This Is Not Your Average Hairbrush (Win!)

What makes a hair brush “healthy”? We chatted with Manta Brush founder Tim Binnington about what makes his brush better for our tresses. (Psst: want to pick up a Manta Brush for yourself? Your best bet is to head to Kiss and Makeup in Vancouver, and online!) —Vita Daily

Hello Tim! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.

I’m the founder of the Manta healthy hairbrush and the owner one of the U.K.’s largest hairdressing chains. Dani, my wife, is the original Manta muse; I created the Manta for her following a life-threatening illness. Together we are passionate about our three gorgeous girls and creating a wholesome, balanced and sustainable lifestyle for our family.

When and why did you create Manta?

The Manta was born out of love! I created this brush for my wife who, after a life-threatening illness, lost her hair. As it grew back, I watched her combing it with her fingers, too scared of breakage to use a traditional hairbrush. I wanted to give her the confidence to style her hair with something gentle and kind—a real self-care ritual in hair brushing. As part of her journey back to health my wife started to blog; people contacted her who had such difficult health journeys, some cancer related at the start but then huge volumes of women who wanted a healthier approach to self-care. We realized we had to bring the brush to market. Combining more 30 years of hands-on experience in the salon with the latest materials and technology available, I developed a brush that would be as gentle on your hair as running your fingers through it.

What makes a Manta brush different?

The Manta is totally flexible and moulds to the palm of your hand, which is completely unique. The patented FLEXGUARD technology on the base enables each bristle to have complete 360 motion and this gently frees knots and reduces tension, minimizing breakage. Created from soft-touch material, there are no rough edges to catch or tear the hair shaft. This creates less tension on each hair strand while massaging the scalp for fuller, healthier, shinier hair. It’s ideal for all hair types including fine, fragile, thick, curls, coils, children, men and hair-extension wearers—basically anyone who wants healthy hair. It’s not only illness that attributes to hair loss and thinning; with increased stress being put onto our daily lives, more than 50 per cent of women will experience some type of hair loss at some point. However, the Manta is perfect for everyone that cares about their hair condition as it really does prevent unnecessary breakage or snagging from their hairbrush.

Top tips for “healthy” hairbrushing?

• Always start at the ends of your hair and work upward, gently freeing knots to reduce any chance of breakage. The Manta is completely flexible and works with your hair rather than against it; it’s completely malleable so you can wrap it around your lengths and ends.
• When the hair is wet it is more likely to break; gently work through knots and tangles with the Manta Brush to ensure far less breakage.
• Increase the health of your hair by using a nourishing hair mask that will hydrate on a deeper level. After applying, brush through with your Manta to distribute evenly through mid-lengths and ends. This will help with absorption and push the product throughout the hair gently.
• When you have towel dried use a light leave-in conditioner and lightly work through with the Manta Brush for even coverage.
• Remember to run Manta through your hair throughout the day, instead of your hands. This will promote shine by smoothing the cuticle without transferring products like hand lotion from your hands, which can load your hair and make it look dull or flat.

Tell us about your affiliation with charitable orgs in the UK and Canada.

I’ve always wanted to give back and am so proud to support the Little Princess Trust in the U.K., supplying real-hair wigs free of charge to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment and other illnesses. For every 10 Manta Brushes sold, I work with the charity to gift a brush to a child to use before, following and during treatment. So far we have donated £53000 worth of Manta Brushes. And, now that Manta has launched in Canada, the brand is supporting the Canadian charity Rethink Breast Cancer, which educates, empowers and advocates for people worldwide who are affected by breast cancer through campaigns, content, programs and resources. Manta Hair Canada partnered with them for the month of October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and committed to donate 15 per cent of sales of the Pink Manta Brush. We decided to extend this partnership to the end of 2020. Recently we participated in an IG Live to give the Rethink community some information about how to take care of their hair during and post treatment.

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Win! 1 Manta Brush For You And 1 For a Friend!

We have a winner! Congratulations Christine B. of Gabriola Island, B.C., who will receive a Manta Brush for themselves and a friend!