fingers.

    1777:     William Kent began manufacturing brushes in England. The brushes featured bristles that were stitched into the handle by hand (called hand drawing or long holing) and domed bristles.  It took as many as twelve people to make some models.

    1854:     The earliest U.S. patent for a hairbrush was by Hugh Rockand.  It featured a metal handle with ornamental scalloped edges.  

    1885: Englishman Mason Pearson, invents an automatic brush-boring machine to speed the process of brush making.  He also invented the pneumatic rubber cushioned hairbrush. These brushes were good for styling long hair into the chignons of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.


    Iconic Brushes of Contemporary History

    1960s – The classic Denman brush fitted beautifully with the flat Bob styles of Vidal Sassoon. However the stiff pointed bristles easily scratched the scalp.

    1980s – The Vent Brush moved on from some of the Denman’s limitations and dominated the early 80s. This lighter plastic brush had holes for air to stream through and knobs on the bristles to soften the effect of the hard plastic. This brush was good for applying mousse and lifting the roots to get big scrunch-dries and other 80’s styles you’d rather not remember.

    2000s - Tangle Teezer created a new category in brushes - the detangler. Whilst this moulded plastic brush made a chore slightly easier for those in a rush, particularly children, it isn’t very satisfying to use and sounds unpleasantly scratchy.

    2016 - The No. 1 Brush
    The No.1 Brush covers all the benefits of the 3 brush icons of the last 60 years but performs way better in every single discipline.

    Michael Van Clarke 3’’’More Inches



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