including elaborate headdresses and wigs

The history of the hairbrush begins with the comb. In ancient Paleolithic sites around the world, archaeologists found combs that are among the oldest man-made tools. Originally, the combs carved from bones, wood, or mussels served to keep the hair and to keep it free from vermin, such as lice. However, over the course of time, the comb developed into a hair ornament worn in countries such as China and Egypt to display wealth and power. In the course of this ascent of the ridge to the status symbol the hairbrush also arose.

Artfully designed hairstyles, including elaborate headdresses and wigs, have served as a symbol of wealth and social status, from ancient Egypt to the House of Bourbon in France. Since hairbrushes mainly served as styling tools and not as a nursing tool, they were a luxury that only the rich could afford. Even in the 1880s, each hairbrush was still unique and was hand-crafted. The handle was carved from wood or forged from metal, and the bristles had to be sewn individually by hand. For this reason, hairbrushes were only purchased or given away for special occasions, such as weddings or baptisms, and are valued for a lifetime. However, as hairbrushes were gaining in popularity, brush makers had to come up with a more standardized manufacturing process to keep pace with rising demand.


In 1777 William Kent founded his company Kent Brushes in the English county of Hertfordshire and became the first known hairbrush manufacturer to enter the history. Up to 12 employees were involved in the production of each individual brush natural human hair wigs for sale, which was made of wood and bristles, mostly from animal hair or feathers. Even after 230 years, the company Kent Brushes is still the oldest hairbrush manufacturer in the world.