This item works great! I love how it folds up to be so compact. I don't use the mirror for anything. The bristles don't collapse when I brush my hair (female, thick, medium-length). I used it on one international trip for a week. There was one time that the bristles collapsed into themselves while brushing my hair, but I checked the brush, and I hadn't pushed the bristles out all the way, so that was my fault. I haven't used it more than a week, so I can't speak to heavier use than that, but so far so good!