The Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle & Nylon Hairbrush BN4 Feels Like a Mini Massage (2024)

My earliest hairbrush memories include me fighting with my parents over not wanting to brush my hair, which was constantly in knots. As the years went on, I learned to make friends with the hairbrush, realizing it could take my hair from unruly to smooth and tame in a matter of minutes (but I also quickly learned that the wrong hairbrush could flatten it out!).

That being said, I never gave much thought to what type of hairbrush I used; I just picked them up at CVS from time to time and called it a day. So when I was given the opportunity to review the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle & Nylon BN4 hairbrush, a $120 hairbrush made of wood, high-quality rubber, and boar bristles, I was intrigued. Was this ultra-expensive hairbrush what I was missing from my haircare routine? I investigated—here’s what I found out.

About My Hair: Frizzy and I lose lots of strands

I don’t have a ton to complain about in the hair department. My hair isn’t too thin or too thick, it has a lot of body, and the texture of it is manageable. That being said, it’s prone to frizz, and due to my nervous habit of touching my hair too much, I lose a lot of strands every day. And I’m sure all that time with my hands in my hair doesn’t help with the frizz factor.

The Look: Extremely classy

From the packaging to the actual hairbrush, there is nothing tacky about the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle Hairbrush. The box is printed in the classiest lettering, complete with a gorgeous illustration of the hairbrush inside.

The hairbrush itself has the words “The Mason Pearson—London, England” embossed in gold on the handle, and the actual brush part has a rubber base with thin boar bristles. To say this is the most beautiful hairbrush I’ve ever held in my hands is not an exaggeration.

The Feel: Sturdy yet delicate

The Mason Pearson hairbrush is handmade with high-quality materials, so it has a very sturdy feel to it. It’s delicate at the same time, though, with super-thin bristles that promise to coat hair with natural sebum and that feel like a soothing scalp tickle. I can see why it can be so restorative to a scalp that needs a little love!

The Results: Good, but probably not worth the high price point

Do I like the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle Hairbrush? Yes, I do—it serves the purpose of smoothing out my hair, and I loved the way those tiny bristles feel on my scalp; it’s like a mini massage. That being said, if I was using this hairbrush to get out knots, I’m not sure it would do the trick for me. It’s incredibly light, and the bristles are so thin that it doesn’t have a lot of “oomph” behind it if you will. I’m still using this hairbrush on a daily basis, but when it comes to getting out knots, I let my comb do the work.

Another thing I’m just not quite sure I can get behind is how expensive this hairbrush is. As much as I like it and enjoy knowing how high-quality the materials are—and I love the history behind this hairbrush!—spending $120 on a small hairbrush feels a bit excessive to me.

The Value: On the steep end

To be clear, brushing my hair with the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle Hairbrush is a luxurious experience, and I love the look and feel of it. That being said, you can get a much less expensive hairbrush—and I mean much less expensive (this brush retails for around $120)—and have a similar outcome in terms of the way your hair looks and feels.

Similar Products: You've got cheaper options

Prose Boar & Nylon Bristle: While I’ve never used it on a regular basis, the Prose Boar & Nylon Bristle hairbrush ($72) is very similar to Mason Pearson’s in terms of the materials used. To be clear, this isn’t an inexpensive hairbrush either, but when I borrowed this exact hairbrush from a friend, I found I had a similar experience to the one I have when I use the Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle Hairbrush.