November 8, 2019

A Mason Pearson dupe, a pre-Halloween PSA, an alternative way to celebrate Old Hallow's Eve and a long-time hair favorite that's still has a place today.

Get the feel of a Mason Pearson hairbrush without the painful price tag

I remember when I got my first Mason Pearson hairbrush… I was the early days of my magazine-editor career, and somehow having one of these iconic brushes made me feel like I had arrived (in the beauty-world, at least). Maybe it was the craftsmanship that dates back to the mid-1800s, maybe it was the unique feel of the boar bristles and rubber cushioning, or maybe it was just the $100+ price tag. Regardless, I still have it. (They’re built to last, too.)

These days, I have several brushes for different purposes, whether a paddle for blow-drying straight, different-sized round brushes when I want extra volume and even a detangler for in the shower. But I’m still a firm believer that everyone who brushes their hair should have a traditional version with boar and/or nylon bristles. Perfect for stimulating the scalp and distributing the natural oils that help nourish and condition the hair, if you close your eyes you can also pretend that you’re living in a simpler time when women would sit down at their vanity every night for their 100 strokes.

But if you’re not looking to plunk down a significant chunk of change for another hairbrush, I have good news for you. In honor of its founder, Henry Goodman, Goody has released a collection of premium brushes that could be mistaken for Mason Pearson (minus the hefty price tags). The H. Goodman range features the Mixed Bristle All Purpose Styler, Mixed Bristle Purse Brush, Rubber Base Styler and Small Round Boar Brush—and they all ring in at less than $13.    

Trust me… You might be surprised at the big difference this small upgrade can make in your hair routine (even if you don’t have time to sit down for those 100 strokes every night).

My pre-Halloween PSA

Despite my personal feelings about Halloween, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone how important it is to wash your face thoroughly tomorrow night, especially if your costume involves any makeup whatsoever. If you’re going all out with face paint, glitter or any other stage-grade cosmetics, your usual cleanser might not cut it, which is why I suggest popping into the mall ASAP for an oil-based balm formula.

I recently tried Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, and this is sure to do the trick. Combining the power of a makeup remover with skin-softening hydration, the solid balm transforms into a lightweight oil that helps dissolve your Halloween handiwork so it can be easily rinsed away. You may need a few rounds of cleansing if you really loaded up on the cosmetics, but you can rest assured that your skin will look and feel happy and healthy afterwards—and not the slightest bit scary.

And in case you need a little more motivation to exert the extra cleansing effort, ask yourself if you want to wake up on Friday morning with remnants of your Halloween makeup on your pillowcase. I didn’t think so…  

This is how I'd like to celebrate Halloween...

If there were an Ebenezer Scrooge of Halloween, it would be me. Although I haven’t been to a grown-up celebration in years, my go-to costume is a trench coat (I could be Inspector Gadget, I could be a flasher—it’s open to interpretation) and an appropriately-themed tee shirt and jeans is my get-up of choice for greeting trick-or-treaters. Add on the fact that I avoid candy at all costs, and you have the blueprint for anti-Halloweenism. (You know some people consider it a pagan holiday, right?) 

Although I do enjoy seeing neighbors I haven’t seen since the Halloween before, I’m not looking forward to camping out on my porch with our dog tethered to my folding chair (if we leave her inside she’ll bark and scratch the door until we run out of candy or decide to call it a night). I’m also dreading the inevitable argument with my son once he’s decided he has enough candy and would prefer to play Fortnite (in our nice, climate-controlled, mosquito-free house) for the duration of the evening as well. On the bright side, I’ll be drinking wine—and lots of it.

Instead of this aforementioned horror scene, my ideal Halloween would go something like this: I’d send the dog to the dog-sitter, export my son to a friend’s neighborhood (preferably on a Friday or Saturday night so he could sleep over), turn out all the lights, fill up the bathtub and drop in one of Kush Queen’s Black Magic CBD Bath Bombs. (I suppose my husband could stay.)

With a blend of lavender, chamomile and frankincense along with organic essential oils and cannabinoids for optimal relaxation, the resulting black water is about as spooky as I’m willing to get—and you better believe this dream Halloween would also involve my housekeeper coming on November 1 to clean the tub, too.

Another product from the past that's still perfect

I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic beauty-wise lately, and the most recent wave came over me while perusing the hair aisle at CVS. I was there to get shampoo for my son, when suddenly a spied Sebastian’s Potion 9 on the very end of the shelf at the wee top. I hadn’t thought about this styling product since it was a staple in my routine at least 15 years ago (possibly more)—and there it was begging to come home me. (I swear.)  

First introduced in 1990, Potion 9 and I had a great run as this multipurpose styling treatment conditions and protects while adding softness and shine. It was as if no time had passed at all once I saw the first pump of divine orange elixir in the palm of my hand, and the results were exactly what I remembered (although my hair’s thickness and texture has changed a bit since we first met). Other than smooth strands, there’s no evidence that you actually used it you realize your hair looks freshly styled for days after you actually blew it out—and the fact that there’s no extra greasiness is obviously a major plus.

This impulse buy turned out to be further proof that’s it’s worth sticking with a product that works for you (or in this case, your hair), and that newer isn’t always better. What hair products do you keep going back to, even after taking an extended break?