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Are Mason Pearson Brushes Worth the Cost?

BellaSugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:22:51 -0800

If you've ever read more than an issue or two of a beauty magazine, you know that Mason Pearson is considered the holy grail of hair brushes. The English brand has been making brushes since 1885, and it continues to produce them by hand to this day. Their nylon and boar bristles are supposed to evenly distribute sebum from the scalp, making hair shiny and stronger.

The only catch? Well, this brush costs $170. And that, my friends, is why there is no Mason Pearson brush in my life. I'm so-so on a less expensive but still-luxurious Fekkai brush, but still, I can't stop wondering if this one would make me have shampoo-commercial hair. (For that kind of money, it'd better!) So, you tell me-do you think this brush could be worth its high price tag?

Model of the Week: Yoanna House

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

We are so excited to bring back Model of the Week! This time, we take a closer look at American model Yoanna House. Yoanna was born on April 9, 1980 in Jacksonville, Florida. She can credit her amazing looks from her Mexican mother and her Canadian father. (She is also very close to her grandmother-who's actually the one who got her interested in fashion and modeling!)

After losing 50 lbs, Yoanna decided to try out for America's Next Top Model, and her big break in the industry was winning season two! Her prizes included a cover of the Sephora catalog, a contract with IMG and a photo spread for Jane magazine. Since then, she has modeled around the world and is the host of "The Look for Less" on the Style Network.

Other Top Model players that have been featured as Models of the Week are "Holland's Next Top Model" host Yfke Sturm and Caridee English, the winner of "America's Next Top Model" season seven.

To read FabSugar's fashion interview with Yoanna click here, and to discover her best beauty secrets, read more

What is your secret to beautiful skin and hair?
For beautiful skin, I've come to the conclusion that less is more! I've quit wasting time and spending bundles of cash on super fancy and complicated regimens. I keep my beauty regimen simple with a light cleansing gel, Lancôme Microdermabrasion Scrubs once a week, alcohol-free toner and vitamin C organic moisturizer. I book facials sporadically to get extractions and I do mini peels at home. For beautiful hair, I maintain shine by using deep conditioners. Also, I get blowouts twice a week.

What is the one product that you can't live without?
The product I absolutely love is mascara!

What is your guilty pleasure?
Enjoying a vegan oatmeal cookie from my favorite vegan bakery. I love French and Spanish Vogue and shopping for vintage clothes with my sister Alex. I especially love vintage YSL and Chanel pieces.

What are your favorite drugstore products?
L'Oreal Sublime Bronzer Self-Tanning Lotion, Pantene Pro-V Serum, Pantene Detangler Light Spray Conditioner, Mason Pearson Brushes and Mentadent whitening toothpaste, individual false eyelashes for nights out on the town, black mascara, Neutrogena Micro Scrubs and clear lip gloss with a little bit of sparkle.

Happiness is...
Driving in my car-I just got a shiny silver Mercedes station wagon-blaring old classics like Guns 'N Roses' "November Rain" or John Lennon's "Instant Karma," singing at the top of my lungs with my best friend and manager and celebrating mass in our favorite cathedral downtown. Afterwards, going out for brunch and shopping for antiques and vintage clothing.

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Do Fancy Brushes Make a Difference?

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:23:05 -0700

For years I've been reading about Mason Pearson hair brushes in magazines, and inevitably they're lauded as life-changing miracle brushes. I haven't tried one yet, but I was given a Frederic Fekkai travel brush ($55) that's similarly luxurious.

The faux-tortoise brush is beautiful, easy to hold and replete with old-timey allure. It's pretty enough to leave out when guests are over, and it just feels more glamorous to brush my hair with this than with a drugstore brush. Except...
(To find out why I'm not loving it, read more)

As beautiful as the Fekkai brush is, I don't really love what it does to my hair. Because the boar bristles are natural, they give a relaxing scalp massage each time I run the brush through my hair. Unfortunately, this also spreads oil into my hair, which makes me feel a little greasy and flat-haired. Worse still, the brush is high-maintenance; it just never feels clean, and no matter how much I try to remove the schmutz that builds up, it never looks new. What am I doing wrong?!

My foray into pricey brushes has me wondering whether the expense is worth it, so I'm curious about your experiences. Have you used a high-end brush, and if so, what do you think?

Happening Hair: The Modern Half Up, Half Down

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:43:22 -0800

Here is a happening do that is a modern take on the old half up, half down style. This look is great for those of you with long layers or one solid length - so basically anyone, but you have to have some substantial length to pull this off. This is also a quick style for women on the go. It keeps your hair out of your eyes, but won't take it completely off of your face. Ultimately, this is a super sexy hair style, hence it being modeled here on some of the world's sexiest women. You can wear this hair on the third day of a blowout too, just as the crown is getting greasy. This look is also a great way to add volume to a round shaped face.

To create this look for yourself at home, read more

Choose a shampoo and conditioner with volumizing agents in it. I happen to really love Alterna's Life Volumizing Shampoo,, $17.10, as well as their Life Volumizing Conditioner, $18.30.
Blow dry hair and set with rollers for additional volume. If you want stick straight hair like Heidi Klum's hair shown above, then before blow drying add a drop of Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm to add shine, protect hair from heat and control frizz. Wait 20 minutes in the rollers for hair to set.
Gently take out the rollers and begin to lightly backcomb the crown of your hair. Then, smooth it over with a soft brush, I like the Mason Pearson all boar bristle brush. Keep in mind, don't tease your hair too much. You don't want to have extreme lift at the crown, just a little is perfect.
Next, secure just the middle section of the crown with a skinny barrette or two bobby pins. Overlap the pins so they create an "X". Smooth the rest of your hair.
Lastly, spray your entire head with a fine mist of hairspray to keep all of your hard work in place! A new hairspray that I've just discovered is called Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray by Tigi, $15.75. Try it and let me know what you think!

Which Hairbrush Is Right For You?

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:14:04 -0700

A good hairbrush should do far more than just brush hair, but buying the right one can be very confusing. There are two important factors to consider: finding the appropriate brush for your hair type and styling regimen and making sure you get a quality brush. Here are some helpful shopping tips and recommendations.

If you have curly or wavy hair and you blow it dry, choose a round, nylon-bristle brush. The wider the brush bristles are, the straighter your hair will turn out when it dries. I particularly like the Acca Kappa Professional Nylon Bristle Round Hairbrush. Buy it here for $15.

If you have straight hair and want to get volume through blow-drying, use a round, boar-bristle brush, which is softer and more flexible than nylon and will help prevent split ends. Buy the Spornette Round Boar Brush here for $18.99; available in three sizes.

Three more recommendations, so read more

If you have straight or wavy hair that you brush daily, use a flat paddle brush after you've washed your hair when it is nice and dry. Not only do paddle brushes help circulation in your scalp by giving it a little massage, but they also help evenly distribute the oils in your hair from the roots downward, making the hair look shinier. The Cadillac of boar bristles is the one I recommended last week, the Mason Pearson Handy All Boar Bristle Hair Brush, available here for $146 in five colors.

If you have super curly and thick hair, use a wide-tooth comb or pick so that your hair won't frizz but it will still look tidy. Use the comb in the shower to detangle curls before drying sets in. I suggest Sephora's Wide Tooth Comb, which you can buy here for $4.

Lastly, if you are looking for a good sculpting tool, metal brushes are the best. When these brushes heat up, they act like hot rollers, creating curl and movement. Be sure and use the "cool" feature on your hairdryer to set your hair with the brush. I like the TIGI Thermal Brush which you can buy here for $17.

Here are some additional hairbrush tips:

Only buy brushes with ball-type tips that are molded into place. The kind of tips that are glued on can pull at your hair and break the ends.
Look at a good brush like an investment. If it's high quality and well taken care of, a good hairbrush will last for years.
Clean your hairbrushes regularly. Oils and greasy hair residue take away from their performance. Rub another brush into the bristles to lift and loosen trapped hair. Gently soak your brushes in warm water with a little shampoo.

Haircuts To Flatter Your Face Shape: Part II, Round Faces

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:19:32 -0700

You may covet your favorite celeb's hairstyle, but if the 'do doesn't fit your face shape, you're likely to be disappointed. Hence, FABSUGAR's four-part series on the haircuts that best flatter your face. Welcome back for our second installment: round faces. (To read last week's advice on heart-shaped faces, click here.)

If you have a full, round face, you share your facial structure with Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Kate Bosworth, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The shape is characterized by a round chin and lack of sharp angles. Round faces tend to be wider at the cheeks, with softer shaping along the jawline and forehead. Round faces need balance, which can be achieved with hairstyles that make the face appear longer.

The best styles for your face shape are ones that drape below your jawline and add a little volume on top of the head, like Gwyneth's above. For more coifs most likely to complement your face, read more

Soft, long layers are also pretty because they the appearance of a longer and slimmer face. The layers also reduce bulk and heaviness from the sides.

Bangs are flattering, but keep them long or side-swept. Go for wispy and tapered ends to de-emphasize the roundness of your face.

Try and stay away from blunt cuts if you have short hair. These only emphasize your round face.

Also, invest in a great boar's hair brush to keep your locks tamed. I suggest the Mason Pearson Handy All Boar Bristle Hair Brush, available here for $146.

BellaSugarUK's Picks For Best Blow-Out Brushes

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Along with a powerful, high-wattage hairdryer, a round brush is my secret weapon hair tool. Second to my prized all-boar bristle Mason Pearson, a round brush helps smooth and straighten my frizzy hair while creating bounce and shine. The key is to finding the perfect one has to do with size and grip. After spending 15 minutes every other day blow-drying, you'll become more intimate with yours then you ever imagined! Below are a list of my top three high performance round brushes. Do you have a favourite brush?

The Frederic Fekkai Large Round Brush (£44) works great on all hair lengths. I use on my crown and fringe because it's small and creates amazing resistance. The more tension that you have between your hair and your brush, the smoother the result. It's also great for curling the ends and adding volume to the roots.

For details on two more of my top buys for best blow-out brushes, read more.

ghd Anti Static Brush Size 3 (£18.75) has an over-sized head that works wonders to create natural-looking waves. The handle has a comfy grip and the bristles are coated with a natural ionic compound that makes your hair shiny and static-free without getting tangled causing unnecessary breakage. Victoria Beckham, Naomi Cambell, Jennifer Aniston and Beyonce Knowles are also rumoured to fancy this brush!
Lastly, I adore this S Factor Surreal Ceramic Straightening Brush XL from Tigi (£7.95). The bristles are soft and the squishy grip is tops. It never slips out of my hand and it holds my hair in place once it's wrapped around. Combine all of this with the ceramic core and I only need to dry each section once - it's heaven!

Ricky's Goes From Manhattan to Mouse Clicks

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:30:43 -0700

If you're a New Yorker, no doubt you know Ricky's NYC. And if you haven't heard about the beauty store, now's your chance to get the virtual experience, as the company has joined the e-commerce world. Now the rest of the country can experience the beauty bounty without the crowded atmosphere - and the stores can get pretty packed.

The chain, which specializes in hair care, cosmetics, and unusual fashion accessories, has somewhat of a cult following. It's a bit Urban Outfitters, a touch Spencer's, a little upscale apothecary, and your local beauty emporium combined. Ricky's carries everything from the goofy Burger King Flame Body Spray ($4) to the classic Mason Pearson Popular hairbrush ($151) to the odd Bacon Bandages ($6) to professional hair color. Have you shopped at Ricky's?

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All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part Five

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:00:23 -0700

Over the past week or so, I've given you the details on everything you've probably ever wanted to know about hairbrush bristles, from the ionic to the synthetic to the natural to why they're spaced the way they're spaced. For the final installment of this series, I've gathered up the miscellaneous facts I've learned about this handy tool. Check them out when you read more.

Mix it up: If you like the benefits of a boar bristle brush, but it's too soft for your medium, thick, or curly hair texture, consider a boar/nylon blend. It's the best of both worlds. Try the classic Mason Pearson Boar Bristle and Nylon Hairbrush ($80) or the more affordable Swissco Pro Large Oval Mixed Nylon and Boar ($9).
Time to vent: Ever wonder why bristles are placed upon a "vented" base? Because of the gaps in the design of this type of brush, air from your dryer more easily circulates, reducing your drying time significantly. Check out a large selection of vented brushes here.
Extra padding: And what about those cushiony bases? The bristles on cushion brushes are attached to a rubbery or synthetic pad that gives a little slack when used. These types of brushes are therefore excellent for sensitive hair and scalps, although they work wonderfully on wavy, fine, and medium-length hair, too. Often oval- or paddle-shaped, cushioned brushes can also be used to create volume, depending on how large or small the base of the brush. Here is a selection of cushioned brushes for your viewing (and scalp's) pleasure.
Down to the wire: Wire brushes? Avoid them, unless you wear a synthetic wig. By design, they're too harsh for your delicate locks.

All About Hairbrush Bristles: Part Three

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:00:43 -0700

Hairbrushes are such simple, everyday tools, but do we ever put that much thought into which ones are the most appropriate for our hair types? That's what I'm here for: to teach you the brushin' basics. Last year, I gave you the scoop on which hairbrush is right for your hair type and styling needs, and now I've got you covered on bristles. So far, I've explored why bristles are spaced the way they are and the advantages of boar bristles. Next up are synthetics.

This type of bristle is almost always made from nylon and comes in varying textures. Soft and flexible work well for sensitive scalps and finer hair. Stiff, less-bendy types are best for thicker and/or curly hair. While nylon is typically more inexpensive from its natural counterparts, the biggest disadvantages are that synthetic can melt under excessive heat and they're not biodegradable.

For a classic nylon brush, there's always Mason Pearson Detangler Nylon Hair Brush ($82), or for an affordable version try Umberto Oval Brush ($11).