Using a hot comb is an old-school hair pressing technique, but it works great on certain hair types and textures (such as 4C hair type).
Afro hair is very thick and coarse in nature. Therefore, it is difficult to get a sleek look using many hot tools.
After using some hot tools, your hair can be frizzy, and puffy which does not look good.
You may remember the hot comb being used on your hair in the kitchen while your mama or grand-mama straightened your hair for your graduation or graduation pictures.
Electric straightening combs are the perfect hot tool for a sleek straight look whether you have black or afro hair. If you want a straight look with no frizz then you should use a hot comb.
Manual vs electric hot comb: while a manual hot comb (a.k.a pressing comb stove iron – because we use it to press hair straight) is heated in the thermal stove, an electric one is plugged in and style.
Manual pressing comb comes with a wide selection of sizes
Here are 10 hot combs that you can use to get a sleek look:
Firstly, is the Conair hot comb as the name suggests instantly heats up within 30-seconds with ultra-hot technology which will give you the sleek look in a reduced time.
The heat settings on the comb will assist you in perfecting the sleekness if you want your coarse hair to be bone straight or blown out straight.
As well as, it has an auto-off feature that will turn off the comb if it is left on for too long.
Lastly, the comb prevents heat burns on the scalp or heat damage unlike back in the day because it has a heat recovery system.
If this hot comb is not available you can get Kentucky Maid tool instead.
This is the advance, modern, professional pressing comb. It has patented pulse technology, specifically 85 watts of power, integrated into the comb that allows heat to be distributed like lightning but efficiently and effectively.
In addition, it was designed with your hands in mind because it has a soft-grip handle which makes holding and maneuvering it easy.
The temperature control goes up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit which is the heat level at which paper burns.
Lastly, it comes with a heavy-duty stand to hold the tool, as well as heavy-duty corn to prevent tangling.
Andis has one of the best hot combs for straightening coarse hair. This comb heats up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit within 30 seconds.
The gold ceramic comb retains the heat as well as makes the hair sleeker, shinier, and frizz-free. It has 20 heat settings hence it can be adjusted for various hair types whether fine, medium, thick or coarse.
There is an auto-off safety feature so the comb turns off when it is not in use. There is a swivel cord which makes moving the comb around a lot easier. Lastly, it comes with a warranty!
This tool will bring you back to the old days of going to the salon to get your hair pressed, however, you can now have the salon in your home.
The ceramic heater heats up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit (860 degrees Celsius) which will be able to straighten your hair, especially if it is thick.
It has an on/off switch cord so that you can switch it off when you are not using it. However, it has a 4-feet cord with a grounding plug hence it needs to be placed near an outlet.
The hot comb is also called pressing comb, the old fashioned pressing comb is put into heater stove for heating up.
Who invented hot comb (pressing comb)
It is still unknown who invented this brilliant tool, though you may acknowledge that a hairstylist did use a hot comb on his customer in 1872, whose name is Marcel Grateau. Using hot comb is believed to done by ancient Egyptian for styling hair.
How to use a hot comb (pressing comb)
Apply a bit of heat-protective cream ( I recommend Kiehl’s Heat Protective Silk Straightening Cream) that not just leaves your hair more silky, shiny, but works as a heat protector.
First, you heat up the tool, test it on a paper towel if it burns you have to wait for a while before styling.
Take a small section of hair, start from the roof, come in without contact with scalp (you know hot comb is hot – and it hurts), slowly press the back of pressing comb – pull against your hair all the way through.
After styling hair with a hot comb, your hair could last 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Are hot combs bad for natural hair?
Ans. No, they are not if they are used properly. An electric hot comb is made for afro hair or black hair This allows users to select what degree of heat they need to straighten their hair.
If the temperature isn’t too high, and you take the necessary steps to prevent damage, it shouldn’t dry out your hair.
To prevent heat damage, use it on hair that has just been washed, and it should be completely dry. Run a small amount of a product with a heat protectant through your hair. Add a moisturizer to prevent frizzing and to keep your tresses healthy.
Use the lowest setting to straighten your curly hair (usually below 375°F), then use smaller sections to run the hot comb through. Be sure you don’t exceed this setting if at all possible as your hair may begin to frizz.
These tips will keep your afro textured hair looking healthy and prevent damage.
Q2. What do hot combs do to your hair?
Ans. Hot combs (also called a pressing comb/straightening comb) are a straightener for moderate to very coarse hair. It creates a smoother-looking appearance to African American hair. It can be used for thick hair as well.
Q3. Who made the hot comb?
Ans. It is difficult to say with any certainty who the original creator of the hot comb was. Tracing its origins is difficult because of missing/unclear documentation and misinformation.
In terms of patents, the hot comb had several names and numerous inventors. No one truly knows who the first inventor was.
What we do know is that Marcel Grateau (who went by other pseudonyms), is accredited with originally inventing it in the late 1800s. He used this device on Caucasian women in Europe. The patent for this invention is for the “hair waving iron”.
In 1886 it was still being marketed to Caucasian women but in popular North American stores. Others holding hot comb patents include Water Sammons (1920) and Clara Grant (1925).
There is a misconception that Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove) was the original creator of the hot comb in 1905 and that she was the only African American that obtained her wealth from black hair care.
While her efforts were quite notable, African American Annie Turnbo Malone (1920s) was attributed as the original pioneer.
Andis has one of the best hot combs for straightening coarse hair. This comb heats up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit within 30 seconds.
The gold ceramic comb retains the heat as well as makes the hair sleeker, shinier, and frizz-free. It has 20 heat settings hence it can be adjusted for various hair types whether fine, medium, thick or coarse.
There is an auto-off safety feature so the comb turns off when it is not in use. There is a swivel cord which makes moving the comb around a lot easier. Lastly, it comes with a warranty!
This tool will bring you back to the old days of going to the salon to get your hair pressed, however, you can now have the salon in your home.
The ceramic heater heats up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit (860 degrees Celsius) which will be able to straighten your hair, especially if it is thick.
It has an on/off switch cord so that you can switch it off when you are not using it. However, it has a 4-feet cord with a grounding plug hence it needs to be placed near an outlet.
The hot comb is also called pressing comb, the old fashioned pressing comb is put into heater stove for heating up.
Who invented hot comb (pressing comb)
It is still unknown who invented this brilliant tool, though you may acknowledge that a hairstylist did use a hot comb on his customer in 1872, whose name is Marcel Grateau. Using hot comb is believed to done by ancient Egyptian for styling hair.
How to use a hot comb (pressing comb)
Apply a bit of heat-protective cream ( I recommend Kiehl’s Heat Protective Silk Straightening Cream) that not just leaves your hair more silky, shiny, but works as a heat protector.
First, you heat up the tool, test it on a paper towel if it burns you have to wait for a while before styling.
Take a small section of hair, start from the roof, come in without contact with scalp (you know hot comb is hot – and it hurts), slowly press the back of pressing comb – pull against your hair all the way through.
After styling hair with a hot comb, your hair could last 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Are hot combs bad for natural hair?
Ans. No, they are not if they are used properly. An electric hot comb is made for afro hair or black hair This allows users to select what degree of heat they need to straighten their hair.
If the temperature isn’t too high, and you take the necessary steps to prevent damage, it shouldn’t dry out your hair.
To prevent heat damage, use it on hair that has just been washed, and it should be completely dry. Run a small amount of a product with a heat protectant through your hair. Add a moisturizer to prevent frizzing and to keep your tresses healthy.
Use the lowest setting to straighten your curly hair (usually below 375°F), then use smaller sections to run the hot comb through. Be sure you don’t exceed this setting if at all possible as your hair may begin to frizz.
These tips will keep your afro textured hair looking healthy and prevent damage.
Q2. What do hot combs do to your hair?
Ans. Hot combs (also called a pressing comb/straightening comb) are a straightener for moderate to very coarse hair. It creates a smoother-looking appearance to African American hair. It can be used for thick hair as well.
Q3. Who made the hot comb?
Ans. It is difficult to say with any certainty who the original creator of the hot comb was. Tracing its origins is difficult because of missing/unclear documentation and misinformation.
In terms of patents, the hot comb had several names and numerous inventors. No one truly knows who the first inventor was.
What we do know is that Marcel Grateau (who went by other pseudonyms), is accredited with originally inventing it in the late 1800s. He used this device on Caucasian women in Europe. The patent for this invention is for the “hair waving iron”.
In 1886 it was still being marketed to Caucasian women but in popular North American stores. Others holding hot comb patents include Water Sammons (1920) and Clara Grant (1925).
There is a misconception that Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove) was the original creator of the hot comb in 1905 and that she was the only African American that obtained her wealth from black hair care.
While her efforts were quite notable, African American Annie Turnbo Malone (1920s) was attributed as the original pioneer.
7 thoughts on “10 Hot Combs For Afro Hair and Black Hair”
Are they more effective than hair straightener, the hot comb is quite small, it may take a huge a mount of time to straight my hair which is long and coarse.
Hi Janet, for thick, coarse hair I recommend the Andis High Heat Press Comb (38300). Its teeth is coated with ceramic, which is quite smooth. You can choose from 20 heat settings. But I don’t like the ON/OFF button position on the comb, sometimes I accidentally press it off.
I have very soft hair. Which pressing comb should I use?
Pressing Comb Stove Iron would be good, because you can control the temperature, let it settle for a while (cool down) after being heated by stove.
My main concern is, can l get burned with the hot comb
Hi Boobie, your hand or scalp burns? You can wear heat-resistant gloves. Don’t comb too close to the root.
These hot combs have any pros over straightening brush. Should we use electric models for convenience or it will burn hair because we dont know the temperature (it would be great if they have digital temp display like most straightener)
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Are they more effective than hair straightener, the hot comb is quite small, it may take a huge a mount of time to straight my hair which is long and coarse.
Hi Janet, for thick, coarse hair I recommend the Andis High Heat Press Comb (38300). Its teeth is coated with ceramic, which is quite smooth. You can choose from 20 heat settings. But I don’t like the ON/OFF button position on the comb, sometimes I accidentally press it off.
I have very soft hair. Which pressing comb should I use?
Pressing Comb Stove Iron would be good, because you can control the temperature, let it settle for a while (cool down) after being heated by stove.
My main concern is, can l get burned with the hot comb
Hi Boobie, your hand or scalp burns? You can wear heat-resistant gloves. Don’t comb too close to the root.
These hot combs have any pros over straightening brush. Should we use electric models for convenience or it will burn hair because we dont know the temperature (it would be great if they have digital temp display like most straightener)