Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand…
Michael Pearson: The Mason Pearson story began in 1885, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. Engineer Mason Pearson invented an automatic brush-boring machine that achieved international acclaim, earning a Silver Medal at the International Inventions Exhibition in London.
He honed the technique to develop the iconic ‘pneumatic’ rubber-cushion hairbrush that is still recognised today – and the Mason Pearson hairbrush was born.
On his death, the business passed to his widow Mary, who ran the business with his children. Mason Pearson Bros remains a family business to this day, under the stewardship of myself – the grandson of the founder and the brand's Master Brushmaker.
While the business has achieved global renown, it is firmly committed to its British roots. Our Rainham factory is just a few miles down the road from the initial East London base.
The Mason Pearson philosophy is all about quality and longevity. We don’t introduce new models for each season, or each passing trend. In fact, many of the models have remained the same for a more century.
In the 1980s, Mason Pearson expanded beyond brushes with the introduction of hand-crafted combs. In 2024, the range evolved again with the launch of a capsule collection of luxury haircare products.
What is your brand best known for?
Both of our iconic hairbrushes, especially the instantly recognisable Dark Ruby with the famous orange pad, and the smooth shiny finish that they achieve.
Over the years, out hairbrushes have achieved a cult following of celebrities, royalty, and top hair stylists. And while that's something we are very proud of, the stories that most inspire us and genuinely warm our hearts are tales of hairbrushes that have been passed down between family members, or people who were inspired to buy a Mason Pearson because of their childhood memories of a parent or grandparent using one.
Our Dark Ruby hairbrushes are perhaps the most iconic, for the beautiful red hues that appear when held up to the light, but demand continues to grow for the Ivory White, Pastel Pink and Baby Blue brushes.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
We are proud to remain a family business that has consistently grown in popularity. We have not followed the trends to introduce a steady stream of new products, remaining committed to our core values and a collection we truly believe in.
Why do you love the brand?
I love the brand for its authenticity. We are hairbrush makers who have added combs and luxury haircare seamlessly to our collection to give our customers the healthy-looking hair that they deserve.
Each year, we produce up to 200,000 hairbrushes. It’s a number that is significantly lower than the global demand, but it allows us to remain committed to our phenomenally high standards. Each hairbrush goes through a manufacturing process that includes 18 stages, some of which are still carried out by hand. We believe that the care and attention that goes into hand-polishing and boxing the hairbrushes are the little touches that do not go unnoticed and help maintain our allure.
Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?
Mason Pearson represents the very best in British luxury because we have remained committed to our values for more than 140 years. We do not chase the trends, instead focusing on a classic offering that is built with efficacy and longevity and its heart.
While many businesses have turned to celebrities and influencers to sell and grow their brands, our philosophy has always been that our hairbrushes should be the stars of what we do. We do not pay for celebrity endorsements, nor do we gift hairbrushes or pay for influencer content. Despite this policy, and our very modest marketing spend, our hairbrushes are more popular than ever and have even become something of a social media sensation. We like to think that is the impact of understated luxury.
What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?
Becoming part of such an exclusive network of British luxury brands is a huge privilege. We’re excited to explore the networking opportunities and exchange ideas and experiences with like-minded brands who value quality and experience in this fast-paced world. We are also intrigued to discover any new ideas and opportunities that may develop.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?
Although this may sound a little surprising, we rarely launch new products. Our brushes are still hand made in our factory in Rainham, and the production process is very labour-intensive – and therefore limited. We focus on the products we know our customers want and love rather than diluting the range by constantly responding to trends.
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