An apparatus for removing a hair tangle is provided that moves the hair brush having a first bristle on a rotatable brush element through the hair above the tangle in a first direction, pivots the first bristle on the rotatable brush element about a pivotal axis of the brush in a second direction if the hair tangle is encountered by the bristle, moves a second bristle on the rotatable brush element through the hair below the tangle, and moves additional bristles to a side of the tangle in order to release the hair tangle.