Hair brushes are an item that I use everyday, but currently they are mostly made from plastics. So, I decided to update the hairbrush. I started by sketching the average hair brush today to get an idea of all the components necessary.
Defining the problem: The main sustainability problem with this hairbrush is the amount of plastic used. This type of plastic is very unsustainable and it is not recyclable.
- Solution: find more sustainable materials to replace the plastic
Material options for body/handle
- recycled plastic
- more sustainable than new plastic
- often can’t be recycled again = still bad for the environment after the product’s lifecycle
- wood
- super strong
- recyclable/degradable
- trees take a long time to grow back/ could contribute to deforestation
- bamboo
- durable
- degradable/compostable
- fast growing/ little resources needed
Bristles
- nylon
- plastic
- not recyclable
- uses petroleum
- boar
- biodegradable
- good for hair (distributes oils)
- concerns about animal welfare/ possible animal cruelty
- vegan
- traceable/ no animal welfare concerns
- affordable
- often made of plastic
- Tampico bristles
- often used in body scrubber but can be used in hair brushes
- biodegradable (made from Mexican agave plant)
- no concerns of animal welfare
Rubber
Why? - cushioning for the scalp and makes detangling easier
- synthetic rubber
- produced from petroleum
- does not biodegrade
- last a long time (does not wear down)
- natural rubber
- produced by “tapping” rubber trees (minimal damage to trees)
- biodegradable
- does not last long in certain environments
What else can I do to improve on this design and make it better for more people?
How can I make a more accessible hair brush?
People with arthritis or grip strength issues can have difficulty brushing their hair.
- solution: ergonomic/easy to hold hair brushes
(sketching always helps me so I sketch out current easy to hold hair brushes I found)
I was unable to find any of these disability friendly hair brushes made out of sustainable materials. They are almost exclusively made out of plastic.
Now I just needed to combine my two designs!