If you happen to’re Black, keep in mind a world with out the web, and had hair previous your ears rising up, chances are high you may have, uh, core reminiscences of the notorious sizzling comb. At any time when a vacation or special 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 possibly can hear (and really feel!) as quickly because it made contact with our grease-slathered roots.
That mentioned, it’s straightforward 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 convey that previous factor again.
Fortunately, heated combs have come a lengthy manner because the new millennium, and are far more pleasing to make use of now—so long as you already know what you’re doing. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what they’re all about, together with the perfect methods to make use of them, and our prime picks for the perfect heated combs to make use of.
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Our greatest sizzling combs for styling pure hair, at a look
- Greatest for journey: Crimson by Kiss Sizzling Styler Urgent Comb, $21
- Greatest for detangling: Gold N Sizzling Skilled 24K Gold Urgent & Styling Comb, $39
- Greatest for even warmth distribution: Andis 38335 Skilled Ceramic Press Comb, $15
- Greatest for on-the-go use: DAN Expertise Mini Sizzling Comb, $15
- Greatest for roots: Conair The Curl Collective Ceramic Urgent Sizzling Comb, $28
- Greatest for touch-ups: Infiniti Professional by Conair Gold-Plated Sizzling Comb, $22
- Greatest styling set: Leeons Sizzling Comb, $15
- Greatest old fashioned really feel: Annie Electrical Straightening Comb, $16
- Greatest for stopping scalp burns: Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb, $25
- Greatest for pairing with a range: Challenger Thermal Urgent Comb, $22
- Greatest for two-in-one styling: Shark Magnificence Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush, $99
- Greatest for mixing leave-out: The Frontal Queen Sizzling Styler Comb, $199
The 12 greatest sizzling combs for styling pure hair
Greatest for journey: Crimson by Kiss Sizzling Styler Urgent Comb — $21.00
Whereas your hair must be detangled previous to utilizing any sizzling instrument, this heated comb provides wedge-shaped tooth to assist hair glide by way of seamlessly.
Key options: Eight-foot swivel twine, gold-plated to stability warmth distribution.
- Consists of an anti-scald bracket to forestall burning your countertop
- May also be used on beards
- Some could discover the twine to be too lengthy
Greatest for detangling: Gold N Sizzling Skilled 24K Gold Urgent & Styling Comb — $44.00
Whereas your hair must be detangled earlier than utilizing any sizzling instrument, this heated comb provides wedge-shaped tooth to assist the hair glide by way of seamlessly.
Key options: Eight-foot swivel twine, gold-plated to stability warmth distribution.
- Gives adjustable warmth settings, as much as a max temperature of 430 levels
- Ergonomic deal with for optimum consolation whereas styling
- Some could discover the twine to be too lengthy
Greatest 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 sizzling spots.
- Gives 9 warmth settings
- 30-second warmth up
- Can nonetheless trigger scalp burns if the person is inexperienced
Greatest for on-the-go use: DAN Expertise Mini Sizzling Comb — $15 — $14.00
This 11-inch by 1.8-inch by 1.6-inch sizzling 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.
- Twin voltage, making it protected to make use of in several elements of the world
- 360-degree swivel twine
- Heats up in 30 seconds
- Solely provides two warmth settings: 430 and 450 levels
Greatest for touch-ups: Infiniti PRO by Conair Gold-Plated Sizzling Comb — $21.00
Providing a max temperature of 345 levels, this sizzling comb will get simply sizzling sufficient for single-pass touch-ups and is nice for smoothing over any frizz or flyaways.
- Gives 30 warmth settings
- Salon-grade instrument
- Single voltage
- Solely heats as much as 345 levels, which some could not discover to be sizzling sufficient if you wish to use it for greater than touch-ups
Greatest styling set: Leeons Sizzling Comb — $15.00
If you happen to’re in search of a sizzling comb that comes with all of the bells and whistles, you’ll undoubtedly wish to give Leeons a attempt.
Key options: This sizzling comb is made with titanium alloy, permitting for optimum warmth distribution. So that you’ll actually solely have to do one move for easy outcomes.
- Consists of hair clips to make sectioning simpler in addition to a silicone case to forestall scalding
- No auto shut-off function
- Single voltage
Greatest old fashioned really feel: Annie Electrical Straightening Comb — $16.00
If you happen to’re a sizzling 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 gives you the identical feeling from again within the day.
Key options: Simple-to-use on and off change.
- Gives a standard really feel
- Solely has one warmth setting, with a simple-to-maneuver on-and-off change
- Longer heat-up time
- Goes as much as 500 levels, which can trigger warmth harm
Greatest for stopping scalp burns: Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb — $25.00
The Terviix Electrical Sizzling Comb provides a detachable anti-scald defend that can be utilized whereas the instrument is on. This lets you get as shut as you may to your roots, with out burning your scalp.
Key options: Keratin and argan oil-infused tooth present a easy and smooth end.
- Protected to make use of close to the scalp and round edges
- Is available in completely different colours
- Gives max warmth of 450 levels, which can trigger warmth harm
Greatest for pairing with a range: Challenger Thermal Urgent Comb — $16.00
If you happen to desire to warmth your sizzling comb up both in a salon oven or in your kitchen range, then that is the proper instrument for you.
Key options: Gives a standard steel comb, and wood deal with
- Offers you a nostalgic really feel
- Can nonetheless be used within the occasion of an influence outage
- Expensive for a non-electric choice
Greatest for two-in-one styling: Shark Magnificence Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush — $99 — $102.00
If you happen to’re in a rush and don’t wish to take a multi-step method to straightening your hair, this combo instrument is each a blow dryer and a sizzling comb in a single.
Key options: Two-in-one styling that can assist you obtain a smooth end in half the time.
- Cuts down styling time
- Can be utilized on moist hair, straight out of the bathe
- Software is bigger than conventional sizzling combs, making it probably harder to maneuver
What are sizzling 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, movie star stylist and proprietor of The Salon Raleigh in North Carolina. “They’re used to straighten hair, leading to a smooth and easy look.”
It’s additionally essential to notice that whereas sizzling combs can model all hair sorts, they’re usually used on curly and coily textures to briefly straighten hair.
Are sizzling combs good in your hair?
Like every other sizzling instrument, it relies on how typically it’s used. “Sizzling combs trigger the identical quantity of warmth harm as every other sizzling instrument,” explains movie star hairstylist Ursula Stephen. “Spacing out the time in between utilizing these instruments is extremely advisable.” That mentioned, Carter recommends all the time utilizing a warmth protectant to defend your hair from harm.
Nevertheless, utilizing a sizzling comb at residence 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 a better threat of burning the scalp in case you’re not acquainted with utilizing this particular kind of sizzling instrument.
How one can use a sizzling comb
If you happen to desire to straighten your hair with a sizzling comb, it’s all the time greatest to go to a licensed stylist who makes a speciality of curly hair. Nevertheless, in case you do select to make use of one at residence, each Miller and Carter suggest utilizing an electrical sizzling comb, moderately 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 wish to lean on an old-fashioned trick to make sure the instrument isn’t too sizzling earlier than utilizing it in your hair. “Attempt 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 just too sizzling, and it’s best to watch for 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 forestall burning your free hand that shall 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 by way of every part
Getting as near your roots as potential, with out touching the scalp, rigorously glide the recent comb by way of your hair till you attain your ends. You’ll want to solely do one move per part to keep away from warmth harm.
How one can prep hair for a sizzling comb
Like with every other styling methodology, you’ll all the time wish 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, supplies warmth safety, and creates a protecting defend round hair making it smooth, straightforward to detangle, nourished, and moisturized whereas leaving hair 5x stronger with much less breakage versus untreated hair.”
Is a sizzling 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. Often, as soon as the hair has been flat ironed, you’ll seize your sizzling comb for the perimeters 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 sizzling combs,” she shares.
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