joyfulmom4
March 28th, 2009, 12:08 PM
After reading stardustbreeze's horrible experience with the comb (so sorry to hear about that) and reading all the replies, I wondered if this experience is a lot more common than I imagined? And if so, maybe switching to a different combing/detangling tool might help?
The reason I ask is that the only time I ever had my hair tangle up like that was using a wide toothed comb, like the ones most people here seem to prefer. For years, I only used a plastic hair pick and never, ever, in all the years did it get tangled up. Not even a little. I think the shape of the picks with the handle opposite the prongs, prevents it from happening. I could be wrong, but honestly, when I first read the post, I was baffled that anyone could wind up w/ a comb so entangled as that. I didn't understand how it could happen. Then I read the replies and it seems like it's something that happens easily and often to others with long hair. I had to really stretch my memory before I recalled that I had gotten an ordinary wide-toothed comb stuck before.
I know picks have a bad reputation for very curly, afro hair, despite being typically called "afro picks". I've read that they can cause a lot of breakage for very curly hair. But they're great for my hair. I can quickly comb through and detangle my hair in a minute or two, with hardly any shedding. I find that the angle of the handle makes it far easier to comb out tangles. And the length of the tines means I can comb through all layers easily, even though my hair is thick and wavy. Even really big wide-toothed combs never worked well for me. It took so much longer to detangle hair and caused more shedding and breakage. Also, I never found it comfortble to comb from that angle (holding the side of a typical comb or a long handle going sideways off the end). The pick design just feels better in my hand. To comb out, I start at the ends and comb through a few inches at a time, detangling and gradually moving upward towards the roots until I can run the pick through the length easily. For my hair, it's even safer than finger combing b/c when I finger comb, my hair gets clingy to my skin and more gets pulled out.
I've tried all the assorted wood combs and brushes, horn combs, various seamless plastic comb designs, finger combing, etc. I always go back to my plastic picks.
Maybe I'm just the odd one out, but I figured I'd mention it since I felt so bad for stardustbreeze having to go through that awful experience. Perhaps some others might have better luck with this design? I know someone posted a link for a site that sells very high-quality seamless picks if you're particular. I confess though, I have always used the ones from Sally's and they seem fine. If I ever notice a rough spot on a hair tool, I just sand it down w/ fine sandpaper. I do only buy the ones with the dipped tips though. The others are too pointy and hurt. Ditto for metal. Can't use metal.
Hope that helps someone. :)
PS. Usually I buy the largest one they sell at Sally's: http://www.sallybeauty.com/Mebco-Double-Dip-Pik/SBS-183705,default,pd.html
The reason I ask is that the only time I ever had my hair tangle up like that was using a wide toothed comb, like the ones most people here seem to prefer. For years, I only used a plastic hair pick and never, ever, in all the years did it get tangled up. Not even a little. I think the shape of the picks with the handle opposite the prongs, prevents it from happening. I could be wrong, but honestly, when I first read the post, I was baffled that anyone could wind up w/ a comb so entangled as that. I didn't understand how it could happen. Then I read the replies and it seems like it's something that happens easily and often to others with long hair. I had to really stretch my memory before I recalled that I had gotten an ordinary wide-toothed comb stuck before.
I know picks have a bad reputation for very curly, afro hair, despite being typically called "afro picks". I've read that they can cause a lot of breakage for very curly hair. But they're great for my hair. I can quickly comb through and detangle my hair in a minute or two, with hardly any shedding. I find that the angle of the handle makes it far easier to comb out tangles. And the length of the tines means I can comb through all layers easily, even though my hair is thick and wavy. Even really big wide-toothed combs never worked well for me. It took so much longer to detangle hair and caused more shedding and breakage. Also, I never found it comfortble to comb from that angle (holding the side of a typical comb or a long handle going sideways off the end). The pick design just feels better in my hand. To comb out, I start at the ends and comb through a few inches at a time, detangling and gradually moving upward towards the roots until I can run the pick through the length easily. For my hair, it's even safer than finger combing b/c when I finger comb, my hair gets clingy to my skin and more gets pulled out.
I've tried all the assorted wood combs and brushes, horn combs, various seamless plastic comb designs, finger combing, etc. I always go back to my plastic picks.
Maybe I'm just the odd one out, but I figured I'd mention it since I felt so bad for stardustbreeze having to go through that awful experience. Perhaps some others might have better luck with this design? I know someone posted a link for a site that sells very high-quality seamless picks if you're particular. I confess though, I have always used the ones from Sally's and they seem fine. If I ever notice a rough spot on a hair tool, I just sand it down w/ fine sandpaper. I do only buy the ones with the dipped tips though. The others are too pointy and hurt. Ditto for metal. Can't use metal.
Hope that helps someone. :)
PS. Usually I buy the largest one they sell at Sally's: http://www.sallybeauty.com/Mebco-Double-Dip-Pik/SBS-183705,default,pd.html