Horn Combs for Hair
A Gentle Styling Tool
Horn combs, hair styling tools made out of animal horn, is the gentlest type of comb available. The horn material is a natural material and compatible with the human scalp and hair. It is a styling tool that both grooms and conditions the hair.
Types of Horn Combs
Horn combs are generally made out of sheep or ox horn. The color depends upon the horn color. Colors range from beige and multicolor brown shades to black. The horn collection does not harm the animal. Most horn comb manufacturers claim to use cruelty-free practices to collect horn.
Horn combs are handmade and smoothed by hand. Quality combs should have smooth, rounded tips and contain no sharp areas on any surface.
Horn comb designs include:
- Traditional dressing combs with handles in various sizes
- Large combs without handles
- Wide-tooth combs
- Pocket combs
- Combs in decorative shapes such as fish or artistic curved shapes
Benefits of Horn Combs
Horn combs benefit hair in many ways. The horn material gathers the natural oils of the scalp, sebum, and distributes it throughout the hair. This conditioning action leaves the hair shiny, moisturized and fluffed out like freshly brushed hair. The collection of natural oils does not make hair greasier and flat but instead increases body and movement.
Horn combs are also useful in scalp massages. Horn comb manufacturer Louise Marie from Louise Marie Longhairs calls the act of massaging the scalp with a horn comb, "scritching". To massage or scritch the hair with a horn comb, gently apply the comb to small sections of the scalp and gently scratch with the comb teeth. The scratching motion is really concentrated combing and much gentler to the scalp than scratching with fingernails. The horn comb can remove flaking, relieve an itchy scalp, stimulate follicles and create an overall relaxing scalp massage.
Guide to Buying Horn Combs
Many quality horn combs are sold on the Internet. Some local hair salons may also carry horn combs. Louise Marie Longhairs salon and Heavenly Harvest are two websites that sell horn combs. Ebay is also a good source for horn combs.
Look for horn combs that are shiny and smooth with well, rounded tips and no sharp areas. Avoid horn combs that appear dried out and dull because they were stored improperly and may soon crack.
Horn Comb Care
Horn combs dry out easily and dried out horn cracks. Keep the horn comb moisturized with lanolin to prevent dryness. The lanolin layer will only need to be applied once a month to clean and moisturize the comb. Apply a thin layer of lanolin to the comb, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it on a dresser overnight. The next day, gently remove the lanolin with cotton balls or a soft cloth. Don't use a towel because it will leave lint on the comb.
Do not let the horn comb get wet because water may cause it to expand and warp. Only use the comb on dry hair.
Dry clean the comb as needed with cotton balls. Just make sure apply more lanolin to the comb if the comb starts to dry out.
Store the horn comb on a dresser when not in use. The comb can also be stored in a cloth bag made of a breathable material like cotton. Do not store the comb in a plastic container with a lid because it can cause the comb to dry out faster.
With the gentle care, a horn comb can last for a lifetime.
Horn combs
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