Who on earth uses a Tangle Teezer anyway? I do!
Product test

Who on earth uses a Tangle Teezer anyway? I do!

What looks like a cross between a computer mouse and a single-cell organism has completely changed my life: the Tangle Teezer. Here’s why there’s no going back from this high performance hairbrush.

I was the kid who exploded hair bands. The one who got headaches from updos. The one still standing under the swimming pool hairdryer when the others were already home. The child with the lion’s mane. Untangling my locks was painful. «Stop tugging,» my mum would remind me. But what else could I do when the brush kept getting stuck in my mane?

These days, my hair has thinned out a bit. But it’s still thick. A blessing, I know. But untangling’s a curse. I’ve tried everything. From brushes with plastic, wooden and even hog bristles. I even gave my arch-enemy the comb a second chance. But no joy:

I quickly reach a dead end with a comb.
I quickly reach a dead end with a comb.
Source: Darina Schweizer

But then, exactly half a year ago, my tangles were tamed ...

A brush with chaos

My morning mirror check. Once again, a bristle has snapped off while brushing my hair. «Stupid thing!» I mutter and chuck it into the sink. Only to lose another bristle because of the impact. Frustrated, I grab my phone and scroll through the over 2,400 hairbrushes available on Galaxus. There must be one that isn’t completely useless?!

An oval, slightly futuristic-looking combing object catches my eye: Tangle Teezer «The Original». I’m astonished by the 4.8 stars result from 140 ratings. «Untangles knots without pain,» «The best brush I’ve ever had», it says. A Google search tells me that the brush was developed by British hair artist Shaun Pulfrey. It’s been on the market for 17 years and is a bestseller. I’m sold.

In 2007, Shaun Pulfrey, a British hair colourist and artist, developed the first Tangle Teezer «The Original». It was followed by many more models. Pulfrey won various prizes with his brushes. One of them was the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of innovation, which made him world-famous. Stars including Victoria Beckham, Salma Hayek, Rita Ora, Emma Watson and Cara Delevingne swear by their Tangle Teezers.
Tangle Teezer Compact, Pearlescent Matte Chrome
Hairbrushes
15,90 EUR

Tangle Teezer Compact, Pearlescent Matte Chrome

Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator & Massager
Hairbrushes
11,77 EUR

Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator & Massager

Tangle Teezer Compact, Pearlescent Matte Chrome
15,90 EUR

Tangle Teezer Compact, Pearlescent Matte Chrome

Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator & Massager
11,77 EUR

Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator & Massager

A hairy surprise

I have little hope at first. Let’s face it, how much can a piece of 20-franc plastic actually achieve? Visually, the Tangle Teezer with all its «legs» reminds me of an oversized single-cell organism. One of those protozoa I fished out of a pond in biology class. The brush also feels weird due to its lack of a handle. A bit like an ergonomic computer mouse.

The «legs» of the Tangle Teezer work wonders on your scalp.
The «legs» of the Tangle Teezer work wonders on your scalp.
Source: Darina Schweizer

I put the Tangle Teezer to the ends of my hair and ... wait, what? It’s gone through already? This must be a coincidence. Let’s try that again. The brush glides through my hair. This can’t be true. Time to put it to the acid test. I place the Tangle Teezer at the top of the hairline, the end boss, so to speak, and slide the brush all the way down. With one or two extra brushing movements, this is no problem either.

Brushes with Tangle-Teezer bristles brush better than brushes without Tangle-Teezer bristles.
Brushes with Tangle-Teezer bristles brush better than brushes without Tangle-Teezer bristles.
Source: Darina Schweizer

A new life

My life’s changed since Tangle Teezer. These days, knots I spent years pulling and tugging at just effortlessly come undone. Not to mention the two superpower side effects the Tangle Teezer has:

1. Size

The Tangle Teezer is so small and lightweight you can easily pop it in your handbag. There’s no handle poking out.

Even my smallest handbag is big enough to fit the Tangle Teezer.
Even my smallest handbag is big enough to fit the Tangle Teezer.
Source: Darina Schweizer

2. Manageability

Another advantage of a handleless brush is that you hold it with your whole hand. This translates into more stability and precision when brushing. There’s no more jerky brushing like in the old days when I tried to drag a brush with a handle through my hair.

3. Hygiene

What always bothered me about brushes was that they’re hard to clean. I used to soak them in soapy water and laboriously pull out individual hairs wrapped between the long, unruly bristles. The dust was often so entangled with the hair, I’d have to cut it with nail scissors. The Tangle Teezer is a different ball game. All the strands of hair in the brush come out in a single stroke. A dishwashing brush and a little soap’s all you need to clean out the dust stuck between the short Tangle Teezer bristles in no time at all.

A dishwashing brush and some soap is enough to clean the Tangle Teezer in no time at all.
A dishwashing brush and some soap is enough to clean the Tangle Teezer in no time at all.
Source: Darina Schweizer

4. Head massage

The Tangle Teezer is also good for your scalp. Its small prongs glide smoothly through your hair and also massage your scalp. This is a real treat, especially when it’s all itchy because of the dry air in winter.

5. Sturdiness

Yep, the Tangle Teezer’s entirely made of plastic. At least that means I can chuck it into the sink if I want. It’s not like anything would break. Not even the bristles. This has already been proven by several accidentals drops onto the (stone!) floor. But now there’s no more reason to get wound up by my brush anyway.

In a nutshell

The best brush I’ve ever had

«The Original» Tangle Teezer has helped me brush out the biggest knots of my life and has totally turned my head in the process. It’s small, light, sturdy and easy to pack and clean.

The brush doesn’t have a handle, which took me some getting used to at first. But over time, I’ve learned to run the Tangle Teezer through my hair with more precision than I could with a regular brush. Its lack of a handle also makes it easier to stow away.

Considering the Tangle Teezer’s made of plastic, it’s on the expensive side. However, the advantage is that this makes it lightweight, robust and easy to clean. How long-lasting the Tangle Teezer is remains to be seen. But six months in and there are still no signs of wear.

Pro

  • easy untangling
  • compact size
  • lightweight
  • easy handling
  • easy cleaning
  • high durability
  • pleasant head massage

Contra

  • quite expensive

167 people like this article


User Avatar
User Avatar

I like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know? 


These articles might also interest you

Comments

Avatar