Is combing bad?
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: General Hair Talk
Forum Description: A free wheeling discussion of hair related topics.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=38029
Printed Date: November 28 2025 at 7:45am
Topic: Is combing bad?
Posted By: Marc O' Connor
Subject: Is combing bad?
Date Posted: December 14 2005 at 11:31am
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Is combing bad?
I comb it rarely, I did only tonight. Is combing bad? |
Replies:
Posted By: gossipqueen
Date Posted: December 14 2005 at 1:39pm
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I think it depends on what comb you use. Brushing definitely causes breakage, ripping and damage. I find combing better, using a wider tooth comb seems to cause less breakage for me. |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: December 14 2005 at 1:58pm
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Try using a seamless comb. It does not have those plastic ridges on the
teeth of the comb that will rip your hair shaft. Failing that,
you can always get very fine sandpaper and sand down any ridges that
would catch or rip your hair. Personally, I just use my fingers. They're "wide-tooth" enough for me. ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Debbie
Date Posted: December 15 2005 at 7:29am
Welcome back UZMA!!!!!!!  ------------- There is more to life than hair...Come on---Go get a life!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: December 15 2005 at 7:58am
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I think keeping hair as knot free as you can is good for it (if that's what you were asking as opposed to combing vs. brushing). ------------- Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Scntillatedseed
Date Posted: December 15 2005 at 5:37pm
| i remember reading that overcombing is bad. just comb til things are in place and be one with it. |
Posted By: gossipqueen
Date Posted: December 15 2005 at 5:43pm
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I agree comb just as much as you need to, to achieve the style you want and then stop, the less handling the better. |
Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: December 17 2005 at 7:03am
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Hi all, ll great advice. Just to add...I use my fingers as much as possible but find that a tiny dab of jojoba oil applied sparingly to my fingers helps when I "finger comb" the middle to the ends of my hair that tend to get dry and crunchy feeling. I also only use a super soft comb if I must use a comb. A trichologist told me a long time ago that some combs, when they make contact with the scalp, will leave tiny little scratches or tears (due to sharp edges) and this could cause long term problems for the scalp and hair. Ever since I hear that, I am very careful to keep anything sharp...including fingernails, away from my scalp.
------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: December 17 2005 at 8:49am
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Hi Karen, How do you "exfoliate" the scalp? I find that if I don't use my fingernails to clean my scalp when I wash, a thick layer of dandruff builds up. Similarly, my face tends to break out if I don't exfoliate (using a washcloth) at least once a day. When I comb, it generally doesn't touch my scalp, though, so no problems scratching the scalp with my comb. ------------- |
Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: December 17 2005 at 1:09pm
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Hey Dave, You hair is spectacular. I had no idea it had so much wave. I actually use the pads of my fingertips to exfoliate. In fact, I have been doing this a lot more lately and more consistently and people have been telling me that my complexion is glowing. And I am not doing anything to my skin that is unusual. So I am assuming the gentle massaging action that accompanies the exfoliation is having a postive energy flow to my face as well. I just always make sure that my nails are carefully trimmed and I file them super smooth to make sure I don't scratch the scalp.
------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: December 18 2005 at 1:54pm
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Ah, thanks for the response, Karen. I've tried in the past to use the pads of my fingertips only (on my scalp, when washing). Unfortunately it did not clean the scalp sufficiently well. Maybe I'll incorporate a bit more of it, using the nails less. I'll try. And for sure I make sure the nails are smooth before starting the process. Anything less tends to snag strands. (Yikes) The waves in my picture are from a damp braid. Without the braid, it is quite straight. Thanks for the compliment.  |
Posted By: AnaisSatin
Date Posted: December 18 2005 at 5:20pm
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Hi Dave! I've had luck with using a seamless chisel comb on the scalp, when the scalp has been wet for at least 5 minutes. I literally scratch the gunk off in the direction that the hair grows (gently of course). Have you tried something like this?
Anais ------------- http://anaissatin.livejournal.com">  my LJ , 40 inches long
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Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: December 18 2005 at 5:27pm
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Hi Anais & Dave, I have to admit this freaks me a little bit. I never had that much gunk on my scalp. Am I doing something wrong? My scalp seems really clean with my pads of my fingernails. I did use a soft seamless pick today to check this out and it didn't seem to make too much difference. So now I am wondering.................... ------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: December 18 2005 at 6:07pm
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Anais, I'm reluctant to start using a comb to scratch my scalp.
Somehow I think my fingernails aren't as harsh as any comb would be. Karen, if you don't have gunk on your scalp, that's great! You're obviously taking good care of it already. |
Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: December 18 2005 at 6:23pm
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Whew...thanks heavens. I already worry enough about my hair to not have to add my scalp to it. :-)
------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |