Method of making fibers suitable for making a hair brush includes a matrix or pad made of a flexible material and a plurality of relatively rigid, single natural-type bristles having their lower ends anchored by flexible, sleevelike members projecting upward from the matrix. Also disclosed is a method of forming the bristles which includes comminuting natural bristles at a low temperature and then forming a thick slurry of the comminuted bristles and a binder, which is then molded and cured to form bristles having improved characteristics.