People are usually very careful about the way they take care of their hair. Conditioners and shampoos are carefully selected. But many people don’t pay much attention to combs. Most people use a traditional plastic comb. Are you familiar with wooden combs? In the past, wooden combs were very common. Today they are almost gone. This article is a praise for wooden combs. My wish is that there would be available much more. What makes wooden combs so superior? How are wooden combs different from conventional plastic combs? We will explore that in this article.
The comb is one of the oldest devices found by archaeologists
The oldest comb in the world comes from what is now Sweden. It is about 4,500 years old. At that time, combs were also used as an ornament in the hair. The combs were made of bronze and/or bone. Skilfully made combs were placed into the coffin for late person’s last trip. At the beginning of the Iron Age, the comb got a nice, hand-shaped crescent shape.
Plastic comb is a one major cause of hair problems
The static electricity of the plastic comb makes your hair fluffy. With each comb pull, more electricity is generated. Wooden combs have an inherently negative electrical charge. Therefore, wooden combs remove electricity from the hair with every pull.
Plastic combs are said to cause split ends in the hair. I wouldn’t be so sure. The bifurcated hair can also be caused by other things. However, it is worth remembering that a plastic comb might be one reason for bifurcation.
Plastic combs tear the hair. The hair breaks very easily when combed with a plastic comb. I have noticed this myself in practice. The hair sticks together due to the electricity caused by the plastic comb. Fluffy hair is difficult to separate.
Wooden combs are environmentally friendly because they are biodegradable. Bamboo in particular is one of the most sustainable natural resources on earth.
Wooden combs pamper your hair
There are many very different types of wooden combs. All wooden combs are handcrafted in countries where craftsmanship is still valued. Especially in Asian countries, wooden combs are very commonly used. Next, I’ll talk about a few different combs of wood.
Sandalwood comb
I have talked about sandalwood in my blog before. You might want to read my previous blog if you want to get a little more background information. The wild sandalwood is protected. However, Santalum (Santalum spicatum) is sold as cultivated. Most of the cultivated sandalwood comes from Australia.
Santalum is especially known for the precious essential oil it contains. The same sandalwood oil is also found in sandalwood combs. A genuine sandalwood comb is recognized by its wonderful aroma of sandalwood oil. Sandalwood combs are quite expensive.
The magic of the sandalwood comb lies in the oil it contains. With each comb pull, very small amounts of essential sandalwood oil are secreted into the hair. Sandalwood oil treats hair and also acts as an antimicrobial agent. The sandalwood comb reduces the electricity of the hair and makes your hair shine wonderfully.
One good feature of sandalwood is its strength. Sandalwood is a very hard wood. The sandalwood combs are relatively heavy and massive. Often high-quality sandalwood combs have very large, strong and not dense teeth. Sandalwood combs are the best combs for tufted hair. At the same time, they work by effectively massaging the scalp. I often use the sandalwood comb just to stimulate the blood flow to the scalp.
Wash your sandalwood comb only when you really need to. Use lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Just wash 2-3 minutes maximum in order to prevent the wood from absorbing water. Dry the comb thoroughly and place it in an airy place to dry.
Neem wood comb
Neem oil is a cosmetic oil that may already be familiar to some. Neem trees and Santalum trees live in symbiosis in the rainforests of India. Santalum is a parasite that grows on the side of the Neem tree. Neem wood has many of the same properties as sandalwood. Sandalwood smells lovely which is not the case with the Neem wood. However, both types of wood are characterized by antibacterial and oily properties. In India, Neem wood combs are really popular. Neem trees grow in abundance in India unlike Santalum. Neem wood combs are relatively inexpensive.
Neem wood combs are antibacterial. They treat dandruff and itchy scalp. The comb is recommended to be even a louse comb. Louses don’t like the smell of Neem wood.
The oil in the neem wood treats the hair, making it less electric. The comb also stops hair breakage as neem oil increases the elasticity of the hair and retains moisture in the hair.
Neem wood contains ordinary oil, while sandalwood contains essential oils. If you have both combs you will notice how different these two combs are. Neem wood combs are usually slenderer. The teeth are very thin compared to the sandalwood comb. The Neem wood combs look like conventional pocket combs.
Only wash the comb when you really have to. Neem wood cannot withstand soaking in water. So, act fast. Use lukewarm water and a mild detergent (shampoo). Wash only up to 2-3 minutes. Dry the comb well after washing. Use a soft cloth and leave the comb to dry in an airy place.
Bamboo comb
Bamboo combs are very popular because they are inexpensive and very ecological. Bamboo is a very common plant that grows rapidly. Bamboo is also easy material to make a comb. Bamboo combs do not have a healing oil but they are still antistatic. Bamboo combs are a recommended alternative to plastic combs.
Bamboo combs are more resistant to water and washing than Neem wood combs or sandalwood combs. They are very durable in use. You don’t have to be so careful about bamboo as a material. The bamboo comb is also easy to wash with water and vinegar if necessary. Vinegar gently but effectively removes grease from the comb.
Wooden combs are also made from other types of wood
Wooden combs are available in a wide variety of wood qualities. These three types of wood are the best known. Whether you’ve managed to get your hands on any good quality wooden comb, it’s definitely a better option than a plastic comb.
When choosing a comb, pay attention to the quality of the comb. If the comb is poorly finished and rough, it is not a very good value. The high-quality wooden comb is finished to the end. Each space between the teeth is sanded smooth. Unfinished areas damage the hair.
What is your favorite comb?