How to Find the Right Comb for Your Hair

Co-authored by Kemi Hill

Last Updated: June 14, 2023

There are many combs to choose from, and there are many kinds of hair. This article can help you decide which comb is best for your hair. Using the wrong comb for your hair can cause long term damage.

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Test each comb. Don't test it on your hair, as some combs may cause damage to your hair. Test it on a doll with tangly hair or anything else that has tangly hair, but not family/friends or it may damage their hair too.
- When testing, look at how the comb smoothes out the hair. Test combing your hair with that comb, but only at least an inch of hair (remember:damage!).
- Test this on hairy, tangly things you don't want. See if that comb causes damage. Don't test this on your hair.
- Choose the comb that doesn't cause damage. Before doing this, test that comb many times to make sure it really won't cause damage.^{[1]
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Most combs also do well if they have a lot of bristles, so at least try to find out how many bristles there are on the comb. Choose a comb with the right bristles and right amount. Try to find a comb that does not cause damage and has at least more than a 100 bristles.

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Choose the right type of comb. Some types of combs that may fit you are listed here:^{[2]
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- Paddle Brush; a rectangular-head brush that stimulates the blood circulation around your scalp. It is best for medium to long hair and useful for untangling your hair.
- Pin Brush; an oval-head brush with rounded metal pins used to penetrate your thick hair. It is best for thick or curly hair
- Quill Brush; an oval-head or round brush that massages your scalp and distributes your natural hair oils. Good for all types of hair.
- Wide-Tooth Comb; as the name suggests, a comb with the teeth far apart that detangles your hair, can also be used when washing your hair to distribute conditioner and shampoo. Best used to untangle knots within your hair. Works with all hair types.
- Boar Bristle Brush; Give your scalp a massage with this boar bristle styling brush with cushion base. Each natural bristle stimulates the scalp for better circulation and distribution of your natural oils for shinier, more manageable hair.
- Normal Comb; just your normal every-day comb that you can get in varying sizes. Good for smoothing your hair out and making it look sleeker.

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Question

How does combing lead to hair falling out?

Community Answer

If you use the wrong comb or brush on your hair you can cause damage and breakage, which leads to hair falling out.

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Is a wooden comb good to prevent hair fall?

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The wooden comb is slightly better than plastic or metal in terms of hair fall.

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Which is better, metal or wood?

Community Answer

Wood, simply because metal has the tendency to snag if you have curly hair, and is also better for hair that is straight.

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Tips

Sometimes it is good to use all the combs. Like a skin routine, it is good to use the combs in a specific order. Start with the pin brush or wide-tooth comb to get out all those annoying knots, followed by the quill brush to relax your head and distribute hair oils. Next smooth your hair out with the paddle brush; finally, to give it a sleeker touch, use a normal comb.

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If you'd like to comb your hair after you've washed it, use the wide-tooth comb, and only the wide-tooth comb. If you comb your hair too much when it's wet, it will only result in frizzy hair.

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