The Best Men’s Combs For For Every Hair Style

Since the first Cromagnon man picked up a jagged rock and dragged it across his head, combs have been an essential tool for mankind. After this Promethean discovery, combs evolved vastly, too. They were crafted from different materials and in different shapes and sizes for various preferences. All told, five primary materials separate the combs of the modern man.

Like the five elements, these comb-materials harbor different powers. Each material has its own unique benefit for hair combing – though some more than others. Read up on the categories of comb, and sift through our best hair combs for men guide to see which would benefit you most.

What to look for

Teeth: For precision and tight styles, a fine/narrow tooth comb is best. Medium-wide length teeth are best for wavy hair (or if your style is more relaxed, and bigger wide-tooth combs are ideal for coarse hair that’s harder to manage.

Size: This all depends on the length and thickness of your hair, and whether you plan on using your comb on facial hair. If you if straight and manageable hair (and also plan on using the comb on your mustache), a smaller comb might be more handy. But if you have thicker and/or wavier hair, something with more length can offer better control.

Different Comb materials

Carbon: What sets carbon away from other materials that constitute combs is its resistance to heat. As if forged from the coal itself, carbon combs can withstand the heat, and that’s why barbers and hairdressers love to use them for heat-intensive styling. Durable and lightweight, carbon combs are a haircutter’s best friend, and they have excellent detangling properties.

Synthetic: There are such a thing as bad plastic combs. Combs labeled as straight “plastic” will often be in a rigid but brittle mold, meltable with heat, and susceptible to breaking a tooth while brushing. But these cheap plastic combs give synthetic materials a bad name in hair styling. A plethora of wonderful synthetic hair tools exist – you just have to sift through the bad ones.

Wood: Wood combs are the most natural way to massage your scalp as you brush. They will keep your hair nourished and lustrous by inducing your natural oils to come out. Sandalwood, bamboo, and other wood varieties make for a comfortable comb and will aid in restoring your hair to its original vitality. Go against the grain with a wood comb.

Metal: The most durable combs of the lot, metal offers a variety of features that other materials cannot rival. The strength of a metal comb is never in question. Unless shoddily made, metal combs will not break or crack, and there is no gnarl or knot a metal comb cannot untangle.

Horn: Horn is the ultimate in comb materials. They don’t just look elegant; keratin-infused horn combs will luxuriate your hair with marble-smooth teeth that provide the same follicle stimulation as wood combs. Usually made from Ox or Buffalo horn, these polished and mostly hand-made combs are definitely higher-end, but they pay dividends. Like a cast iron pan, horn combs should last a lifetime – and longer – if properly maintained.

Should you comb with wet or dry hair?

Combs are most effective when your hair is (at least somewhat) wet, as they’re more gentle than brushes and won’t damage your hair (as long as you’re not combing too hard). When your hair is dry, that’s where the brush comes in. You can still get a quick clean-up with a comb if your hair is dry, but in order to do some serious styling or detangling, it’s best to get your hair wet.

BYRD Pocket Comb

Best Sustainable Comb: BYRD makes products inspired by that classic ’60s surf culture, which you can see in this funky yellow comb that’s made from real surfboard fins. But you don’t have to be a surfer to appreciate the flexibility and strength of this comb.

Wahl Beard and Mustache Wallet Comb

Best Wallet Comb: When you think of Wahl, you think of classic barbershops and the memories made inside them. So if you want some of that in your pocket, then this wallet comb is a great choice. It’s 100% handmade with tapered teeth and rounded tips, and designed to make men look and feel their best.

Rocky Mountain Barber Company Hair Comb

Best Wood Comb: The Rocky Mountain Barber Company has a rugged name, and it creates rugged products to match. The orange anti-static and no-snag wood comb is no different. Made by hand, this no-frills and attractive comb can be used on head hair or beard hair, and can straighten out your ‘do painlessly. Emulate the mountain man within you.

Chicago Comb Model 8

Best Hair Pick: For those of you with thick and/or curly hair, this hair pick from Chicago Comb, a brand that makes combs built to last here in the States, can help you out. It’s made with carbon fiber and features sturdy and wide teeth to tame even the wildest manes. Additionally, the comb is heat and chemical-resistant so it can stand up to serious use.

Woodnsteel Comb

Best Metal Comb: Woodnsteel crafts products with longevity in mind and an emphasis on the process, whether it be woodworking, leatherworking, or metalworking. And they’re all handcrafted in the label’s Indiana shop, like this durable comb that has polished teeth and a hand-tied leather strap. It’s easy to clean and has a manageable size, too, so you can take it anywhere.

Kent 82T

Best Folding Pocket Comb: The Kent 82T is anh example of a fine, fine-toothed comb made from synthetic materials. Just four inches and foldable, it’s an excellent size for a pocket pal and comes in a handsome tortoise-shell veneer. It’s sturdy and portable, making the Kent 82T the perfect travel comb.

Baxter of California Comb

Editor’s Pick: Made from the sturdiest Swiss synthetic material, cellulose acetate, the Baxter of California Pocket Comb is a handmade marvel for an affordable price. Smoothly tapered teeth with rounded edges ensure a comfortable comb, and an attractive tortoise shell design separates it from run-of-the-mill synthetic combs on the market.

Mason Pearson Rake Comb

Best Rake Comb: The Mason Pearson rake comb is perfect for those with hair that tends toward tanglage – the gaps between teeth ensure comfort, and no yank as you drag the comb through whatever knotted mess you have. Like other Mason Pearson products, this comb is made of high-quality materials with rounded edges, so that it won’t snag and pull your hair.

Wolfman Barber Shop Pocket Comb

Best Japanese-Made Comb: Wolfman Barber Shop is a Japanese-based establishment that creates original products for those who appreciate the communal aspect of hair care. Although it may be hard to get over there, you can appreciate the label’s pocket comb that’s handmade in Japan with a tortoiseshell finish.

Garrett Wade Large Dresser Horn Comb

Best Ox Horn Comb: Horn combs are hard to come by these days. The man speaking to Dustin Hoffman’s character in The Graduate was not wrong when he said that “plastics” would take over. But Garrett Wade has sustained its commitment to excellent, organic material, and excellent products – and the GW Natural Horn Comb is the result of this commitment. A discerning gentleman will adore this addition to his hair-styling kit, as Garrett Wade’s quality in hair care is unrivaled.

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