Is a $250 hairbrush worth it? I tried it and here's what I think

words by daisy henry

Road testing La Bonne Brosse.

Along with an Aesop hand cream, Rhode lip tint and Dyson, La Bonne Brosse has become something of a cult haircare accessory. You’ve likely seen glimpses of the brand’s hairbrushes on your social media feeds before, creeping into bathroom sink and ‘what’s in my bag’ photos. Their range of pastel colours and twisted handles are objectively beautiful, helping elevate the brushes to something of a status symbol in the beauty world.

Though it seems crazy to think a $250 hairbrush might ever be considered a ‘budget’ option, it’s a more affordable version of the Maison Pearson brush (another French label known for its luxurious boar bristle brushes). Setting you back $400, they make the La Bonne Brosse’s $250 almost feel justifiable.

The combined power of these brushes has, at least in my view, started to shift a lot of people’s approach to haircare. Rather than spending money on the perfect final product (like bleached highlights or heat tools), they’re part of what feels like a growing trend towards investing in healthy and ‘natural’ hair.

While Fashion Journal have already reviewed the Maison Pearson brush, I’ve had my eyes on testing out La Bonne Brosse for a while now. So, in the name of investigative journalism, I reached out to Mecca, one of the few Australian stockists, to road test the hairbrush myself. It’s been two months of exclusively using the brand’s ‘Number One The Universal Brush‘ – here’s what you need to know.

La Bonne Brosse is a French label known for its luxury hairbrushes. Aside from the fact that they’re extremely stylish, the brand says that with correct use, the brush can significantly improve both scalp and hair health. There are a few options available, from boar bristles to nylon, to a combination of both.

Boar bristle brushes are, as the name suggests, made with hair derived from boars. The ethics of this is up for debate – La Bonne Brosse’s website say it’s cruelty-free and that it’s vigilant about how its materials are sourced. While plucking is considered worse than shaving, it’s worth noting that there isn’t a lot of information out there about how exactly boar bristles are farmed and extracted.

The appeal of boar bristles is that they’re full of keratin, mimicking human hair. This means they’re better able to redistribute natural oils to the scalp, which can aid in hair growth and help your locks appear shinier and healthier. A bonus of this is that in unclogging your roots, boar bristles can help you roots appear more fresh, extending out the time needed between washes.

La Bonne Brosse also offer nylon brushes. These come in a range of sizes and the vegan fibres, along with a rubber base, are designed to be gentle on the scalp. A synthetic material, nylon is better suited for detangling and reducing frizz.

The type of brush you should get it entirely dependent on hair type. What works for someone with thin, naturally straight hair will not work for someone with thick, curly hair. Thankfully, there’s a quiz to determine the best brush for you.

For fine hair, you’re better going for brushes made from boar bristles, like the Number one Universal Brush or the Number Two Essential. The boar bristles promise to remove dead skin cells, pollution, dust and other impurities that can build up in your roots and repeated use is said to activate blood flow.

On the other hand, if you have thick hair, La Bonne Brosse suggest using a nylon brush, like the Number Four Detangling Scalp Brush. Designed with nylon ball tips to better reach your scalp, it helps to detangle hair and can be used on wet or dry.

There’s also the option that if your hair falls somewhere in the middle, in that it’s curly, but not thick, or your scalp is sensitive. If this is the case, you might be best going for a boar bristle-nylon-hybrid, like the Number Three The Gentle Scalp Care Hair Brush. The boar bristles add moisturise, while the nylon is gentle and detangling.

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If you thought brushing your hair was a simple, straightforward process, think again. La Bonne Brosse have a page dedicated to techniques, advising that you set aside at least two minutes in the morning and evening for brushing through your locks. Though it might depend slightly on which brush you go for, the brand suggests starting by brushing from the inside out. This essentially means lifting up sections of your hair and running your brush through underneath.

For straight or thin hair, wait until your hair is dried to use the brush. When your hair is wet, it’s weakened and brushing rigorously can lead to breakage, so you’re better off detangling with a wide-toothed comb.

Because curly hair already has a lot of volume, brushing when dry can risk breaking your curls and causing too much volume. Instead, it’s recommended to use a nylon brush when your hair is wet. However, after some browsing on the Mecca website, it says you’re fine to use the brush on curls the night before so they can regain their shape overnight.

Like my skin, my hair is a combination. Being part-Fijian, it’s naturally quite thick and textured, having been curly through most of my childhood. Through my teenage years, my hair endured a lot of colouring and heat abuse, most of which it’s still recovering from, years later. I’d say because of that, it falls somewhere in between curly and wavy and somewhere between curly and thick.

I ended up road testing Number One The Universal Brush. This one is made from 100 per cent boar bristles, promising to add shine and moisture to my hair. I mistakenly used it a few times on dry, curly hair and it definitely kept its promise in adding volume (arguably, a little too much). However, unlike nylon, you’re best keeping the boar bristles dry to maintain their integrity, so I mostly stuck to brushing through blow-dried or curled hair, or brushing it through your curls the night before.

Look, it depends. Having been lucky enough to get my very own La Bonne Brosse for free, I’d say it’s absolutely worth it. It’s become a staple in my routine and I use it everyday. The brand is big on self-care and taking time out of your day to unwind, and while sometimes that can feel like wellness industry jargon, I have leaned right into it. Perhaps because it feels so special and expensive, it makes the ritual of brushing my hair feel a little bit special, too.

I’d also argue that my hair is considerably shinier and softer than it was in the two months prior to using it. I love the effect of combing through my hair once I’ve curled it and watching the tight waves evolve into a Victoria’s Secret dream. It adds oomph and zhuzh.

I would also make a solid case for how the brush can stretch your hair out between washes. Using it has meant I can often get an extra day out of blow-dried hair before needing to wash it – a major selling point.

However, if I’d had to shell out the $258 myself, maybe my answer would be different. It’s easy to use and the results are instant, but if you don’t have the spare cash to drop on a fancy hairbrush, then it’s a good one to add to your wish list for an upcoming birthday or anniversary. It’s definitely one of those luxuries that’s you might not be able to justify but you’d get plenty of use out it.

Browse the La Bonne Brosse range here.

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