Unwritten Detangling Brush

A single-purpose brush: getting knots out of hair that has just been washed, or hair that has gone into a bird's nest overnight, without turning it into a fight.

How to use it

Work in sections and start at the ends, not the roots. Hold the section firmly above the point you are brushing so the tension goes into your hand rather than the scalp, then move up a few centimetres at a time until the brush runs clean from root to tip. Rushing from the top down is what turns a small knot into a tangle you have to pull through.

Who it's for

All hair types, and particularly useful on long hair, fine hair that knots easily, and anyone brushing a child's hair.

Worth knowing

This is a detangler rather than a blow-dry or finishing brush — it has no tension for smoothing and no natural bristle for distributing oils. Keep it for the step straight after the shower and use a cushion or bristle brush for everything else.