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I've often heard that wooden combs are preferable to plastic ones, but I haven't been able to find them in any local stores. The few I've found for sale online seem exorbitantly priced. Can anyone recommend a specific brand to search for or a store that sells them?
http://froogle.google.com/froogleq=wooden+comb&btnG=Search+Froogle
Are any of these like what you're after?
If you go looking in Chinese herbalists or other Chinese shops you may find them. The one I have was on a card with Chinese writing on it. It cost me about AU$10 (US$7.50).
LukeB
Be careful with wooden combs. A poorly made one will seriously damage your hair. A good wooden comb needs to be made of hardwood and polished until smooth. I had my hair braided at a street fair years ago by a lady who only used wooden combs. I asked where she got them, and she said her husband made them.
I've seen some for sale at Whole Foods and the like, but I wouldn't touch them. You can probably tell by looking if they're really bad, but if they're marginally bad, it might be hard to tell. Look especially at the base of the tines (the crotch of the teeth, for want of a better term). That area is not only the hardest area to carve but also the part that has the most friction with the hair.
If you live near a Sikh temple (Gurdwara), usually there are vendors who sell wooden combs, which are called a Kangha in the Punjabi language. The come in various sizes, but the most convenient size is about 4 inches wide. All Sikhs who have uncut hair use a Kangha to comb their hair, and those Sikhs who wear a turban usually wear a small Kangha (about 3 inches wide) in their hair under their turban. A Kangha is worn by all initiated ("baptized") Sikhs (Amritdhari, Khalsa) as one of their five divine gifts, or Panj Kakkars: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kacchera (long undershorts), Kirpan (small ceremonial sword), and Kara (steel bracelet or bangle). Most vendors at Gurdwaras sell Kanghas for about a dollar or two. Sikh religious supply houses also sell them by mail and over the web. They get better as you use them and they accumulate your hair oil. I have two Kanghas, one of which I have had for 9 years. Wooden combs don't create static electricity like a nylon comb. I have only used Kanghas to comb my hair for the past decade, and they have worked well for me.
I appreciate the advice, and I'll look into the existence of Chinese and Sikh vendors in my area. For now I've bought two "Solano" combs from www.cachebeautysupplies.com.
I have a variety of wooden combs, from $3 to $30. The worst was a $10 Widu ash comb...coarse grained wood, poorly made and finished. The Body Shop has a similar wood comb (same price and general design) that I hear is more finely finished. The $30 comb is beautiful and very well made (combmaker.com) the teeth are fairly coarse, the finish was exceptional. The one I use the most (follow up to finger combing) is the $3 chinese comb, very fine textured hardwood...I did go over the teeth with 1600 grit sandpaper before using it.(squeakymonroe.com)
I used to have a bamboo comb, which worked well, long gone though. I also have a natural horn comb, which after some touching up works nicely also.
We are selling all kinds of wood combs
http://www.jinshinsite.com/index.php?cPath=29+osCsid=e75a6a27bb4b5f33a287455b94df3cd9
Milanda Industry Company Limited is an enterprise of Sourcing company and manufacturer from Hongkong since 1998, after ten years development, We now have combined with several outstanding manufactories in mainland, producing mainly Wooden hair comb, Bamboo Comb, Hair Brushes, Hair horn comb, Wooden Cosmic Mirror, Wooden hanger, Wooden & Bamboo Chopsticks, etc. All our products have exported to worldwide countries and Districts.
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For export business, please kindly contact:
Mr.Yang, Mikle
Milanda Industry Company Limited.
Tel:021-58781011
Fax:021-58781011
Handy:+86 139 1612 1643
Email: mikley@vip.163.com
Website:http://www.milanda-china.diytrade.com
I make two designs of wooden combs, in cocobolo, a kind of rosewood, $12 and $18 delivered. |'ve sold a lot of these to Sikhs. See them at my web page, biesanz.com
All the best,
Barry
