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Thursday, June 2, 2016

Review: KareCo Tangle Buster Brush


Before I start this review, I want to mention a few things up front. If, by the time you're finished with this review, you would like to purchase this product, you have a few options:

  • This product is now available at select Walmart stores (3,400 stores nationwide).
  • This product is also available on the Walmart website HERE for $10.96 (free shipping on orders $50+ or free in-store pick-up). If you use that link to purchase, I will earn a small commission (my usual "affiliate link" disclosure is above, as always), which of course helps support this blog. 
  • You can also purchase this product directly from the manufacturer's website HERE for $12.50 and I have a special code that you can use for free shipping on your order (shipping is regularly $8). To get free shipping on your order, enter code NOUVEAUCHEAP at checkout (this code expires on 6/30/16). To be clear, I do NOT receive a commission if you use this code. At the time that I first agreed to accept this product for review, this brush was not available for purchase on the Walmart website. So I wanted to be sure that if I featured this brush on my blog, and any of you wanted to buy it, that you would not have to pay $20.50 for it ($12.50 + $8 shipping). So KareCo kindly set up this code to waive the $8 shipping fee for Nouveau Cheap readers. 

Now, on to the review!

KareCo Tangle Buster Brush
(retail: $10.96 - $12.50)

If you're a longtime reader of this blog, then you know two things about me:

1) I LOVE gimmicks. Good or bad, I love gimmicky products and I have to try them all.

2) My hair is long, fine, and naturally wavy and it tangles like crazy. You can gently blow on my hair, and it will tangle.

So knowing those two things, tell me how I could NOT accept this brush for review? I mean, I had to. Especially since, over the years, I have reviewed The Wet Brush (my current detangling brush) and the Tangle Teezer (the brush I was using before I switched to The Wet Brush), which are probably the two most popular detangling brushes on the planet. So rest assured, I WILL be comparing the KareCo Tangle Buster to The Wet Brush and the Tangle Teezer in this review.

For use on wet or dry hair






This is a nice, full-size brush with an extra-long handle that is very comfortable and easy to grip (which I love when using in the shower). 


For perspective, I put the Tangle Buster next to my full-size Wet Brush (which I've been using since my review in 2013; it has clearly seen better days!). You can see that in addition to the longer handle, the overall surface of the head (bristle area) is larger as well.


What makes this brush unique, and much different than any other brush I've ever owed, is that the bristles are divided into separate panels that bend independently. 


On top of that, the brush is curved to fit the curves and contours of your head.






The individual panels are not super loose or flimsy--it takes a little bit of pressure to push them apart like I'm doing in the photo above. 

I've used this brush on my dry hair, wet hair, in the shower to distribute conditioner, on my boyfriend (his hair is about the length of the character Chibs on Sons of Anarchy, for reference) , on my 70+ year old mom (shoulder-length hair), on my 70+ year old dad (short hair) and on my brother (short hair). Whenever I test a product out on my entire family, there's at least one person who dislikes it or finds fault with it. But not this time. Every single person I used this brush on LOVED it, and so did I. 

As I mentioned earlier, I have long, fine hair that's naturally wavy and VERY prone to tangling. A few hours after my hair dries, I always get a small rat's nest at the nape of my neck that continues to grow as the day progresses. When I use this brush to work out my tangles, I find that it detangles MUCH more quickly than my Wet Brush, and the tangles seem to come out much easier and with less resistance than the Wet Brush. I have also noticed that since I've been using this brush, I have less hair in my brush after use than when I use my Wet Brush, and no snaps! I find that this brush works equally well on dry hair and wet hair, as well as in the shower for distributing conditioner.

One thing I want to be clear about is that I cannot use the Tangle Buster without gripping my hair at the root first. One thing that both the Wet Brush and Tangle Teezer share in common is that you can pretty much use one hand and start from your roots and brush down to your ends with no pain. For me, that's not something I can do with the Tangle Buster. It does hurt and tug a bit if I try to do that, so I have to take a section of my hair, grip it firmly at the root, and then start brushing. If you have long hair, I KNOW you know exactly what I mean and you're probably used to doing this already, but I just wanted to clarify. 

But that is a small trade-off for me personally, given the benefits of this brush. Like I said, my tangles come out in about half the time as my Wet Brush, and I consistently see less hair in my brush after use (when compared to the Wet Brush and also the Tangle Teezer). Another thing I love about the Tangle Buster is that the surface of the brush head is bigger than the Wet Brush, which means that I can get the job done quicker and not have to work in tiny sections. I also love that the bristles are longer (especially when compared to the Tangler Teezer which has very short bristles) which means that I can easily get to the underside of my hair. And the way the Tangle Buster is shaped makes it easy to maneuver, so you can get into tight spots (like the nape of your neck) so much easier than the Wet Brush or the Tangle Teezer. Also, this brush is much, much easier to hold (especially when wet).

An added bonus: this brush feels AMAZING on the scalp. Every time I use it, it feels like a mini scalp massage. I'm guessing that this is due to both the individual panels (which move and adjust to the contours of your head), as well as the curve of this brush. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but once my tangles are brushed out, I always find myself brushing...and brushing...and brushing like I'm in a some sort of trance. It just feels so good on my scalp, and my entire family agrees about that. We all sort of just go, "Aaaaah...." and close our eyes when we're using this brush!

PS: In an effort to REALLY put this brush to the test, I went two days without brushing my hair (it was the weekend and I wasn't going anywhere so it was easy to do) so that my hair was EXTRA tangled. Even on ridiculously tangled hair, this brush passed the test with flying colors. Again, I had to grip my hair at the root before brushing, but I'm telling you, this brush knocks out tangles in half the time of my Wet Brush and Tangle Teezer, and my hair feels incredibly smooth after use, without any frizz or weirdness. 

FINAL VERDICT: So how does this brush work and why is it so good? I think the key is the separate panels that don't offer up as much resistance as a traditional brush with fixed bristles. This brush moves and bends (but not TOO much) and it also has a curved head. Combined, that's a magical winning combo for me and my fine, long, naturally wavy hair. I obviously cannot guarantee that this brush will work in the same way for you, but if your hair is anything like mine, I honestly think it's worth a shot if you suffer from tangles and you're not pleased with your current detangling brush. I have never looked forward to brushing out my hair, but I actually get a little excited now because I know I get to use this brush. The Tangle Buster has been rocking my world, and it's quickly rising to holy grail status. 

If you'd like to purchase the KareCo Tangle Buster, please see the top of this blog post for options, including a code for free shipping. 

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.Blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews. For more information, click here.
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32 comments

  1. Thank you so much G!! I have the SAME exact problem and have a comb or brush with me at all times lol. Going to order right now.

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    1. You are so welcome, Nicole! Please, please, please come back and tell me how you like it once you get it? I have my fingers and toes crossed that you love it as much as I do! I'm serious--I NEVER look forward to brushing my hair but this brush has me excited to do it now. It seriously takes me half the time to work out my tangles. and then the mini scalp massage is so nice. It's a win-win, I tell you! ;)

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  2. Oh goodness...I honestly hate brushing my hair because it's exactly like yours, G. I always deal with nasty tangles and rat nests every single time I brush my hair. It's always been like that...I remember sitting on the living room floor having my mom brush/comb my hair out when I was little. Ugh. Brutal.

    Anyway, I personally love the tangle teezer and have been using it for over 2 years now. I also have the wet brush, but that thing is horrible in my opinion. I don't know if it's because I've had some horrid hair situations or what, but some of the bristles and the balls on the bristles have come out on mine. I was planning to pick up a new tangle teezer soon because that's kinda "broken" too (it occasionally splits apart, then doesn't stay popped back together) but I think I'm going to look into this first.

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    1. I really loved the Tangle Teezer when I first got it. It's a great product, but for me the bristles were too short and I found that it really only penetrated the top layer of my hair. So I would have to spend double the amount of time working out tangles on the top of my hair, and then on the underside of my hair.

      With this Tangle Buster, I can get at everything (top layer to underside) at the same time, and if there's a pesky tangle near my neck, I can get to it much easier than I ever could with the Tangle Teezer (or the Wet Brush). I hope that helps a bit, and I would LOVE to know what you think if you end up giving this brush a try. :)

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  3. Just a heads up, UD Vice Lipsticks are for sale online early today only for UD Junkies members until midnight PST.

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    1. Thanks! I don't post about new releases for higher-end cosmetics unless there's a sale or deal attached, but appreciate the tip!

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  4. This brush sounds great; I may have to order one because I've been looking for a new brush. My hair is halfway down my back and, like yours, extremely fine and naturally wavy. I don't know how your Wet Brush looks so good because I've been using mine for two years and it looks like a wreck! There's a whole section where the bristles are missing because my tangles have pulled them out!

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    1. I would love to know what you think if you end up trying it! And OMG,if you look closely at my pic, you'll see that many of the bristles on my wet brush are bent and the little tips on the ends are missing. It's in pretty bad shape. Lol!

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  5. I just ordered! My 8 year old daughter's hair has gotten crazy thick (ponytail as thick as my wrist) and the Wet Brush isn't cutting it anymore. Thanks so much for this review! I just ordered through the company's website, and they required a company name and apartment number in the address form. Anyone else have this problem? I hope it still gets to me! Thanks again for the review, and for negotiating a free shipping deal!

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    1. I'm so sorry about the problem with the address form. I'll be sure to speak with my contact about that tomorrow and let you know. I'm so excited for you to get this brush and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that both you and your daughter love it as much as I do! Please do keep me posted? :)

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    2. Jamie, can you please email me (nouveaucheap @ gmail dot com)? I want to put you in touch with my contact at KareCo to ensure that this is taken care of. Thanks! :)

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  6. So excited! I need to try this. Somehow the bristles on my wet brush bent and it just makes my tangles worse. (I have super straight fine hair so I have no idea how my hair broke a brush....I'm just super special!) Love my tangle teezer, but I would burn my hand off using it to dry my hair! I am so excited for this! Thank you G!!!!

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    1. Yeah, the bristles on my wet brush have bent as well. It's pretty much toast at this point. Lol.I am so excited for you to try this brush! Please keep me posted? :)

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  7. Wait a second! You've been using THAT Wet brush since 2013???
    I "discovered" The Wet Brush last year May and since I've had two!
    The little bubbles at the end of the bristles falls off which makes the bristles hurt a bit when it touches your scalp.
    Also mine seem to forever have lint...I've tried washing it but it's almost like it's unavoidable. I still prefer it over all I'm just surprised yours is from 2013 and it still looks relatively good for that age!

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    1. Lol if you look closely, you'll see that the bristles are bent and many of the little tips are missing from my the ends of the bristles! My wet brush also collects lint. So hard to keep it clean! I actually finally threw it out after this pic was taken. It served me well since 2013, but I adore this Tangle Buster and I haven't used my wet brush since I got it. 😊

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  8. Huh, I'm mentally trying to imagine how this brush would work on my hair, which is about shoulder length, with a few longer layers, and it gets really tangled in back, etc. Somehow this brush just looks like a fork or spork with bristles and I can't help but imagine my hair getting tangled in it! But I am curious...

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    1. Heidi, I can so see how you might think that, but I have never once had that issue. My hair gets tangled easily in round brushes, but it has never even slightly gotten caught up or snagged in this brush. I'm not sure if that has to do with spacing between the panels or the curvature of the brush (or both) but it doesn't happen for me. Hope that helps!

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  9. The description of the hair brushing trance made me literally LOL, so funny... I have a shower comb for conditioner and a crazy looking super wide tooth comb from Sallys that I use after getting out of the shower. Otherwise I tend to leave my hair alone. But once in awhile when I do brush my hair, I do tend to keep at it longer than usual, probably kind of relaxing (once all the tangled are out)...

    So I might go for this...is the free shipping promo code mentioned above just for June, or also July? It is typoed 6/31, so not sure if that should be 6/30 or 7/31?

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    1. So sorry about that, Arathael! That was just a typo (which I just fixed). The code is valid for the entire month of June, expiring on 6/30. :)

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  10. Thanks for the review! I wanted to let you know the wet brush has a new design that is curved like the tangle buster, only the panels don't move individually, but I love the new wet brush design over the original paddle brush. On your paddle wet brush, how do you clean the hair, etc that gets spun around each bristle and stuck under each ball tip?!? Yours looked very clean in the picture and my original wet brush looks so gross and dirty. Luckily I haven't noticed the build up on the bristles with the new curved and vented design of the wet brush. Just curious how you clean your original. Xoxo

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    1. Thanks for the tip, Amanda! I've seen the new Wet Brush Paddle Brush and I'm so glad they made the surface area bigger for those who think the original Wet Brush is too small. Oh, and about my Wet Brush--it was gunked up but I didn't want to photograph it that way, so I cleaned it before taking the photo using a wet Q-tip. But believe me, it wasn't always that clean. That thing collects gunk and link like crazy. Lol!

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    2. You're welcome. And yes it does get super dirty easy! :)

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  11. I just ordered one! I use an Ion round brush for my tangles, but my hair gets SO matted during the day. I really needed something like this. My hair is down to my back, naturally wavy, fine, but very thick as I have A LOT of hair. I can't wait to try this!

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    1. Yay!! I am so excited for you to get it, Susan. And I would absolutely love it if you came back and let me know how you like it once you give it a try. Keeping my fingers crossed that you love it as much as I do. :)

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    2. I just got it, and it works SO WELL! It's fast too! Thank you so much for the recommendation!

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    3. Hi Susan! First of all, thank you SO much for coming back and taking the time to let me know that you got it. And second: YAY!!! I am SO thrilled that it's working for you in the same way it works for me! You are so welcome! And it's crazy how fast the tangles work out, right? ;)

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  12. aaah..nuts, the free shipping code doesn't apply to canada. i guess i'll have to wait until the next time i head to washington state and head to a walmart there.

    unless, would you know if it's available in canadian walmarts?

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    1. Aaaah, I am so sorry. I believe the free shipping is only for the US. I will check with my contact and comment here after I find out if this product is available at Walmart Canada locations!

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    2. I wanted to follow up and let you know that my code will take $8 off shipping to Canada, but unfortunately it's still going to be around $30. Also, this is not available in-store in Canadian Walmarts. I'm so sorry! :(

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  13. Mine just came today! Thank you thank you! My hair is long, fine, wavy and wild and I can't wait for it to get tamed!

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    1. Yay!!! Please please let me know what you think when you try it? Can't wait to hear! xo

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  14. The normal brushes would never go threw my hair but the tangle buster go,s threw my hair so good and I am nine years old.

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