What are some of your favorite boar hair
natural brushes? I'm looking for another
brush to use (I currently have a
Mason Pearson Popular and do like
it)...what are your thoughts on this?

I recently got a Jean Pierre Prestige and adore it! I can't compare to any other brand name brushes, but I can't imagine a BBB to be better.
Good size, nicely balanced weight, stiff bristles that penetrate my hair all through to the scalp (I have fine/thin hair but I imagine it would work for up to medium thickness as well).

That reminds me!! I'm going to have to order the one from Enchantress, the one with the smiley shape :D

Extra Large Mason Pearson all bristle brush . . . I MUCH prefer it to the Popular Mix.

I have a Mason Pearson Popular that I like for scalp stimulation and then I have a vintage pure bbb with a satinwood base. I love it for smoothing.
I reciently purchased a fuller brush and I like it but it is so soft that is will not even go all the way through my fine hair. Use it for smoothing also.

I have the same JP brush that Madeleine has. It's an excellent brush and reasonably priced. I'm considering getting a mixed bristle brush from them next. :-)

The Mason Pearson Pure boar bristle brush rules! I love it, and so does my hair, and my scalp for that one.

Howdy!

I use and really like my MP pure bristle. It's nice and stiff and can reach through to the scalp.

But I do have a second BBB that I like a lot too, and it cost only about $7. At Sally's they carry the SPORNETTE #65. It's a wooden brush with pure boar bristles. Unlike the other cheapies I handled, this one is nice and stiff. This brush is not in a box or anything, so you can feel each one to see how the bristles are. I chose the very stiffest one I could find in the bunch, and I like it almost as much as my MP.

I think the SPORNETTE #65 is a really good low cost alternative if you don't want to or cannot spend lots for a hairbrush.

Deborah

That reminds me!! I'm going to have to order the one from Enchantress, the one with the smiley shape :D

Yes! You NEED to get that because I've been (patiently!) waiting for a review on this brush!



Okay, I have and love my JP brushes- I have the 100% boar Prestige and the smaller Desiree. They are both fantastic! Easy to hold and manuver and the bristles are very high quality- I have had the Desiree for a year now and it still looks new!

For a cheaper BBB in a wooden base- Sally's has a good line. I like the Phillips brand #440. It is VERY soft and perfect for smoothing oils through your hair.

The JP's are more for scalp stimulation and can either be used for "fluffing" the hair or smoothing the hair, depending on how you brush with it- my boyfriend found that out while brushing my hair and showed me. :)

Coming in late on this discussion. I have the pocket sized MP all boar brush and love it. Unfortunately it has spoiled me I think. I'd really like the Extra Large but can't really afford it right now. I decided to try the JP Prestige brush and just got it yesterday. :( Unfortunately I really like the MP better so I think I'll be returning it. The bristles are a little too dense for me, the MP has less in each tuft and that seems to work best for my hair. The JP didn't penetrate to my scalp nearly as well, which is funny as I don't have hugely thick hair and it's very straight.

So my vote is for the MP brushes, though they are terribly expensive. :x

-shelley

OK, first off, I can't believe that I actually get to PARTICIPATE in an "MP Brushes" thread and have some EXPERIENCE (albeit short-time experience)....

I just got my first MP brush yesterday; it is the Large Extra (the biggest one) and I ADORE it. It's the one that retails at Ball Beauty for $160. It is HEAVENLY. It goes all the way through to my scalp, detangles UNbelievably well, and is just......well, I think I finally have a CLUE as to why these people charge $160 for a brush: it's because they CAN. They're THAT good.

So, I have a Scunci, wood-handle, pneumatic cushion BBB, $5 at KMart. IT's not bad, but only for smoothing: doesn't penetrate to the scalp except right at the hairline; once you go past that and begin gathering more hairs, it craps out and loses contact with the scalp.

So, I went to Sally's, got a Comare plastic-handle/pneumatic cushion brush for about $10. It's model #C333751. They're in a bin and, like Deborah did, I picked the STIFFEST one of the lot. Not bad, for a $10 brush, but then I got the MP......

This bad boy goes all the way through to the scalp, and STAYS there! Heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly......well, now I'm gonna be singing THAT tune all day, thanks a LOT!

My husband said to me, last night, (knowing the price these things cost) "This thing looks like it's made by the same people who make the "Sweepa", Honey" (a Sweepa is this ridiculous rubber-fingered 'broom' that they huck at fairs and which I bought because they had a "buy one, get one free" and my friend and I bought them together. Piece of crap, OK, I got "taken") I was in the shower when he said this, so I said something appropriately nasty back to him (actually, it was more of a hand-gesture, but let's not get into details). Then I got the brush out and (hair was dry) brushed my hair. He stood still and said, "OK, now I get to feel this fancy brush" and stood there waiting for me to brush it through his hair. Well, I went and got my three brushes.

"This is the $5 BBB" and I used it. "This is the $10 BBB" and used THAT on him, too. Both gained NO response. (that's typical; something has to really BOWL him over for him to say much about it) Then I used the MP on him. He sighed and said, "Yes, that's a nice brush, Babe". Then I went out to the twinners and did the same thing on them. They both sighed when I got to the MP and sat up straighter so I could brush their WHOLE head of hair because the MP was so nice.

OK, I still love my Denmans, but this MP is a fabulous brush. I am already thinking, "How can I get me more of these MP brushes?????" I know they are hideously expensive, but (as Teacherbear has said in the past, "Daaaaaang, Miss" these are fabulous!

Hey there LJ,
It was so exciting to read your post and
your exhilaration over your new MP. Did
you pay the full $160? That is the brush that
I would like to get eventually (is it possible
to find it at a slight lower price, anywhere?)

Since you're the group ordering "queen" (haahah)
want to research where we can get these (or
different) MP brushes and I'd be MORE than
happy to join in on the fun! : :)

let me know if you're up for it! :)

I bought a $10 BBB from The Body Shop. I like it. The bristles are stiff(but not too stiff). It's the only BB brush I've tried so I can't compare :?

:face: I just ordered the Extra Large MP brush!!! I know I was just saying I couldn't afford it but my state tax return was deposited into my account this morning and it is just the right amount for the brush!!! Wooo wooo I'm jumping out of my skin with excitement!!!

I bought mine on Ebay for $109 which is a fairly good price. The seller has quite good feedback and it is in a new in box brush so I'm crossing my fingers that all will go well.

*bouncity bouncity bounce*

It's funny Lisa Janey I did the same thing with my partner and the brush testing as she thought I was a total nutcase for wanting such an expensive brush. I have the pocket sized and it is as wonderful as your Extra Large sounds. Feels so good even she had to own up to it being a great brush. She also isn't upset that I just spent my tax return on it since we now know how great a brush it really is.

The proof as they say is in the pudding.

-shelley

Lisajaney, I have one tiny little question . . .

Did all those males "enjoy" the MP because they knew you'd beat them with it if they didn't agree?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bwhahahahahaahahahahahahahaahahaha

You ARE queen of that household and they know they'd better do what you say! :) hahahahahahaahahahahahaha You have some smart men, there! :) hahahahaahahaha

It is also SO good to hear you listened to me, AGAIN! ;) hahahahahahaahahahaha

I'd better run now, or you'll beat ME with that brush! hahahahaahah (but I might try taking it away from you! ) hahahahahaahahaa



*Disclaimer
I do NOT think real beatings, much less with brushes are funny. I am just poking fun at my beloved sister! :)
Nor do I condone misusing MP BBBs in this manner.


;)

<running before I get into MORE trouble with my smart-assy mouth this morning! ;) >

<running off to play on my day off! :)>

Ack - I hate seeing you all pay so much for those MP brushes!

Can't you order directly from MP in England? Or from another source in Europe? This store (http://www.the-english-scent.de/perfumers/masonpearson_e.html) for instance ships internationally and sells MP brushes for about half the price you pay (81 Euros for the large extra). Even with shipping I bet you'd be much better off ordering from them, especially if there is enough interest for a group order.

Just thinking out loud ...

BTW LisaJaney, do you like the MP better than my JP, and if so, why?

I would certainly be willing to check into heading up a GROUP ORDER, if anyone wants to......

Let me know if you wish me to do the legwork to check on shipping prices and such....

Hugs! (Madeleine, I'll PM you)

Count me in if you are planning on doing a group order!
I would really like to get the kind you got! :)

I think what brush you prefer really depends on what you want to use it for. I use brushes for detangling length and don't do the traditional 50 strokes.

I find that generally the largest brush is always a good choice and more important than any other consideration. A Mason Pearson pure boar is an excellent brush and my favorite is the Small Extra which is the next smallest size down from the Popular/largest size. I also favor my large wooden base paddle brush that has regular dark bristles that are soft because this makes it a wonderful brush for detangling.

In my purse I usually carry around an MP pure boar pocket or a small version of the paddle brush I mentioned.

http://www.longhairlovers.com/at/martine/gallery/992.jpeg

I've heard that sometimes even a BB is not so good for your hair because the bristle can be too shar if it's a cheap one and then damdge your hair :?
i've got 2 MP and the one who has mixed briste&nylon loses the nylon bristle :(
It's probably because of the oil I put in my hair. I never put the brush in water....
I'm quite disapointed about the quality of it. I mean for that price they could stand an oil brushing!!

I can recomend the Kent natural boar bristle brush. Since my wife finshed this semester with mostly A's I thought she could use a new brush. btw it does come with an endorsement from the Queen of England :disbelief:
Most importantly Veronica likes it. ;)

Sandrine,
One of the things my leaflet says is not to get oil on the rubber pneumatic cusion. Oil breaks down rubber, it's just a fact, and it doesn't matter if it's a $6 rubber-base brush, or a $600 rubber-base brush. Oil is oil and it's gonna do its dirty work on rubber without regard to the price you paid for the brush. Is it possible that the oil has deteriorated the rubber and THAT's why the bristles are falling out? Or MAYBE: could you have possibly gotten a "manufacturer's defect" brush that needs to be replaced by the company? It's worth checking out. Sometimes brushes come off the assembly-line just not made quite right..... I'd email the company and at least ASK, just in case.

Either way, what *I* do is to use my cheapie (I have a Vidal Sassoon BBB, wood handle, no rubber in it) to brush oils on the ends. The bristles are like a baby's hairbrush, they're so soft. It's basically worthless as a BRUSH, but works well for distributing oils on the ends and that's about it.

I have been given a link to another site where they don't have quite the RANGE of brushes that Madeleine's link has, BUT: the price for the extra large is 41 - 45 pounds (about $65-70 USDollars) so, that is another option.

Wahoo~

Yes you probably right!!
Maybe the bristle are getting lose ( and not broken) because they may slide from the rubber.
i'll purchase a cheap one for my oil routine.

Ack - I hate seeing you all pay so much for those MP brushes!
Can't you order directly from MP in England? Or from another source in Europe?

Madeleine, I hate seeing people pay so much for them too, so let's just say that LJ *did* get her MP from another source in England ;)

I just got my first MP brush yesterday; it is the Large Extra (the biggest one) and I ADORE it. It's the one that retails at Ball Beauty for $160. It is HEAVENLY. It goes all the way through to my scalp, detangles UNbelievably well, and is just......well, I think I finally have a CLUE as to why these people charge $160 for a brush: it's because they CAN. They're THAT good.
Congrats, LJ! Another satisfied MPer!

It's funny because no one can understand why anyone would pay those prices for a brush... that is until they USE it!!! I remember my (ahem) first stroke and it was heaven! I still can't believe how amazing they are.