4 Different types of hair combs and their uses

Have you ever been in a salon and have been asked by one of your clients about the origin of hair combs, and maybe you didn't know how to answer and calm the questioner's concern?  

We humans use combs to comb our hair, to untangle knots and to remove dirt and dust; and in hairdressing we use them to make perfect sections, to apply dyes, to control a hairstyle and to control straight lines during the cut. But where did the comb come from? How has it evolved over time?, and what has changed since its early days? Let's take a look at all these questions and how we view the comb as both a working and styling tool today. 

History of combs  

The earliest known combs come from ancient Egypt and were discovered by archaeologists during their excavation work. They determined that they were used to remove lice and other pests from hair and to comb wigs. In fact, it is believed that the Egyptians were among the first to use wigs! These early combs were made of bone or ivory and were often decorated with carvings or engravings depicting gods and goddesses.  

Later towards the 16th century in Europe, wooden combs and brushes became popular, usually made of boxwood or cherry, but there were also more expensive options such as tortoiseshell or mother-of-pearl. Later in this period, metal combs became popular due to their durability and strength.  

Today there is a wide variety of combs and brushes, usually made of plastic or metal, in different shapes and sizes. Hairdressers and barbers often use special wide-toothed "barbers" combs as a beauty trick to help create different hairstyles, such as pompadour hairstyles.  

Types of combs and their uses

There are multiple combs that are used for different purposes. In this post we will talk about four types of combs that you can find, and we will help you to define clearly what they are used for:  

Clouring comb

To be able to apply the colour and ensure that the application of the same is correct from roots to the ends, this comb is the right one, because with its tail, it allows us to make a section of the hair very carefully and gives us precision.  

Detangling comb

These are combs that, as their name suggests, help hairdressers to detangle the hair by exerting a certain type of pressure on them. It is important to make sure that they are not made of plastic because friction is generated which causes the hair to become electrified.  

Tail Comb

Tail combs have a great feature, it's elongated handle. These combs help to straighten the hair when the hairdresser is doing a colour technician job. On one side, it pulls out the strands to make highlights and with the handle it smooths the area. 

Cutting combs 

These combs, as the name suggests, help the hairdresser when cutting hair. The comb is divided into two parts, one half with tines that hold the hair closer together to cut it and the other half helps to untangle the hair, which is why the distance between the tines is so small. 

Leaf has created a biodegradable comb made from PLA and Wheat straw. As a sustainable alternative to plastic combs. You can access these tools through this link. 

At Leaf Scissors we design hairdressing tools for hairdressers while being conscious of environmental sustainability.