I Didn’t Know

A mishap with my hairdryer initiated the search for a new hairbrush. I had no idea how complicated it would be. Perhaps it was the store I happen across or perhaps an indication of how long it has been since I bought a hairbrush.

It turned out the store was for professionals only. I had wondered why the helpful young woman was giving me puzzled looks when I questioned her about the different types of hair brushes. She help me shop for style, colour and purpose; plus gave me assistance with the prices. When I went to the cash she asked for my certificate number. We went back and forth for a bit but in the end she was kind enough to make the sale. And by the way if you can buy brushes in one of these stores, they are fantastically inexpensive.

It was the need to have different brushes for different purposes that blew my mind. One brush is for detangling wet hair there is another one for detangling dry hair. There’s another brush that is used to dry your hair with a blow dryer. And there is yet another brush that is for shining your hair. It’s a combination of plastic and boar bristle. I won’t even touch on the brushes that are used to dry and curl your hair. They come in different shapes, sizes and materials.

I came away with two brushes: a wet detangler and a drying brush. Totally breaking the boat rule that everything must have two purposes to be worth carrying. But I marvelled at this technological advance and just had to try them.

I can’t help but wonder what my Grandmother McCormick would think. Born in 1885, she saw the introduction of electricity, the phone, planes, trains and automobiles, washers, pop-up toasters, vaccines and television. It is unlikely she would be impressed with a couple of brushes. But they were only 14 $US for both. That would impress her.