In the old days, the comb was used strictly for its intended purpose. However, a modern product has different functions: thanks to it, we not only comb our hair, but also massage our heads and create a beautiful hairstyle.
The first object that looks like a modern comb was made by people about 10,000 years ago. It was a kind of comb made from a fish skeleton. Finds dating back to a later period include combs made of bamboo, cow horns and elephant tusks, pig bristles, hedgehog needles, and turtle shells. In a word, then everything that was at hand was used.
The ancient Greek women, who lived in the second millennium BC, used combs for more than just combing. They were used to decorate the head, poisons and perfumes were stored in them (they were already familiar with deceit and the art of seduction).
The attitude to the comb among the eastern peoples was different. They considered it a talisman against evil spirits, and therefore made it from precious metals. Such a device was incredibly beautiful and expensive; it was passed down from generation to generation and cherished like a real treasure.
In the Middle Ages, the attitude towards a comb as a work of art did not change. At that time it was made of gold, silver and precious stones. Rich Europeans could afford such luxury. The hairstyles of ladies of that era were complex, and “parsing” them before bed was considered a waste of time. Therefore, the comb was a decoration, and not an item for everyday use.
By the way! “Voshigonalki” is not an offensive word, but a necessary item in the Middle Ages. At that time, they didn’t wash their hair for a long time, and therefore insects, known to everyone, appeared in the ladies’ hairstyles. To eliminate the itching without spoiling the beauty of the head, fashionable women used a comb with a long thin handle, which “kicked out the lice.”
In Russia, a comb has been used since ancient times. Magical properties were attributed to this item and it was actively used in epics and legends, fortune telling and conspiracies. The comb was made of wood; interesting patterns were applied to it, which protected against dark forces.
Before people learned how to make plastic, combs were made exclusively from natural materials and almost by hand. This process has always been long and expensive. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century did synthetic materials come into use.
Nowadays, there is not a house on the planet that does not have at least one comb. Today, these devices are produced in huge quantities from a variety of materials. Among the main ones:
All combs can be divided into separate groups depending on their purpose. We use some of them every day, but there are also very extravagant options designed for hairdressers.
The most popular types of combs are:
Unusual options include a comb with natural bristles instead of teeth, a brush with microfiber, and a device with toothed loops for hair extensions.