Horse hair & bamboo
Most bamboo brushes still have nylon bristles, and nylon is plastic. Ours are horse hair, woven in. No nylon, no glue.
0nylon in the head
Horse hair, bamboo and one small aluminium staple holding the weave. No glue, and nothing else. More questions
The BARE toothbrush
Plastic-free, right down to the bristles.
$44.99 AUD four-pack · $11.25 a brush, save $6.97 on singles
- 100% plastic-free, bristles and handle.
- Horse-hair bristles in a bamboo handle.
- Woven into the head. No glue.
- A gently curved handle that sits comfortably in the hand.
Heat-treated. The hair goes through high-temperature processing before the brush is made. More
30-Day Soft Switch · Australian owned · Free AU shipping
Heat-treated. The hair goes through high-temperature processing before the brush is made. More on hygiene
Order before midday (Adelaide time, business days) and it’s usually posted the same day.
Free shipping anywhere in Australia, no minimum.
Covered by the 30-Day Soft Switch.
You’ll be taken to our secure Shopify checkout
Is horse hair hygienic?
Heat-treated before it’s ever a brush.
The hair goes through high-temperature processing before it’s woven into the head. After that, it’s ordinary care: rinse it and let it air-dry upright.
Is horse hair hygienic?
The hair goes through high-temperature processing before it’s woven into the bamboo head. After that, look after it the way you would any toothbrush: rinse it well and let it air-dry upright between brushes. The full answer
- 100% plastic-free, bristles and handle.
- Horse-hair bristles in a bamboo handle.
- Woven into the head. No glue.
- A gently curved handle that sits comfortably in the hand.
- Hair collected during routine grooming.
Why we made it
Two 2025 lab studies measured particles coming off toothbrushes during simulated brushing.1,2 Ordinary bamboo brushes keep nylon bristles, so they solve half the problem. BARE replaces both halves.
Six things people find out before they switch →
1 Microchemical J., 2025 · 2 Ecotox. & Env. Safety, 2025
Side by side
| Feature | Plastic | “Eco” bamboo | Castor-oil nylon | BARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristles | Nylon | Nylon | Nylon | Horse hair |
| Handle | Plastic | Bamboo | Varies | Bamboo |
| Home-compost evidence | Check product | Check product | Check product | No finished-brush test |
Our promise
The 30‑Day Soft Switch.
Switch to BARE for thirty days. If you'd honestly go back to nylon, tell us and we refund the lot. You keep the brush, so there's nothing to post back and no forms. First order · the details
Our promise
The 30‑Day Soft Switch.
Switch to BARE for thirty days. If you'd honestly go back to nylon, tell us and we refund the lot. You keep the brush, so there's nothing to post back and no forms. First order · the details
Getting to know your brush
It feels different, and that's the point
Horse hair is a natural fibre, so if you're used to nylon the first few brushes may feel unfamiliar. Give it a little time, and if it isn't for you, the 30-Day Soft Switch covers your first order.
Woven, not glued
The hair is woven into the bamboo head with no glue. If bristles ever come loose, stop using that brush and email us. A faulty brush is replaced or refunded.
Looking after it
Rinse well, flick dry, store upright in open air. When the bristles look worn or frayed, it's time for a fresh one. The small aluminium staple goes in the bin.
From the person who packs your order
BARE is Australian owned and designed, run by one person from South Australia. There's no warehouse and no fulfilment partner. Every order is packed and posted by hand here. The brushes themselves are made overseas.
Reviews
5 out of 5 · 3 reviews
The first couple of times using the brush felt a little weird, but once I got used to it, I really started to like it. Having a lot more bristles creates noticeably more drag, which means you have to apply a bit more force when pushing — but I actually really like that. I honestly can’t see myself ever going back to petroleum-based plastic and nylon brushes. This feels like a much better alternative, and I’m really happy with it.
We are not going back to nylon. Not missing the plastic.
The toothbrush is nice, attractive and practical.
What we haven’t tested. We have not independently tested the finished brush for sterility, microplastic release or home-compost breakdown. We have not established a tested lifespan for BARE either, so we don’t put a number on how long a brush lasts. We’d rather tell you that than guess.
Asked and answered
01How are the bristles processed?
The hair goes through high-temperature processing before it's woven into the head. After that, it's ordinary toothbrush care: rinse it well and let it air-dry upright between brushes. Are horse hair toothbrushes hygienic? The full answer.
02How firm do the bristles feel?
Horse hair is a natural fibre, so it feels different from nylon, and it can take a few brushes to get used to. Feel is personal, and we haven't measured stiffness, so we won't rank it against other brushes. If it isn't for you, the 30-Day Soft Switch covers your first order. Choosing a soft toothbrush for sensitive gums.
03What if a bristle comes loose?
The hair is woven into the bamboo head with no glue. If you notice bristles coming loose, stop using that brush and email hello@thebarebrush.com.au. A faulty brush is replaced or refunded. Do horse hair toothbrushes shed? The full answer.
04Is it ethical?
The hair is a by-product of routine grooming, collected overseas. It is still an animal product, so the brush isn't vegan. If that's your line, we'd rather you knew now than after you've ordered. How the horse hair is sourced, in full.
05How long does one brush last?
Wear depends so much on how you brush that we don't put a number on it. The simple rule is the one that suits any toothbrush: replace it when the bristles look worn, matted or frayed. Our guide covers the general dental advice on timing. How long a bamboo toothbrush lasts.
06Can kids use it?
BARE comes in one adult size, and we don't make a child-sized head. For little mouths, your child's dentist is the best person to suggest a brush.
07What if I don't like it?
Switch to BARE for thirty days. If you'd honestly go back to nylon, tell us and we refund the lot. You keep the brush, so there's nothing to post back and no forms. One claim per customer, first order only.
08How do I get rid of it when it's worn out?
First, take out the small aluminium staple inside the head. It won't compost, so it goes in the bin. If you'd like to compost the bamboo and hair, that's your call; we haven't tested how the finished brush breaks down, so we can't give you a timeframe. Check your council's rules before it goes in an organics bin. How to dispose of a bamboo toothbrush in Australia.
09Does BARE use nylon bristles?
No. The bristles are horse hair, woven into a bamboo handle with no glue. Castor-oil and other plant-based bristles are usually still nylon; ours aren't. One small aluminium staple holds the weave in place. Can you get a toothbrush without nylon bristles?.
10Is it Australian Made?
No. BARE is Australian owned and designed. Every order is packed and posted by hand from South Australia. The brushes themselves are made overseas. Those are different claims, and we keep them separate on purpose.
11How does it ship?
Within Australia, shipping is free and your order travels as letter mail: a slim envelope in the letterbox rather than a knock at the door, usually within the week. Letter mail has no tracking number; the promise instead is simple: if it hasn't arrived within two weeks, reply to your order email and we send another or refund you, your choice. International orders ship with Australia Post International Economy or Express, and shipping is calculated at checkout from their live rates. Shipping and returns, in full.