The History of Hair Brushes: Who Really Invented the First?

No, Lydia O. Newman did not invent the first hair brush.

While Lydia O. Newman received a patent in 1898 for an "Improved Hair-Brush," hair brushes existed long before that. Her invention was an improvement on existing designs. It used durable bristles and a unique ventilation system to make cleaning the brush easier.

So, she improved the hair brush, but she wasn't the original inventor.