You've probably seen it. That minimalist, chic, mahogany-colored tool sitting perfectly on a marble vanity in a TikTok "get ready with me" video. It’s Crown Affair The Brush No 001. For a lot of people, spending nearly seventy-five dollars on a hairbrush feels like a fever dream or a lapse in judgment. I get it. We grew up using plastic paddles from the drugstore that cost ten bucks and lasted a decade. But hair care is shifting. We're finally treating our scalps like we treat our faces—with actual intent.
The Brush No 001 isn't just a status symbol for the "clean girl" aesthetic. It's a specific engineering choice. Most people don't realize that the mechanical action of brushing is one of the most damaging things you do to your hair daily. Or, if done right, the most beneficial. Crown Affair, founded by Dianna Cohen, launched with the philosophy that we should do less, but do it better. This brush is the centerpiece of that "less but better" ritual.
What makes Crown Affair The Brush No 001 different?
It’s all about the dual-bristle situation. This isn't a new invention—Mason Pearson has been doing the boar-and-nylon mix for over a century—but Crown Affair modernized the feel and the accessibility. You have hand-cut boar bristles and rounded nylon pins set into a natural rubber cushion.
The nylon pins are the workers. They get in there, past the surface, to detangle the knots without snapping the hair shaft. If you’ve ever used a pure boar bristle brush, you know they mostly just smooth the top layer while leaving the tangles underneath untouched. Not here. The nylon reaches the scalp, providing a light massage that stimulates blood flow. This matters because blood flow is the literal lifeblood of hair growth.
Then you have the boar bristles. Think of these as your hair's natural conditioning system. They pick up the sebum—the natural oils your scalp produces—and pull them down the length of the hair. This is why your hair looks shinier after using it. You aren't adding product; you're just moving your own expensive, natural oils from where you have too much (the roots) to where you need it most (the ends).
The "Handmade in Italy" Factor
Most mass-market brushes are injection-molded plastic. They have seams. Those tiny, invisible seams on plastic bristles act like little saws, creating micro-tears in the hair cuticle over time. That leads to frizz and split ends. Crown Affair The Brush No 001 is handmade in Italy from 100% beechwood.
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Because it’s carved and polished by hand, there are no jagged edges. The handle has a weight to it that feels intentional. It's balanced. Honestly, it feels like an heirloom. Is that dramatic? Maybe. But when you hold a tool that was crafted rather than stamped out of a machine, you treat your hair differently. You slow down.
Why the scalp-to-strand movement actually matters
We’ve been told for years to "start from the bottom and work your way up" when detangling. That’s still true for heavy knots. However, the No 001 is designed for the ritual of the stroke.
When you use The Brush No 001, you're performing lymphatic drainage for your head. Experts like Anabel Kingsley from Philip Kingsley have often noted that the scalp is just an extension of the skin on your face. It gets congested. It gets dry. It loses circulation. By using a brush that effectively hits the scalp without scratching it, you're clearing away dead skin cells and product buildup.
Distributing Sebum: The Original Dry Shampoo
If you struggle with oily roots, your instinct is to wash more or spray more starch. Try brushing instead. By using the No 001 at night, you move that oil away from the scalp. It’s the original way to extend a blowout. You'll find that by day three, your hair looks lived-in and soft rather than greasy and flat. It’s a subtle shift in how you manage your hair’s ecosystem.
Comparing the No 001 to the Mason Pearson
The elephant in the room is the Mason Pearson Popular. It’s the gold standard. It also costs about $200.
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| Feature | Crown Affair No 001 | Mason Pearson (Mixed) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$74 | ~$175 - $240 |
| Material | Beechwood | Cellulose Plastic |
| Bristles | Boar + Nylon | Boar + Nylon |
| Aesthetic | Modern/Minimalist | Victorian/Classic |
Honestly, the No 001 feels more "luxury" in the hand because of the wood. The Mason Pearson is iconic, but the plastic handle can feel a bit light for the price tag. Performance-wise, they are incredibly similar. If you want the results of a high-end mixed bristle brush but don't want to spend two hundred dollars, the Crown Affair version is the smartest middle ground on the market.
Who is this brush actually for?
It isn't for everyone. If you have 4C curls, this brush isn't your primary tool. It will likely cause too much frizz and disrupt your curl pattern if used on dry hair. This brush thrives on straight, wavy, or fine-to-medium hair textures.
- Fine Hair: It adds volume by distributing oils and lifting the root.
- Wavy Hair: It turns "second-day" waves into a soft, brushed-out Hollywood wave look.
- Oily Scalps: It’s a godsend for moving oil.
- Thinning Hair: The gentle scalp stimulation is crucial for maintaining follicle health.
If you have very thick, coarse hair, you might find the bristles aren't "stiff" enough to penetrate all the way through in one go. You’ll need to section your hair. But for the average person looking to improve their hair’s shine and health, it’s a game-changer.
The "Dirty" Truth: Maintenance is Non-Negotiable
If you buy this brush, you have to clean it. This is where most people fail. Because the boar bristles are natural hair, they collect dust, skin cells, and old product. If you don't wash your brush, you're just redepositing gunk back onto your clean hair.
- Remove the hair: Use a comb or a dedicated brush cleaner tool after every use.
- The Wash: Every month, use a tiny bit of gentle shampoo and warm water.
- The Technique: Swirl the bristles in the soapy water, but try not to submerge the wooden handle or the rubber pad too much.
- The Dry: Lay it bristles-down on a towel. Never dry it bristles-up, as water can seep into the cushion and cause mold or rot the wood.
Common Misconceptions about Crown Affair
Some people think "clean" hair care means the products don't work as well. That’s a myth left over from the early 2000s. Crown Affair is "clean" in terms of ingredients and sourcing, but the No 001 is a mechanical tool. There are no chemicals involved. Its "power" comes from the quality of the materials.
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Another misconception? That you only need to brush your hair when it’s messy. Cohen often talks about the "brushing ritual" as a way to wind down. Ten strokes on each side before bed. It’s meditative. It’s not about fixing a mess; it’s about maintaining a state of health.
Is it worth the $74?
Let's be real. $74 is a lot for a brush. But if you consider that you use it twice a day, every day, for years, the cost-per-use drops to pennies almost immediately. It’s a "buy it once" item. Unlike plastic brushes where the pins fall out or the tips melt under a hairdryer, the No 001 is built to last.
It’s about the shift from consumption to curation. Instead of having five mediocre brushes, you have one exceptional one.
Actionable Steps for Better Hair with No 001
To get the most out of Crown Affair The Brush No 001, stop treating it like a detangler and start treating it like a treatment step.
- Brush dry, never wet: Boar bristles are not meant for wet hair. Hair is most fragile when wet; use a wide-tooth comb (like The Comb No 002) for that. Use the No 001 only on dry hair to avoid breakage.
- Section your hair: If your hair is thick, don't just brush the surface. Flip your head over and brush from the nape of the neck forward. Then, section the top and middle.
- The Scalp Press: When you reach the scalp, give the brush a tiny, circular wiggle. This helps the nylon pins "exfoliate" the scalp and wake up the follicles.
- Finish with Oil: After brushing, your oils are distributed. This is the perfect time to add a tiny drop of hair oil (like The Oil from Crown Affair) to just the very tips of your hair to seal in that shine.
The No 001 is a tool for people who want to enjoy the process of taking care of themselves. It won't solve every hair woe overnight, but it will fundamentally change the texture and shine of your hair over months of consistent use. It’s an investment in the health of your scalp and the longevity of your strands. If you're tired of the cycle of cheap tools and "meh" results, this is the place to start.