Backcombing brush

Abstract

A backcombing brush for backcombing hair includes an array of bristles 4. Each bristle extends from a base to a free end and two lengths of bristle are provided. Shorter bristles 4a and the bottom of longer bristles 4b carry out backcombing, whilst the longer bristles smooth hair, or untangle knots/tangles in the hair to reduce the level of backcombing. The long bristles have a relatively wide first portion 5, towards the base of the bristle, and a relatively narrow second portion 6, towards the free end of the bristle. The bristles are arranged such that bristles in one row neither extend between adjacent bristles in an adjacent row nor partially occlude the space between bristles in an adjacent row.

Claims

1. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end, further wherein bristles of a first length and bristles of a second length have a similar width and/or shape when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein bristles of a first length and bristles of a second length have a dissimilar width and/or shape when viewed along the longitudinal axis and wherein the bristles of a second length have a width which is at least twice as wide as the bristles of a first length.

2. A backcombing brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles are arranged in two or more spaced apart offset rows and the centerlines of the rows are spaced apart such that no part, or substantially no part, of the bristles in one row extends between adjacent bristles in an adjacent row; and/or when viewed perpendicular to the rows, the width of the bristles, or the width of substantially all of the bristles is less than the space between adjacent bristles in an adjacent row, such that no space, or substantially no space between bristles in an adjacent row is occluded.

3. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length are only slightly tapered, or substantially the same thickness along substantially their entire length, from the base to the free end.

4. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein the bristles are arranged in two or more spaced apart, offset, rows and a row of bristles of the first length is adjacent a row of bristles of the second length.

5. A backcombing brush according to claim 4 wherein some or all of the rows of bristles in the array alternate between a row of the first length and a row of the second length.

6. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein the bristles of the first length are no more than 10 mm long and the bristles of the second length are at least 25 mm long.

7. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal gap is provided between adjacent bristles and the longitudinal gap between adjacent bristles at the height of the free ends of the first bristles is no more than 1 mm and/or, the longitudinal gap between adjacent bristles, at their bases is no more than 0.75 mm.

8. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal gap is provided between adjacent bristles, and the longitudinal gap between center points of at least some or all adjacent second bristles is no less than 3 mm and/or no greater than 5 mm and/or wherein the lateral gap between center points of adjacent second bristles is no less than 7 mm, and/or no greater than 5 mm.

9. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein the width of the bristles having first and second portions varies discontinuously between their base and free ends and within the first portion of the bristles, the width of the bristles tapers at an angle greater than the angle of taper of a uniformly tapered bristle having the same length and variation in width.

10. A backcombing brush according to claim 9 wherein the degree of taper of the bristles with first and second portions changes abruptly at the interface between the first and second portions of the bristles.

11. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein at least some or all of the first portions of bristles having first and second portions, have a non-circular transverse cross-section over at least part or substantially all of their length; wherein the non-circular cross-section is oval; and wherein the bristles of a first length have an ovular transverse cross-section over substantially all of their length, and the long axis of the oval is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush.

12. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein the length of the second portion of bristles having first and second portions is at least three quarters of the length of the first portion and/or the length of the first portion is at least three quarters of the length of the second portion; and wherein some or all bristles of the second length, comprise first and second portions wherein a second portion is at least 1.5 times as long as the first bristles.

13. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three, and no more than 8 rows of at least five bristles.

14. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein there are no more than 100 second bristles and/or no more than 100 first bristles and wherein the bristles form a rectangular array of bristles having its long axis along a longitudinal axis of the brush.

15. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein bristles of a second length are substantially rigid in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the brush, from the base to at least the height of the free end of the bristles of a first length.

16. A backcombing brush according to claim 15 wherein the bristles of a first length are substantially flexible and at least a portion of the second bristles of the length higher than the height of the free end of the bristles of a first length is substantially flexible.

17. A backcombing brush according to claim 1 wherein the elongate array of bristles is at least four times as long as it is wide; wherein the width of the array is less than 20 mm; and wherein the length of the array is at least 60 mm.

18. A method of backcombing hair with a brush according to claim 1 comprising sectioning the hair, and brushing at least one section of the hair towards the scalp using the brush using the bristles of the first length and bristles of the second length and subsequently smoothing the backcombed hair and/or partially untangling backcombed hair using the bristles of the second length.

19. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end further wherein a longitudinal gap is provided between adjacent bristles and the longitudinal gap between adjacent bristles at the height of the free ends of the first bristles is no more than 1 mm and/or, the longitudinal gap between adjacent bristles, at their bases is no more than 0.75 mm.

20. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end, further wherein the length of the second portion of bristles having first and second portions is at least three quarters of the length of the first portion and/or the length of the first portion is at least three quarters of the length of the second portion; and wherein some or all bristles of the second length, comprise first and second portions wherein a second portion is at least 1.5 times as long as the first bristles.

21. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end, further, wherein the bristles of the first length are no more than 10 mm long and the bristles of the second length are at least 25 mm long.

22. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end, further wherein the elongate array of bristles is at least four times as long as it is wide; wherein the width of the array is less than 20 mm; and wherein the length of the array is at least 60 mm.

23. A backcombing brush, the brush being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, the brush comprising an elongate array of bristles, the array having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush and each bristle extending from a base to a free end; wherein the array of bristles includes bristles of at least two lengths, bristles of a first length being less than half of the length of the bristles of a second length; wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a second length comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end; and wherein at least some or all of the bristles of a first length do not comprise a first, relatively wide, portion which tapers from the base and a second, relatively narrow, portion which extends from the first portion to the free end, further wherein a longitudinal gap is provided between adjacent bristles, and the longitudinal gap between center points of at least some or all adjacent second bristles is no less than 3 mm and/or no greater than 5 mm and/or wherein the lateral gap between center points of adjacent second bristles is no less than 7 mm, and/or no greater than 5 mm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a backcombing hair brush;

(3) FIG. 2 is an end view the hair brush of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is another end view of the hair brush of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the hair brush of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of part of an array of bristles of the hair bush of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of part of an array of bristles of the hair bush of FIG. 1

(8) FIG. 7 is an underneath perspective view of the hair bush of FIG. 1; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the hair brush of FIG. 1.

(10) In the following, the terms front, back, top, bottom and like terms refer to the articles in the orientation in which they are illustrated, but should not be taken as otherwise limiting.

(11) Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 4, 7 and 8 show a hair brush, specifically a backcombing brush. FIGS. 5 and 6 show enlarged parts of the hair brush. The hair brush comprises a body, or head 1 of generally rectangular outline moulded in one piece with an elongate handle 2 which extends generally perpendicularly from the approximate mid-point of one of the ends of the body 1. The body 1 and handle 2 extend in generally the same plane.

(12) The underside of the brush has a generally flat surface formed of a planar surface of the body 1 which merges into a planar surface of the handle 2. Two longitudinal grooves are provided in the underside of the body, which extend transversely to meet near the free end of the body 1, leaving a central ridge, which protrudes slightly and extends longitudinally along the middle of the underside of the body 1.

(13) The opposite, upper side of the body 1 has a surface 3 which is generally flat and straight in the longitudinal direction and blends into a thumb-grip portion 9 of the handle 2, which extends from the approximate mid-point of one of the ends of the body and is narrower than the body, and narrower than the remainder of the handle 2 proximal thereto. Along the lateral plane (i.e. between the long sides of the head), the surface 3 of the upper side of the body 1 is generally slightly convex.

(14) The outlines of the underside and the upper surface 3 of the brush are the same shape in the region of the body 1 and the thumb grip portion 9, but the outline of the underside has a greater area than the upper surface 3 in the region of the body 1 and the thumb portion 9. In this embodiment, the difference in area leads to each edge of the upper surface being located around 3 mm inward of the underside; with the width of the body at its widest (on the underside) being 24 mm and on the upper surface being 18 mm in width. The edges of the underside and the upper surface 3 are therefore joined by an inclined surface 8, which in this embodiment has a depth of about 15 mm. The inclined surface 8 is provided a formation to aid gripping, in the form of a step which runs around the inclined surface 8 and has the same outline as the outline of the upper surface 3 of the brush.

(15) At the opposite end of the thumb-grip portion 9 to the body 1, the handle 2 sharply reduces in depth (towards the substantially flat underside) and flares outward, such that the main part of the handle is substantially thinner than the body 1; approximately 8 mm at its thickest, and after the flare, tapers gradually (in both thickness and width) to a point 10 of about 3 mm in diameter at its free end.

(16) A groove 7 extends longitudinally along the centreline of the upper surface 3 of the body 1.

(17) The body 1 comprises, or supports, moulded bristles 4 which project generally perpendicularly from the exposed upper surface 3. The bristles 4 extend parallel to one another, and generally perpendicular from the plane of the brush.

(18) Each bristle 4 is spaced apart from each other bristle 4. All of the bristles 4 are moulded together in one piece, together with a base (which may form all or part of the upper surface 3 of the brush) from a resiliently flexible plastics material. Suitable materials are thermoplastic elastomers, such as copolyesters and aliphatic polyamides (nylons) and, in particular, the copolyester sold under the trade mark Hytrel by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Grades of Hytrel with hardness from 45 to 82 Shore D are particularly suitable, especially grades in the range of 63 to 72 Shore D, such as Hytrel 6356 and Hytrel 7246.

(19) As best seen in FIGS. 2-8, two types of bristle 4 are provided; first bristles 4a have a first length which is much shorter than that of second bristles 4b of a second length.

(20) Each first bristle 4a has a base with a slightly ovular cross section, having a long axis that is very slightly longer than its perpendicular short axis and tapering slightly to its free end, whilst maintaining a slightly ovular cross section. The long axis of each first bristle is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush. On the other hand, each second bristle 4b has a base with a distinctly oval cross-section, having a long axis and a much shorter perpendicular short axis. As the second bristle 4b extends away from the base it tapers. Over a first portion 5 of the length of the second bristle 4b the second bristle 4b tapers such that its cross-sectional shape changes from oval to substantially circular. The long axis of each second bristle 4b is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the brush.

(21) As can be seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, which are end views along the longitudinal axis of the brush, perpendicular to the long axis of the bristles, the edges of the second bristles 4b through which the long axis extends approach each other at an increasingly steep angle as each bristle 4b extends away from the base. The opposite edges approach each other in a curved path.

(22) As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 6, the edges of the second bristle 4b through which the short axis extends approach each other at a substantially constant angle, and the edges of these second bristles 4b are therefore substantially straight.

(23) As can be best seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, the edges of the first bristles 4a approach each other at a substantially constant angle, and are substantially straight, with a very slightly ovular (almost circular) transverse cross section throughout.

(24) In consequence, when viewed perpendicular to the long axis of the brush, the shape and width of the first bristles 4a and second bristles 4b is similar, whilst when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the brush, their shape and width is dissimilar.

(25) At the end of the first portion 5 of each of the second bristles 4b its cross-section is substantially circular. At this point a second portion 6 of the second bristle 4b begins. Over the second portion 6 of the second bristle 4b the cross-section of the bristle 4 remains substantially circular and the second bristle 4b tapers towards a free end, with a domed surface. The degree of taper of the second bristle 4b over the second portion 6 of the bristle is less than over the first portion 5, and especially compared to the degree of taper in the first portion 5 immediately adjacent to the second portion 6. There is therefore a discontinuity in the shape of the surface of the second bristle 4b at the junction between the first and second portions.

(26) The degree of taper of the second portion 6 of the second bristle 4b is in effect the minimum consistent with being able to reliably remove the second bristle 4b from a mould tool. So far as the function of the second portion 6 of the second bristle 4b is concerned it could have a substantially constant diameter. The same is true of the first bristles 4a.

(27) Most of the first bristles are of the same length as most of the other first bristles and have the dimensions discussed below. Most of the second bristles 4b have the same length as the other second bristles and have the dimensions discussed below. It will be appreciated that minor differences in height between the bristles may be made for aesthetic reasons, without impacting function.

(28) In the illustrated embodiment each of the first bristles 4a extends about 8.3 mm from the base to the tip.

(29) In the illustrated embodiment the first portion 5 of the second bristles 4b extends about 14 mm from the base, and the second portion 6 of the second bristles 4b extends about a further 12 mm from the end of the first portion 5 to the end of the bristle 4b. The domed end of the bristles 4 has a radius of curvature of about 0.4 mm.

(30) The very bottom of each bristle is an interface section, or platform 9, of minimal height (e.g. typically less than 1 mm), where the upper surface 3 and the bristles 4 meet, and which sharply tapers inward from the upper surface. Above this interface section, the widest part of each first bristle 4a, measured at its base, has a width of about 1.3 mm along its long axis and a width of about 1.11 mm along its short axis. The sides of each first bristle 4a at the long axis approach each other at an angle of about 2.9 degrees, whilst the closest opposing sides approach each other at an angle of 2.4 degrees.

(31) At the at the free end of each first bristle 4a, not including the domed end, each first bristle 4a has a slightly ovular cross-section with a diameter of about 0.82 mm at the short axis and about 1.0 mm at the longer axis.

(32) The widest part of the first portion 5 of each second bristle 4b, measured above the interface section, along the long axis of its oval cross-section, has a width of about 3.4 mm. The narrowest part of the base of each second bristle 4b, above the interface section, measured along the short axis of its oval cross-section, has a depth of about 1.65 mm. The sides of each second bristle 4b along its short axis approach each other at an angle of about 2 degrees. The sides of each second bristle 4b along its long axis approach each other with a gradually increasing angle, forming a smooth curve. The average angle of taper between the two sides of each first portion of each second bristle 4b along its long axis is 9.7, i.e. approximately 10 degrees, that is to say the angle of taper that would be required if the sides were straight rather than tapered.

(33) At the end of the first portion 5b of each second bristle 4b it has a substantially circular cross-section with a diameter of about 1.2 mm.

(34) The sides of each second bristle 4b approach each other over the second portion 6b of its length with an angle of about 2 degrees, resulting in a diameter of about 0.8 mm at the free end of each second bristle 4b, not including the domed end.

(35) Other dimensions are possible, as discussed elsewhere.

(36) The array of bristles 4 is generally rectangular in shape, with a long axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the brush, and is intended to be moved through hair in a direction generally perpendicular to the long sides of the rectangle.

(37) Each bristle 4 in the array forms a part of a “long row” of bristles 4 (i.e. a row that extends along the length of the body 1) and a “short row” of bristles 4 which extends transversely to the long row (across the width of the body 1).

(38) Each of the long rows are straight (but could be slightly curved), substantially parallel and substantially evenly spaced apart. In each long row the bristles 4 are substantially evenly spaced apart, with the long axes of the oval cross-section of the first bristles 4a all lying substantially along the same straight line, and the long axes of the first portions 5 of the second bristles 4b perpendicular to the straight line. The bristles 4 are spaced apart by the same amount in each long row and adjacent long rows are off-set relative to one another so that the centre of the cross-section of the bristles 4 in one row lies mid-way between adjacent bristles 4 in the adjacent row. In this embodiment, the distance between centre points of adjacent bristles in each long row is 4 mm.

(39) Each of the short rows are substantially straight and substantially parallel. In each short row the bristles 4 are substantially evenly spaced apart, with the short axes of the oval cross-section of the first bristles 4a lying along substantially the same line and the long axes of the first portions 5 of the second bristles 4b lying along substantially the same line. The bristles 4 are spaced apart by the same amount in each short row and the centre-lines of each short row are spaced apart sufficiently that (with the exception of the interface regions), no part of any bristle 4 in any row extends between two adjacent bristles 4 in the or each adjacent short row. That can be seen best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. In this embodiment, the distance between centre points of adjacent bristles in each short row is 5.8 mm.

(40) Consequently the distance between centre-lines of adjacent short rows of bristles is (4 mm±2=) 2 mm and the distance between centre-lines of adjacent long rows of bristles is (5.8 mm±2=) 2.9 mm.

(41) In the illustrated embodiment the array comprises five long rows; three long rows of short bristles 4a, one arranged along the groove 7 and two rows parallel and outboard of that middle row, with two long rows of long bristles 4b arranged either side of the middle row inward of the outboard rows. Each long row of (short) first bristles 4a has nineteen bristles 4a, whilst each long row of (long) second bristles 4b has twenty bristles.

(42) The short rows are composed of either just two longer second bristles 4b, or three shorter first bristles 4a.

(43) Of course, the number of rows and number of bristles in each row can be varied as desired and appropriate. Other shapes of array are also possible.

(44) The centre lines of the long rows are spaced apart by 2.9 mm, and a longitudinal gap of about 0.7 mm is provided between the base of each first portion 5 of a second bristle 4b and the adjacent first bristle 4a; at the top of the first bristle 4a, the gap is about 1.1 mm. There is no longitudinal gap at the interface portion, but as set out above, this part is merely for aesthetic purposes and is so short as to have no technical effect, not contributing to the brushing. Consequently, no part of the first portion 5 of bristles in one row extends between adjacent bristles 4 in an adjacent row.

(45) The provision of five long rows having centrelines spaced apart by 2.9 mm means that the bristles extend over a width of about 12-13 mm, whilst a total of 39 short rows of bristles having centrelines spaced apart by 2 mm means that the bristles extend over a length of about 80 mm as 39×2=78 mm.

(46) Although the bristles 4 are moulded in a single piece from the same material, owing to their different cross-section and shape, the first portions 5 are significantly stiffer than the second portions 6. In practice, in use, the first portions 5 are quite inflexible, whereas the second portions are highly flexible. The second portions 5 can be easily bent completely back on themselves (such that the tip points back towards the upper surface, whilst the first portions 6 remain completely perpendicular to the upper surface 3). On the other hand, a relatively high level of force is required to bend the first portions 6 even to 90 degrees, and it is very difficult to bend the first portions 6 even to 90 degrees by hand when bending in line with their long axis.

(47) Not taking into account the interface portions, the width of the base of the bristles 4, along the length of a long row of bristles 4, is less than the space between adjacent bristles 4 in the row, so no bristle 4 occludes the gap between the base of adjacent bristles 4 in adjacent rows 4 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to that of the long rows of bristles 4.

(48) The first bristles 4a and the second bristles 4b are arranged in the array such that each short row of first (shorter) bristles 4a is located between two short rows of second (longer) bristles 4b. Each short row of second (longer) bristles 4b is located between two short rows of shorter bristles 4a, except those at each end.

(49) The contrary is true of the long rows of bristles 4, in that each long row of longer bristles 4a is located between two long rows of shorter bristles 4a, whereas only the middle row of shorter bristles 4a is located between two rows of longer bristles 4b. Consequently, the distance between centrelines of rows of bristles 4 of the same length is approximately twice the distance between centrelines of adjacent rows of bristles 4.

(50) Accordingly, the density of each type of bristle 4 is less than the total density of bristles 4. Only approximately two fifths of the bristles (i.e. 40 out of 97) are second (long) bristles 4b, and approximately three fifths of the bristles (57 out of 97) are first bristles 4a of a shorter length.

(51) As set out above, this brush is a backcombing brush, particularly suited to and intended for backcombing hair. In use, a user takes a section of hair, conveniently by introducing the point of the handle along the scalp parallel to a centre parting and lifting up a section of hair of say about 1-2 cm in width at the base and 5-10 cm along the scalp. Optionally, that section of hair may then be brushed away from the scalp in preparation for backcombing. The user holds the brush by the handle 2, pinching the thumb grip 9 and then introduces the bristles deep into the section, so that the shorter (first) bristles 4a extend well into the section; the brush is then worked up and down, with the longer bristles 4b serving as a guide as the hair is caught in the gaps between the first bristles 4a and the first portions 5 of the longer bristles 4b and back-combed, so as to ruck up at the scalp. The fact that the array of bristles 4 is thin (only about 12 mm wide) as is the body 1 means that the backcombing brush can be worked along the majority of the length of the hair, picking up hair from near the tips or the middle, and brushing it down to the scalp to form tangles/knots. Of course other brushes which are not intended for backcombing tend to be wide and therefore are unsuited to this job, unable to pick up hair towards the tips or the middle and pull it right down to the base.

(52) This process is repeated, with the user sectioning adjacent sections from the hair, optionally using the handle to carry out sectioning (holding the thumb grip) then brushing up and down the section to backcomb the hair such that some of it nicks up, tangling/knotting at the base. Once satisfactory backcombing of the area required has been conducted, the user can smooth and style the surface of the hair using the second portions 6 of the second bristles 4b, which are widely spaced from each other and therefore do not grab the hair.

(53) Owing to the much greater length of the second bristles 4b, more than 17 mm longer than the first bristles 4a, a further action, can also be carried out, with the second bristles 4b being introduced deep into the backcombed hair to partially untangle the backcombed region, in order to reduce volume in certain areas if necessary and further improve the style. As with the surface styling, the wide spacing of the bristles, and their flexibility in the region that extends into the body of the hair, means that this action can be carried out without grabbing and tugging the hair.

(54) Once pressure of the brush onto hair is released, the shape of the first portion 5 of the bristles allows the hair to move easily off the bristles, into regions where there is more space between the bristles 4. This reduces the risk of hair binding onto the brush. The backcombing and subsequent styling process is especially enhanced by the large gaps between the second bristles 4b near their tips, which results from the inclusion of long and short bristles.

(55) The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.