Mister Brush: A Student’s Invention

Alexandra “Titi” Cohen (SSSB ‘26) never imagined that one day, she’d be holding her very own Mister Brush. The process was long, with many steps and changes along the way — a prototype, first version, second version, packaging, samples, ordering in bulk, advertising, selling, etc. Now, the product is available for sale online and is patent pending.

As a child, sharing a bathroom with two brothers to get ready for school led Cohen to a discovery that changed the course of her professional and personal life, the invention of her own — Mister Brush. Growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, Cohen was always fascinated with inventions and entrepreneurship. When problems arose, she thought of creative and intelligent ways to solve them, something her parents encouraged her to do since childhood. Each summer, her mother would tell Cohen’s siblings that if they thought of a product that could really make an impact, she’d help make it happen. 

At age 12, Cohen decided to accept the offer. 

In middle school, getting ready each morning with her siblings gave Cohen time to reflect on her brothers’ morning routines. She noticed something interesting — each morning, they would tilt their heads back into the sink and use their hands to wet and style their hair. Their hair, hands and shirts would drip with water as they got into the car. It wasn’t only her brothers. After thinking about it, she realized that many girls used water to tame their hair, or other liquids like detangler, heat protector, etc. Doing so consisted of a multi-step process involving a sink or spray bottle, a separate brush and usually a pair of hands that would also get wet. There had to be a better way. She did research online, and couldn’t find anything useful.

At first, the idea was hypothetical. She’d tell her family about her idea to create a brush that acted as a spray bottle by having a reservoir of liquid on the bottom, and a small hole in the brush that allowed it to come out, while brushing. Her family was fond of the idea, but for a while, it remained a fun fantasy. Finally, in 2020, Cohen and her mother decided to take the idea to a manufacturer. It was coming closer to reality. After sketching out the product and figuring out important details, it was time to pitch the idea — Mister Brush.

As Cohen told The Commentator, “Mister Brush is a two in one, brush and spray bottle combination that allows people to spray their hair while simultaneously brushing it, for easy, convenient styling and travels.”

It allows you to brush your hair without wetting your hands, or inconveniently needing to use a spray bottle before. The efficiency of the spray allows the perfect amount of liquid to come out at a time, only wetting the area of one’s head that they want. Traveling? No need to buy a separate mini spray bottle with your heat protectant, detangler or plain water! The reservoir is less than 3.4 ounces — TSA airport security friendly.

To Cohen’s excitement, the manufacturers were very impressed by the product, and agreed to produce the first version. As she explained, “One of the most intimidating parts of being an entrepreneur is thinking out how you are going to get the idea that is in your mind to a tangible product in your hands.” Now, the product is for sale, and is patent pending. Cohen continues to work hard to advertise her product by spreading the word on social media and through other platforms. She hopes to one day expand her company to additional products.

In Sy Syms, Cohen is majoring in strategy and entrepreneurship. This wasn’t her original plan however. With two parents in the science fields, Cohen had previously planned to be a biology major. But, as her progress with Mister Brush increased, so did her passion for entrepreneurship and business. Her brother Joseph Cohen, a senior at Sy Syms, created a company called Boca Sports Cards. During COVID-19, Cohen played a role in helping her brother in the business. During that year, she also loved watching episodes of the well-known show “Shark Tank” every night, imagining she was one of the entrepreneurs. She even read a book by Shark Lori Greiner called “Invent It, Sell It, Bank It” that helped fuel and continue her motivation. Therefore, when making the decision upon coming to Yeshiva University as a true freshman, she knew Sy Syms was the right choice. Cohen minors in biology to keep her science aspirations a possibility, while gaining from her business classes. Cohen explained that her Sy Syms classes have “reinstilled her passion for entrepreneurship” and taught her so many important skills that coincided with different challenges that came up.

As a college student and entrepreneur, Cohen has a lot on her plate. She is lucky to have an amazing mother, Stern College graduate Orlie Cohen, who helps run the business from its home base in Florida. When telling The Commentator about the people that have helped her through this process, she emphasized the immense gratitude she has to Sy Syms Professor Mark Finkel who acted as her mentor. Cohen noted the importance of having emuna. With all the hard work that goes into creating a product and advertising it, having faith in G-d allowed her to remain calm throughout the process, channeling all of her energy into the success of Mister Brush! 

Photo Caption: Mister Brush 

Photo Credit: Titi Cohen