Who doesn’t want long, thick, and voluminous hair? Believe it or not, combs or brushes also play a vital role in your hair care routine.
A wooden hair comb or brush is a reusable and sustainable hair grooming tool. It can be made with different varieties of wood, such as neem, sheesham, bamboo, and sandalwood, with varying properties such as anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant. (1)
But what to choose? A wooden comb or a wooden brush?
Remember, there’s a wooden comb or brush out there based on what your hair needs, from a wide-tooth wooden comb to detangle wet hair and a fine-toothed comb to put your hair in place to a wooden paddle brush for soft and sleek hair and a wooded hairbrush to add volume. They serve different purposes.
Both wooden combs and wooden brushes are eco-friendly options with many benefits.
They glide effortlessly through the hair and detangle knots without tugging, pulling, or damaging the hair. Moreover, they evenly distribute natural oils, making the hair shiny and eliminating static and frizz.
Continue reading to learn more.
Article Contents
Wooden Comb Versus Wooden Brush: What to Choose?
Both wooden combs and wooden brushes are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable choices for your hair.
A wooden comb is a better choice when defining your curls or creating a more precise hairstyle. However, a wooden brush is perfect if you want to smoothen your hair, add volume, and detangle.
Both wooden combs and wooden brushes distribute the scalp’s natural oil throughout the hair, providing shine, nourishment, and bounce.
However, a wooden brush is costlier and cannot be easily carried, unlike a wooden comb.
At the end of the day, what you choose is based on your styling needs and hair type.
Wooden Comb Versus Wooden Brush: Differences
The following are the differences between wooden combs and wooden brushes.
Styling
Wooden combs are suitable for parting or creating defined or precise hairstyles.
Wooden brushes are good at adding volume and smoothing larger hair sections.
Cost
Wooden combs are less costly than wooden brushes.
Wooden brushes are costlier than wooden combs as they are not mass produced.
Portability
Wooden combs come in different sizes and are easier to carry. You can keep one in your purse when stepping out so you can easily give your hair a quick comb.
Wooden brushes are bigger than combs and cannot be easily carried in an everyday handbag or purse.
Cleansing
Cleaning a wooden comb is easier due to its design. You can rinse it and the air-dry or towel-dry it.
Maintaining a wooden brush can be demanding as it requires regular cleansing to remove debris and hair.
Wooden Combs: Types and How to Use and Clean
Types of Wooden Combs
Here are some types of wooden combs for you to choose from:
- Wide-toothed comb: With teeth placed far apart, a wide-toothed wooden comb is suitable for combing wet hair, which is in a vulnerable and fragile state, to minimize damage and split ends.
- Fine-toothed wooden comb: With teeth close together, a fine-toothed wooden comb is suitable for putting your hair in place for a neat and tangle-free look.
- Pick wooden comb: With a short handle and wide teeth, a pick wooden comb is used to tease hair and is also suitable for frizzy or thick hair.
- Rake wooden comb: With teeth that are wide apart and thick, a rake wooden comb allows effortless combing with minimal hair loss or pain.
How to Use a Wooden Comb?
Follow these steps to use a wooden comb:
- Comb your hair from the roots and work down to the ends.
- Make sure the wooden comb teeth touch your scalp.
- Comb twice deeply to receive all the goodness of the wooden comb.
- Comb your hair before bed for additional benefits such as improved hair quality.
How to Clean a Wooden Comb?
Follow these steps to clean a wooden comb:
- Make a mixture of warm water and mild soap.
- Remove stuck hair from the comb.
- Soak your comb in the mixture for 2 minutes. Never leave your neem wooden comb in water for over 2 minutes, as it may swell up.
- Take a small piece of cloth and run it through each tine of the comb to remove debris or dirt.
- Gently scrub your comb with an old soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any remnants.
- Wipe your comb completely dry with a clean cloth.
Wooden Brushes: Types and How to Use and Clean
Types of Wooden Brushes
Here are some types of wooden brushes for you to choose from:
- Paddle brush: A paddle brush is ideal for everyday hair styling. It makes your hair soft and sleek, regardless of hair type (fine, thick, thin, short, straight, long, curly, etc.). It’s a must-have tool in a hair care kit.
- Detangling brush: A detangling brush separates strands before unknotting it. Its bristles are gentle on the hair.
- Round hairbrush: A round hairbrush is ideal for adding volume to the hair. The thicker the brush, the more voluminous the hair. You can use this brush while blow-drying your hair to give it a bouncy curl.
- Flat hairbrush: A flat hairbrush has flexible, well-spaced bristles that conform to your head’s contours. This brush can smoothen and detangle your hair during showering or after sleep.
- Backcombing brush: If you feel your hair looks flat, a backcombing brush is all you need, as it gives your hair a puffed-up look. It also tames strays and adds shine.
How to Use a Wooden Hairbrush?
Follow these steps to use a wooden hairbrush:
- Ensure your hair is dry, as wet hair is prone to breakage when brushing.
- Detangle knots in your hair using a wide-toothed wooden comb.
- Gently brush your hair using a wooden hairbrush to distribute the oil and stimulate the scalp.
How to Clean a Wooden Brush?
Follow these steps to clean a wooden hairbrush.
- Remove the hair that may be stuck in between the bristles.
- Soak your brush in a mixture of lukewarm water and a few drops of shampoo for a few seconds only. You can also scrub it using an old toothbrush.
- Clean the handle of the brush using a cotton pad dipped in water.
- Dry the brush using a clean towel. Leave the brush with bristles facing downward for water to come off.
General Queries
Can I use a wooden comb on my oily hair?
Yes, you can use a wooden comb on oily hair as it evenly spreads the oil through your hair lengths.
Are wooden combs good for frizzy hair?
Yes, you can use a wooden comb on your frizzy hair as it eliminates static and gently detangles hair.
Final Word
Both wooden combs and wooden brushes are environmentally friendly choices, but your hair, styling needs, and personal preferences play a vital role in your selection. You can use them together or individually based on your desired outcome.
References
Kumar VS, Navaratnam V. Neem (azadirachta indica): Prehistory to contemporary medicinal uses to humankind. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. July 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3695574/.