Did you know? Something as innocuous as combing your hair can do a lot of damage.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you shouldn’t comb your locks. I’m saying not to do it absent-mindedly. That’s when the damage happens.
If you find that your hair looks worse after combing, here’s what to do:
How Can combing damage hair?
Rough combing can wreak all kinds of havoc on your hair. It damages your cuticles and makes your hair more prone to breakage. The harsher you comb, and the more often you do it, the more damage you’ll cause.
FYI, pay extra attention if you’re combing wet hair. Wet hair is very fragile and even more prone to breakage. Your hair swells when it’s wet, making it more elastic but also more vulnerable to stretching and snapping. That’s why using the right technique and tools is crucial to preventing damage.
Another way combing can damage your hair? Friction. Every time you pull a comb through your strands, you’re creating friction that can lead to split ends, dullness, and even increased frizz. And if you’re using a cheap plastic comb with sharp edges? Even worse.
How Do You Prevent Combing Damage?
Of course, you can’t stop combing your hair. You just have to do it more gently. Here’s how:
Go Easy
Yanking through knots is a recipe for disaster. Start at the ends and work your way up. Think of it as detangling, not just combing.
Use a Wide-Toothed Comb
A wide-toothed comb glides through your hair without wrecking your cuticles. This is especially important when your hair is wet.
Apply Conditioner (Yep, With Silicones!)
Nope, silicones aren’t the enemy. They make your hair smoother so your comb moves through it effortlessly. A good leave-in conditioner or detangler? Game-changer.
Keep It Quick
The more strokes you do, the more damage you cause. Unless you’re detangling, don’t keep combing just for the sake of it.
Don’t Overdo It
Only comb when you need to. If your hair isn’t tangled, skip it. Over-combing can mess with your natural oils and cause unnecessary frizz.
Pick the Right Comb for Your Hair
Not all combs are created equal. Got curls? Use a wide-tooth comb or even your fingers to detangle. Fine hair? A soft detangling brush might work better. The key is to find what works best for your hair type.
Don’t Comb Dry Curls
If you’ve got curls, combing dry hair is a fast track to a frizzy mess. Instead, detangle when your hair is damp and coated in conditioner to keep your curl pattern looking fresh.
Keep Your Combs Clean
Think about it—every time you comb, you’re dragging product buildup, dirt, and oil through your hair. Gross, right? Give your combs a good wash regularly to keep things clean.
The Bottom Line
Combing your hair seems like a no-brainer—until you start seeing the damage. But if you use the right tools, the right technique, and a little extra care, you’ll keep your hair looking and feeling its best.
this is very useful, thank you!
Celeste, you’re welcome. I’m glad you find it useful. 🙂
For the reasons you mentioned, I avoid combing my hair!
Jamilla, lol. It’s better doing it as little as possible and always treat hair gently. 🙂
The main problem with combs is that most are cheaply produced moulded ones. Where the two parts of the mould meet, a sharp edge remains that frequently isn’t removed and that will scrape against the hair and damage it.
I use wide-toothed combs that have been sawn from a block of hard rubber and smoothed. This kind of comb is more gentle, heat-resistant, anti-static, extremely sturdy and only a little more expensive.
CucumPear, I agree with you that it’s important to choose the right comb. There are a lot on the market that make more harm than good. You need a gentle, wide-toothed comb one and I’m glad you’ve found one that works for you. That type is best for hair so it’s worth it to pay a bit more for it. Thansk for sharing. 🙂
I only brush (never comb) my hair right before I wash it. See, I have curly hair. If I brush or comb it, it turns into a frizzy mess. If it looked like an afro, I’d be okay with it, but it’s not anything that cool. So I can’t comb or brush my hair after washing it, or I won’t look any type of good.
(and that contributed to by day-2 snarled mess of hair.)
Trisha, that sounds annoying! You have beautiful hair though. 🙂 I like brushing hair before washing it cos it helps detangle any knots.
I run a plastic brush through my hair a couple of times in the morning, and never comb it when it’s wet. I’m curious, are there any combs in particular you would recommend? The one I’m using I got free at a hotel LOL so I’m sure it’s not the best option out there.
Makeup Morsels, most wide-toothed combs will do, as long as they are of good quality and don’t have any sharp edges.
When I had thick curly hair I used to use one of those hair pick comb things instead of a brush and it seemed to work well to prevent frizz. Now that my hair is really thin I don’t even own a comb – I just brush it with like 5 strokes and I’m done.
Jeni, I like hair pick combs for hair as they don’t have too many teeth and aren’t as damaging as regular combs. And just brushing hair with a few strokes is best when you have hair issues as it’s gentle and won’t cause further damage. 🙂
I only use a comb to smooth out my wet hair, and only brush my hair until it’s detangled to minimize damage. I do keep a little brush in my car, though, ’cause my hair gets tangled easily.
Tammy, my hair gets tangled easily so I know how annoying it is! It’s useful to have a comb with you when that happens. 🙂
I comb my hair in the shower with conditioner on, whenever I wash my hair and it GROWS TWICE AS FAST. With a wide tooth comb. I use Assue 3 minute miracle. Then wash off the excess.
Patricia, I’m glad that works well for you. Thanks for sharing.
Does combing damage make loads of loose strands of hair come out while washing and brushing? I have this and it’s really annoying. So I’ve started using herbel essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Conditioner. Do you have tips to avoid loads of loose strands? My mum has this problem but my sister doesn’t and she washing her hair everyday!!
MetalPrincess, we are supposed to lose between 100-150 hairs each day and, when you wash it, your motions can disloge the hair that’s about to fall. If you’re losing more hair than that, then try being gentler when you comb it and wash it. If even that doesn’t work, then you should consult a doctor.