What’s the one hair tool you use every single day? A comb, of course! But did you know that using a wooden comb is much better for your hair than a plastic one or a comb made from PVC?
Aside from the scalp benefits, wood is more eco-friendly as well. Combing your hair with a wooden comb can save you from damage while aligning with sustainability.
Check out all the reasons why wooden combs outperform plastic and metal grooming tools in this article.
Benefits of Using Wooden Combs
Wooden combs or brushes have many benefits for your hair and scalp, whether your hair is thick, curly, coarse, or fine. They gently massage your scalp, condition your hair with natural oils, and don’t cause static or irritation.
Here are the benefits of using a wooden comb for hair and scalp:
1. Gentler on Hair
Wooden combs are significantly gentler on hair than plastic combs. Their smoother teeth glide through hair effortlessly, reducing the risk of breakage and damage.
This gentle approach is especially beneficial for those with delicate or brittle hair. Wooden combs tend to glide over your scalp more smoothly.
You can avoid split ends much more easily with a wooden comb for this very reason.
2. Improves Scalp Health
Using a wooden comb can stimulate blood flow to the scalp, which helps keep your scalp comfortable and healthy.
The gentle massage of a wooden comb simply feels soothing and makes daily combing more comfortable.
3. Doesn’t Cause Static Damage
Friction from plastic combs creates an electrical charge that attracts your hair, ultimately causing frizz and static. This static charge and the resulting tangles can leave your hair vulnerable to becoming brittle and breaking.
Wooden combs, however, don’t build up a static charge, so you never have to worry about static damage.
4. Less Chance of Allergic Reactions
Just like our skin, our scalps can be sensitive to the products and the materials we allow to touch them.
Believe it or not, we can have allergic reactions to the plastic or metal combs that you commonly find at the beauty supply store.
Since wood is a natural resource, you likely won’t experience red patches, itchiness, or scalp eruptions.
For those who are already experiencing these symptoms, you can let your scalp recover and then start anew with a wooden comb.
5. Distributes Oil Evenly
Wooden combs are more nourishing for your scalp because they distribute natural oils from your scalp throughout the entirety of your hair.
Typically, the oils in your hair stick to plastic and metal combs, making your hair look greasy because it wasn’t distributed properly.
The wooden comb carries the scalp’s natural oils from root to tip, which can help reduce breakage and leave hair looking shinier, healthier, and bouncier.
6. Helps Hair Look Thicker and Fuller
This benefit speaks to the previous point made about wooden combs and how they encourage blood circulation.
Because a wooden comb feels comfortable on the scalp, you may find yourself combing more gently and more thoroughly, leaving hair looking smoother and fuller.
The result? Hair that looks fuller and keeps more of its length, because less of it breaks off.
7. Prevents Tangling
Plastic, metal, and PVC combs can create tons of tangles when you get to the bottom of your hair. It seems like our hair always gets snagged somewhere or another when combing.
A wooden comb doesn’t cause tangling, and detangling is also easier with a wooden comb, probably because you don’t have to worry about static and frizziness.
That’s why a wooden comb is an ideal tool for those with fine hair. It gently detangles without pulling or tugging, minimizing damage and breakage, a common concern for fine-haired individuals.
8. Can Be Used with Blow Dryer
Since wood does not conduct heat, there’s no need to think that your comb will get affected negatively by the heat.
On the other hand, metal combs conduct heat and can become quite tough to hold when they begin getting hot, and plastic combs can soften or warp, especially when they’re too close to your hairdryer as you style or comb your hair.
9. Easier on an Itchy, Flaky Scalp
Dandruff has several causes, and rough combing that nicks the scalp does not help. Wooden combs have rounded and softer teeth that don’t cut or nick the scalp.
Gentle combing helps spread the scalp’s natural oils, which can leave the scalp feeling less dry; if you have persistent dandruff or a flaky, itchy scalp, see a dermatologist.
10. Removes Dirt and Other Particles With Ease
Have you ever noticed dirt and other unidentifiable particles that get stuck between the teeth of your comb after combing your hair?
That can be unsettling, and if you were to continue combing your hair, you’d find that you are putting the filth back into your mane.
Plastic combs can hold high static charges, which cause dirt to attach to them, and they redistribute the dirt back through your hair.
Wooden combs present less of a problem when it comes to build-up. As you comb your hair gently with a wooden comb, you’ll find that dirt and other particles are brushed away and out of your hair.
11. Better Durability
Wooden combs are uniquely durable, and they are often made out of bamboo, which is both resilient and renewable.
The teeth of these combs rarely break, and unlike plastic, a damaged wooden comb will biodegrade. Therefore, the wooden comb is not only eco-friendly, but it is better than plastic and metal as well.
How to Keep Your Wooden Comb Clean
You can keep your wooden comb clean by simply removing any remaining hair from the comb after use. Remember to put the comb in a dry cabinet, drawer, or on a dry surface when you’re not using it.
When wooden combs are exposed to water, over time the water can begin to warp the comb. Unfortunately, bathrooms are among the most humid rooms in your home.
If you’re traveling, store your wooden comb in a dry-sealed cloth bag.
Occasionally, apply flaxseed (linseed) oil or coconut oil to your comb to preserve and maintain the condition of your wooden comb.
Allow the oil to sit for about half an hour until the oil has seeped into the wood. Afterward, wipe the comb with a soft cloth.
Final Thoughts
While plastic and metal combs are more prominent, wooden combs are better to have for many reasons.
You don’t have to worry about your wooden comb becoming too hot because it is too close to the hairdryer, as it doesn’t conduct heat.
Moreover, these eco-friendly combs are durable and strong and don’t cause dirt and particles to build up.
If taken care of properly, a wooden comb can last you for a long time while allowing you to enjoy conveniences that other combs don’t offer you.
