These gentleman’s combs will banish bad hair days for good
Splitting hairs? It’s time to invest in a pocket-sized primper — to ensure you can comb your style back into shape wherever you may be…
Words: Jonathan Wells
Photography: Benjamin Swanson
Just look at all of those bared teeth — positively snarling with hairstyling potential. Row upon row of tines and spines, every one of them aching to sink themselves into your wild hair and needle out any knots. They’re bloody good at it, too. In fact, combs like these have been evolving for centuries — with the first known examples hewn from bone in Ancient Egypt.
Today, things are considerably less grisly. Most modern combs are cast from acetate, ergonomically designed and have a thing for tortoiseshell. And, whichever one you decide to take home — whether it’s crafted from carbon fibre, stainless steel or imitation ivory — your new comb will soon become your most faithful, constant companion. Here are eight of the best…
For comfort: Chicago Comb Model 1 Carbon Fibre Comb
As ergonomic as combs come, Chicago Comb Company’s ‘Model 1’ design is created with a handy loop at one end. It’s crafted from carbon fibre; a material as ultra-strong as it is smooth and light — as well as being naturally anti-static.
For coarse hair: Kent Handmade Pocket Comb
From British brushmakers Kent (James Bond’s haircare brand of choice), this handmade pocket comb is perfect for thick hair. With strong, rounded teeth, it features a tortoiseshell pattern, acetate construction and will tame even the most unruly of bed-heads.
For luxury: August Vanity Comb in Canary
Stepping up in price, this beautiful comb from August is worth every penny. Hewn from marbled Italian acetate, it features a gently scaling width of teeth — and comes in a genuine soft suede case.
For precision: Mason Pearson C1 Dressing Comb
Another British bastion of haircare, Mason Pearson’s C1 Dressing Comb is the gold standard of home styling. Swiss-made and with a slender design, it has two distinct types of teeth — and a gently sloping side that makes it effortless to handle.
For control: Truefitt & Hill Ox Horn Comb with Handle
We wouldn’t usually recommend a comb with a handle — but Truefitt & Hill’s dashing Ox Horn offering is perfect for preening those trickier styles. Thanks to the natural colour and tone variation of horn, each is unique — but all share the exceptional control afforded by that handle.
For curls: Koh-I-Noor Long Tort Comb
If you find your frizz hard to control, there are few better options than this sturdy, strong ‘Tort Comb’ from Koh-I-Noor. Handcrafted in Italy using cellulose acetate, those wide teeth mean it’s ideally suited for curly and voluminous hair.
For strength: Denman Black Diamond No.16 Military Comb
If you’re looking for sheer, unbridled strength, Denman have every other comb-maker beat out on both durability and value. It may not be the most visually arresting accessory on this list, but when it comes to reliability, this ‘Military’ comb is as dependable as its fighting name suggests.
For a bespoke option: Buly 1803 The Traditionalist: The Godfather Comb
A final brush with luxury, this ‘Godfather’ comb from Buly 1803 is a bespoke beauty. Crafted from sumptuously speckled acetate sourced from Lombardy, it can be engraved with your name for a price of €1 per character.
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