Manta

Manta is a British hair-tools brand built around a single product idea: a flexible hairbrush designed to pull through the hair with less force than a conventional brush. It was created by Tim Binnington, a professional hairdresser with more than 25 years of experience and the founder of the UK salon chain Headmasters, who developed the brush for his wife, Dani Binnington, after a life-threatening illness caused her hair to fall out [6]. The concept began in 2014, when Dani's hair was regrowing and ordinary brushes proved painful and damaging, and the finished product launched commercially in June 2018 [6]. The brand remains active, with an ongoing product range, recent award badges and worldwide shipping from its direct-to-consumer site.

The dates carry a small distinction worth noting: editorial coverage records 2014 as the year the idea took shape and June 2018 as the launch of the brush that reached the market [6]. Glowpedia treats 2018, the commercial launch, as the founding year, with 2014 logged as the originating milestone.

The brand's origin is tied directly to a personal episode. As Dani Binnington recovered from illness and her hair grew back, she preferred running her fingers through it rather than using a brush, because traditional brushes caused breakage [5]. Watching this, Binnington set out to build a gentler alternative. In his words, "I wanted to focus on creating a brush that would be as gentle on your hair as running your fingers through it." He has framed the wider problem the same way: that people invest in haircuts, salon colour and expensive shampoos and conditioners, "and then drag a rigid brush through their hair," which he argues causes lasting damage.

Both founders remained publicly attached to the brand. Dani Binnington went on to establish a not-for-profit focused on women navigating treatment-related early menopause after a cancer diagnosis, hosting a podcast and sharing survivor testimonies through it.

Manta's range centres on the hairbrush. Alongside the original brush, the line includes the Manta Pulse, marketed for scalp massage; the Manta Fine or Fragile, aimed at delicate hair; the Manta Curls, intended for thick hair, kinks and coils across the 3a–4c range; and the Manta Mirror, a compact travel version.

The defining feature across the range is what the company calls FLEXGUARD, a patented base technology [6]. According to Manta, the design sits each bristle on its own flexible mount so that it can move through a full 360 degrees independently, "so it never reaches the stress point that causes breakage." The brush body itself is built from a soft-touch material the brand says has no rough edges to catch or tear the hair, and users are told to bend and flex it in the hand, as it becomes more pliable with use. The company positions the brush as suitable for all hair types and for wet or dry hair.

Manta supports its gentleness claims with a brand-run survey of 120 people over two weeks, in which it reports that 85% experienced less hair damage than with regular brushes and 83% noticed fewer broken hairs. The company also states, more broadly, that daily brushing causes irreversible hair damage that no treatment can repair.

On price, editorial sources differ by year. A 2022 review put the original brush at £25 [5]; later trade coverage lists a range of £30 for the original, £35 for the Mirror and £70 for the Pulse [6].

The brand's stated mission is to help people experiencing hair breakage and thinning by addressing damage caused by brushing itself. Its tagline, "Brush your way to healthier hair & scalp," reflects that single-problem focus, combining what the company describes as professional hairdressing expertise with modern materials. The brush is sold direct to consumers with a 100-day money-back guarantee and worldwide shipping, alongside free UK delivery.

The founders appeared on the BBC television series Dragons' Den, seeking £240,000 for 4% of the company. Three investors — Peter Jones, Sara Davies and Touker Souleyman — made offers, but the Binningtons turned them all down, with Tim Binnington saying the investors "were more interested in the money rather than solving the problem" [6]. Deborah Meaden declined to invest and noted she regretted having missed the earlier Tangle Teezer opportunity [6].

The brush has also drawn editorial attention. A Get the Gloss reviewer described hair left "smoother, softer and shinier" with "zero catching" after use [5]. Manta's site displays a number of award badges, including a Hair Logo 2025 Winner mark and recognitions dated to 2024.

Manta partners with The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides free real-hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions. The company reports donating 10,060 brushes, with a stated retail value of £272,330, in support of the charity.

The brand is active. Its direct-to-consumer site, mantahair.com, was running promotions and carrying a blog post dated February 2026 alongside its 2025 award badge, and it ships worldwide while also being stocked through third-party retailers across the Nordic region, Europe and the United States.