I actually have a Conair knockoff to the Fekkai brush. The handle is wooden but the combination of bristle and pins (is that the correct terminology?) is similar. The end of the brush pins have rounded balls that make brushing really easy and unlike the Fekkai ones, gently stimulate the scalp. I also love it because it cost me $6.00.

My views on hairbrushes are as follows: you get what you pay for but remember how long you're going to keep a hairbrush. Will you want something forever? Or in a year get a new one?

As for cleaning: I vacuum my hairbrushes to remove the lint/stuff that collects in the brush. I'm certain there are move gentle ways to do this for more expensive brushes, but that's why I purchase a cheaper one: because I really don't want to have figure out how to make it last forever.

I just realized how ghetto my hair routine is...I seriously have had the same brush that my dogs chews on for like two years. The only reason I ever buy new ones is because my dog eventually chews them into unusable material...feel free to make fun of me in the comments below, I'm prepared for the mockery.

OMG I love my Fekkahi Classic brush. It's one of my favorite things I own actually! I bought my first one 3 years ago and just bought another last month. I agree that this brush never looks clean after you use it but I've been really satisfied with it. I also own a Mason Pearson one and I admit I bought it because there is a lot of hype surrounding that brand. I prefer my Fekkahi, I runs easier through my hair. My hair is healthy and I attribute some of that to using quality brushes.

Okay, I didn't know there were even "designer" brushes. I just buy my brushes at Target or Walmart or whatever and I think they work just fine. Besides, all that upkeep for a brush, please, it's hard enough to put that much upkeep into my own hair!

I get my brushes at Target and they work fine.I don't know if I would pay $55.00 for a brush.

I've had the same exact experience with the natural boar bristle brush that Sephora makes. I stick to my widetoothed come now because I can't find a brush I like.

i think brushes in general tend to make your hair flatter than combs because there are more bristles and stuff. and apparently brushes are supposed to spread your natural hair oils onto your hair because it makes it healthier and...shinier? =/ hmm. i think that i have enough oil on my head to go around WITHOUT brushing it. haha

The very thing that makes some people hate boar-bristled brushes is what makes me love them so much. If you have thick,dry hair and an oilier scalp, as I do, a brush that spreads the oil is a necessity. I'd love to get a Mason Pearson brush someday. It has a legendary reputation, and I'm sure there is a good reason for it.

Yes to me it does!

I have to say the reason that I was recommend a natural boar-bristled brush was because my scalp can get quite oily. The trick is you need to get the brush to absorb the oil in your hair (the smell of the bristles changes when it has absorbed the oil) and then when you hair is starting to get oily you only brush the ends as the oil that is already in the brush will be distributed to your hair - or so it says

Thanks for this post on the brushes. I have always wondered if these expensive brushes were all hype, but I think there might be something to them. I'm really considering getting the Mason one now.

My friend has the Mason Pearson detangler brush and I love it. I have used it everytime I am down there and it seems like it would snag the crap out of your hair but it defintely detangles my curly, wet hair with out breaking it. I really want to get that brush plus one of the boar bristle brushes Pearson makes.

I would not pay that much for a brush!

Huh - I always wondered what all the hype was about. I have curly hair, and bad things happen if I brush it when it's dry, so I've never felt the need to spend oodles on brushes. Even if I did have hair that would work with it, I am not sure I could stomach a $55 (or more!) price tag for a brush.

I don't know if I could really justify spending $50 on a brush...My hair is kinda nast anyways, but who knows? Maybe a super-expensive brush is all I need to get Heidi Klum's hair! (lol)

I second Rubialala's comments! I didn't know there were "designer hairbrushes" either! I own hairbrushes, of course, but really hardly ever use them except for the purpose of blowing out my bangs - and why? because I have curly hair and brushing my hair would just invite frizz. I'll stick to my cheapie Conair boar-bristle from Target.

Count me among the many who did not know of the existence of designer hair brushes. I rarely brush my hair and can't see spending $55 for one brush!

Kitson- your comment made me laugh- I don't blame you for not spending oodles on brushes either if they become chew toys!
I also have a comment about hair-brush-ghettoness and that is the fact that I rarely use one! I have thick wavy hair so when getting out of the shower I have two options- spread some straightener and go to town with the blow-dyer while it is still wet (sans brush- I just use fingers) OR slap some curling gel in it and let it air dry without ANY finger brushing or... brush brushing... if I do a little bit, it quickly dries into a frizzy/wavy/curly mass on my head. Anyway I own a cheap Conair but rarely break it out.

I don't even own a hairbrush. Can't remember the last time I actually brushed my hair. I just run the flat iron through it if I need a touch up.

I'd never pay that much for a brush! I'd rather spend the money on a tasty meal That being said, I'm totally wash and go. The most I ever do for my quite long, straight hair is run a comb through it and let it air dry.

I get my brushes at Sally Beauty supply and they are great. I even have a wooden one from the Body Shop that my mom gave me YEARS and YEARS ago. It is falling apart and missing half of the plastic bristles. But I can't seem to part with it!

multiple fancy brushes to brush my locks are a must.

I have wavy/frizzy/pouffy hair so a quality brush could work for me but I can't justify spending $55 on a brush!!!

My hair is very straight and thick so I comb it usually, sometimes I don't even bother to do that, for some reason I simply never comb my hair.

I have an Aveda brush that was about $21 - I've had it for 2 years and loved it for the first 21 months. The past three months it's lost its luster with me - it just isn't cutting it anymore. Time to discard, I guess. I'd like to try one of those tourmaline brushes for smoothness.

im not picky about brushes.The ones from target are fine for me. I try to save my money for other things.

I really don't worry too much about my brush. I just need something that can detangle my thick hair. I'm considering trying the new goody brushes with jojoba oil in them since my hair is really dry.

a good brush can for sure be worth while....it just depends on what you are doing with your hair. if you have that straight baby fine stuff and crave volume, just about any ceramic interiored round brush will do. but i find the brush to be the most crucial for a wavy/curly to straight transformation. theres this really great ovular marilyn brush that just makes it sooo easy for you to get the hair straight but with out that too big thing that most round brushes do. as one who knows both sides, i for sure prefer a nicer brush...you keep them a long time but that doesnt mean you need to go all out for like 150 mason pearson. but still like 30 or 40....not that much when you think about it saving you hours of time!