Hot Hair Comb vs Flat Iron and How to Use a Straightening Comb

Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Gaga

What is a Hot Comb?

A hair straightening comb is a styling tool used to make coarse hair smoother and frizz-free. Earlier models had metal teeth and were designed to be heated on the stove. Modern straightening combs are heated with electricity and have ceramic heating elements and multiple temperature settings. The heating plates have a plastic frame to protect you from burning yourself.

Advantages of Hot Combs

  1. If it takes you forever to style your hair in the morning, a heated comb is a great way to go. An electric hot comb is much faster than a regular flat iron. You will be able to finish your hair in half of the time that it takes to style your hair with a regular flat iron.
  2. You can take much larger sections of the hair and your hair will require fewer passes to get relatively straight than with a regular straightener. When using the comb, you can smooth the entire section of hair in 1-2 passes. With a flat iron, you need to run it 4-5 times through each section. 
  3. Your hair will look naturally straight, not “pin” straight or flat like after flat ironing.
  4. A heated comb doesn’t reduce volume, making your hair flat as a regular flat iron does.
  5. A straightening comb helps to straighten your roots as you can get closer to your scalp than when using a flat iron.
Electrical hot comb heater and hot comb, the 1920s.
Electrical hot comb heater and hot comb, the 1920s. Source

Best Candidates for Using a Hot Comb?

Traditionally, hot combs are used on unruly tresses and African American hair to give the hair a smoother and sleeker look. Although the tool can be used on all hair types, the effects are most visible on coarse hair.

When it comes to hair length, this straightening tool is most effective when used on shoulder-length hair or longer. When used on short hair a hot comb will work better on thick coarse short hair than on fine and straight hair because the tool needs to create tension in the hair to work.

If your hair is extremely curly and you want to make it bone straight, you might still need to use a regular flat iron. However, you can use a heat straightening comb before flat ironing to make your hair easier to style with a flat iron.

a woman with black hair straightened with a hot comb

It will quickly and effortlessly straighten wavy hair, take away frizz, and add plenty of shine.

If your hair is naturally straight, this tool can be used on freshly blow-dried hair to smooth out flyaway hair and fight frizz without reducing volume.

An electric straightening comb is an ideal choice for busy individuals who need to quickly give their hair the wow factor before walking out of the door.

How to Use a Heat Straightening Comb

Make sure to dry your hair completely before using this heated tool because your hair is vulnerable and prone to heat damage when wet.

Detangle your hair with a regular comb before using the heated comb, to avoid pulling the hair out by straightening it too vigorously. Detangling will also remove loose hair strands and make straightening easier, faster, and more efficient.

Always apply a heat protectant before hot combing.

temperaturechart

Select the temperature that is appropriate for your hair type. If you have thick, very curly, or coarse hair, set a higher temperature and work with smaller sections of the hair. Make sure to comb slowly and repeat if necessary, to get the desired look.

Hold the ends of your hair while slowly moving the comb through the parted sections.

After you have done it, place the comb on a heat-resistant surface and let it cool.

Tips for Purchasing a Quality Electric Comb

The convenience of a hair straightener comb greatly depends on its design. Make sure to choose a comb with an anti-scald design to protect your skin from burns. Also, look for an appliance with ceramic heating components and ionic technology. Ceramic heats evenly, reducing the possibility of heat damage, while negative ions help seal the cuticle, making hair smooth and glossy. Variable heat settings are important to accommodate all hair types.

a beautiful dark-skinned woman with hair straightened by hot comb

About the author

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Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.

 

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