When you’re Black, keep in mind a world with out the web, and had hair previous your ears rising up, likelihood is you’ve gotten, uh, core reminiscences of the notorious scorching comb. Every time a vacation or big day got here round, you already knew what was coming: a morning spent within the kitchen, with the distinct odor of the styling instrument heating up on the range and the unforgettable sizzle you might hear (and really feel!) as quickly because it made contact with our grease-slathered roots.
That stated, it’s simple to see why many people now go for flat irons when straightening our hair. However don’t get it twisted, heated combs are nonetheless nice for smoothing out roots, edges, and small sections. So typically, it’s good to deliver that outdated factor again.
Fortunately, heated combs have come a great distance because the new millennium, and are far more pleasing to make use of now—so long as you understand what you’re doing. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what they’re all about, together with one of the best methods to make use of them, and our high picks for one of the best heated combs to make use of.
Our greatest scorching combs for styling pure hair, at a look
Finest for journey: Purple by Kiss Sizzling Styler Urgent Comb, $21 Finest for detangling: Gold N Sizzling Skilled 24K Gold Urgent & Styling Comb, $39 Finest for even warmth distribution: Andis 38335 Skilled Ceramic Press Comb, $15 Finest for on-the-go use: DAN Expertise Mini Sizzling Comb, $15 Finest for roots: Conair The Curl Collective Ceramic Urgent Sizzling Comb, $28 Finest for touch-ups: Infiniti Professional by Conair Gold-Plated Sizzling Comb, $22 Finest styling set: Leeons Sizzling Comb, $15 Finest old skool really feel: Annie Electrical Straightening Comb, $16 Finest for stopping scalp burns: Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb, $25 Finest for pairing with a range: Challenger Thermal Urgent Comb, $22 Finest for two-in-one styling: Shark Magnificence Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush, $99 Finest for mixing leave-out: The Frontal Queen Sizzling Styler Comb, $199
The 12 finest scorching combs for styling pure hair
Finest for journey: Purple by Kiss Sizzling Styler Urgent Comb — $21.00
Whereas your hair must be detangled previous to utilizing any scorching instrument, this heated comb provides wedge-shaped tooth to assist hair glide via seamlessly.
Key options: Eight-foot swivel wire, gold-plated to stability warmth distribution.
Finest for detangling: Gold N Sizzling Skilled 24K Gold Urgent & Styling Comb — $44.00
Whereas your hair must be detangled earlier than utilizing any scorching instrument, this heated comb provides wedge-shaped tooth to assist the hair glide via seamlessly.
Key options: Eight-foot swivel wire, gold-plated to stability warmth distribution.
Finest for roots: Conair The Curl Collective Ceramic Urgent Sizzling Comb — $27.00
Particularly designed to focus on child hairs, flyaways, and roots, this staple from Conair helps you straighten each strand, with out burning your scalp.
Key options: Makes use of ceramic coating to keep away from warmth harm and scorching spots.
Finest for on-the-go use: DAN Expertise Mini Sizzling Comb — $15 — $14.00
This 11-inch by 1.8-inch by 1.6-inch scorching comb is smaller than its opponents, making it excellent for on-the-go use.
Key options: Quick heating, anti-scald bracket to keep away from burning counter tops.
Finest for touch-ups: Infiniti PRO by Conair Gold-Plated Sizzling Comb — $21.00
Providing a max temperature of 345 levels, this scorching comb will get simply scorching sufficient for single-pass touch-ups and is nice for smoothing over any frizz or flyaways.
Finest styling set: Leeons Sizzling Comb — $15.00
When you’re in search of a scorching comb that comes with all of the bells and whistles, you’ll positively need to give Leeons a strive.
Key options: This scorching comb is made with titanium alloy, permitting for optimum warmth distribution. So that you’ll actually solely have to do one move for clean outcomes.
Finest old skool really feel: Annie Electrical Straightening Comb — $16.00
When you’re a scorching comb professional and miss the old fashioned really feel on the salon, go for this OG straightening comb. When you can’t warmth this one up in a standard salon oven, its single warmth setting offers you the identical feeling from again within the day.
Key options: Straightforward-to-use on and off change.
Finest for stopping scalp burns: Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb — $25.00
The Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb provides a detachable anti-scald protect that can be utilized whereas the instrument is on. This lets you get as shut as you possibly can to your roots, with out burning your scalp.
Key options: Keratin and argan oil-infused tooth present a clean and smooth end.
Finest for pairing with a range: Challenger Thermal Urgent Comb — $16.00
When you want to warmth your scorching comb up both in a salon oven or in your kitchen range, then that is the right instrument for you.
Key options: Presents a standard steel comb, and wood deal with
Finest for two-in-one styling: Shark Magnificence Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush — $99 — $102.00
When you’re in a rush and don’t need to take a multi-step strategy to straightening your hair, this combo instrument is each a blow dryer and a scorching comb in a single.
Key options: Two-in-one styling that will help you obtain a smooth end in half the time.
What are scorching combs?
“Sizzling combs are hair styling instruments that resemble conventional combs however have a steel or ceramic element that may be heated both with an electrical range for hair instruments or they are often electrical themselves,” explains Nafisah Carter, superstar stylist and proprietor of The Salon Raleigh in North Carolina. “They’re used to straighten hair, leading to a smooth and clean look.”
It’s additionally vital to notice that whereas scorching combs can type all hair varieties, they’re usually used on curly and coily textures to briefly straighten hair.
Are scorching combs good on your hair?
Like another scorching instrument, it relies on how typically it’s used. “Sizzling combs trigger the identical quantity of warmth harm as another scorching instrument,” explains superstar hairstylist Ursula Stephen. “Spacing out the time in between utilizing these instruments is very really useful.” That stated, Carter recommends all the time utilizing a warmth protectant to protect your hair from harm.
Nonetheless, utilizing a scorching comb at house it’s not one thing New York Metropolis-based Spoke and Weal hairstylist Karen Miller recommends for her shoppers—or anybody not well-versed with self-styling. Not solely is warmth harm an element, however there’s probably the next threat of burning the scalp should you’re not conversant in utilizing this particular kind of scorching instrument.
The right way to use a scorching comb
When you want to straighten your hair with a scorching comb, it’s all the time finest to go to a licensed stylist who focuses on curly hair. Nonetheless, should you do select to make use of one at house, each Miller and Carter advocate utilizing an electrical scorching comb, slightly than heating it up on the range, as the previous is a bit simpler for newcomers to maneuver. Plus, you’ll have extra management of the warmth settings.
Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll need to lean on an old style trick to make sure the instrument isn’t too scorching earlier than utilizing it in your hair. “Strive testing the recent comb’s temperature by wiping it on a white tissue or serviette,” says Carter. “If the tissue adjustments colour, the comb is simply too scorching, and it is best to await it to chill earlier than making use of it to the hair.”
Now you’re able to go.
The first step: Placed on a warmth guard glove
That is to stop burning your free hand that will probably be holding the hair in place—which might simply come into contact with the recent comb.
Step two: Seize a small part of hair
Part out a quarter-inch part of hair and maintain it taught to make sure it’s correctly straightened.
Step three: Glide the recent comb via every part
Getting as near your roots as doable, with out touching the scalp, rigorously glide the recent comb via your hair till you attain your ends. Be sure you solely do one move per part to keep away from warmth harm.
The right way to prep hair for a scorching comb
Like with another styling methodology, you’ll all the time need to make sure you’re engaged on clear hair. So make sure you use a clarifying shampoo prior, in addition to a moisturizing conditioner, and naturally, a warmth protectant.
“I like utilizing SheaMoisture’s Bonding Oil,” says Stephen. “It’s a multi-tasking all-in-one oil providing 24-hour frizz and humidity management, offers warmth safety, and creates a protecting protect round hair making it delicate, simple to detangle, nourished, and moisturized whereas leaving hair 5x stronger with much less breakage versus untreated hair.”
Is a scorching comb higher than a flat iron?
Relies upon—totally on the kind of end you’re in search of.
“It’s extra about necessity,” explains Stephen. “Generally a flat iron can’t get as near the scalp as the recent comb can. Normally, as soon as the hair has been flat ironed, you’ll seize your scorching comb for the sides and hairline.” Carter agrees, however nonetheless prefers to make use of a flat iron. “They usually have titanium and ceramic plates, that are much less harsh on the hair in comparison with scorching combs,” she shares.
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