Cranky Beauty Pants: The Tangle Teezer Detangling Brush Review
Let's talk about this Tangle Teezer detangling brush thing, now that it's slowly becoming more accessible in Canada. I have fine hair that looks like it needs to be brushed about 20 minutes after I brush it. That sad truth leads to many ponytails and messy topknots because I feel really weird about brushing my hair at my desk and equally weird about hauling a hairbrush into the bathroom with me like I’m about to flagellate myself. My hair also ties itself in knots on a fairly regular basis, like my tongue.
A British invention and the original brush of this style, the Tangle Teezer bills itself as the “instant detangling hairbrush” and has a host of benefits helpfully listed on the package:
1) "Revolutionary teeth configuration for dual-action. Gives pain-free detangling."
This means that the tall teeth and the short teeth alternate. The bit about pain-free detangling is true.
2) "Memory flex technology for speedy and gentle results. Ideal on wet and dry hair."
No idea how a hair brush could give slow results as opposed to speedy, so sure. Apparently the Tangle Teezer is also a safe option for hair extensions because it doesn't tug.
3) In the case of the travel Tangle Teezer, called the Compact Styler ($19.95; tangleteezer.com), "easy click-off, click-on cover to protect teeth. Keeps them clean on-the-go."
I like this bit!
4) "Ergonomically designed to fit snugly in your palm for creative styling and easy handling."
I’m not sure how creative your styling can really get as the product can’t be used with heat.
In case you missed it up there in all the crazy photos, the bit about Tangle Teezers and pain-free detangling is true. But the bristle set-up won't distribute natural sebum from the scalp down to the tips of the hair shaft like, say, a Mason Pearson boar-bristle brush would. I know because I have oily hair, and when I used the Tangle Teezer detangling brush, the top of my head was super oily on day two (TMI?), while my tangle-free ends were dry. That means I need a second brush after detangling; you probably will too.
So, all in all, I like the Tangle Teezer (above: the Salon Elite, $18.50, tangleteezer.com), but I don’t love it and I feel like that confession just made baby Prince George cry.
CRANK-O-METER BEAUTY RATING for the Tangle Teezer detangling brush: 3 out of 5
Read Janine's take on a variety of other detangling brushes here, including one from Macadamia, one from Goody and one by Richard Ward, a stylist who has worked with Prince George's mom, aka Kate Middleton, aka the Duchess of Cambridge. (Interesting: Shaun P, the guy who invented the Tangle Teezer almost seven years ago, used to work at the Richard Ward salon.)
The Tangle Teezer range of brushes are available at select salons in Canada; visit tangleteezer.com/@TangleTeezerCan/Tangle Teezer Canada on Facebook for distribution info. Or contact the distributor directly: tangleteezer@otcsupply.com.
