Hot Combs and Pressing Combs

A pressing comb straightens textured hair by combing heat through it, and it does one thing a flat iron cannot: it gets right into the root, close to the scalp, where the hair is shortest and hardest to reach. That is why pressing combs remain in use in a world full of flat irons, and why the two tools are companions rather than competitors.

Electric against stove

An electric pressing comb has a heating element inside and a temperature control, so it holds a set heat and needs no separate source. A stove comb is solid metal heated on a burner or in a heater, holds heat longer, and gets hotter, which is why some people still prefer it for coarse hair. It also has no thermostat at all, so the temperature is judged by experience and tested on a cloth or paper before it goes near hair. Anyone learning should start electric.

Working the roots

The reason to use one. Take small sections, comb through from the root in a smooth continuous motion, and let the back of the comb rather than the teeth do the pressing on the second pass. Two controlled passes are better than one slow one held against the hair. Around the hairline and the nape, use lower heat and move faster, since those hairs are the finest.

Temperature

Enough to straighten, not enough to smoke. If oil or product on the hair is sizzling or smoking, the comb is too hot and the hair is being damaged in that moment. Coarse hair needs more heat than fine hair, and everyone needs less than the maximum. Test on a section underneath at the back before working anywhere visible.

Product and preparation

Hair must be completely dry and detangled before any pressing comb touches it, since damp hair under high heat steams and blisters. Use a light pressing oil or a heat protectant, and use it sparingly, because heavy grease plus high heat is how hair gets fried and how smoke happens. Freshly washed, deep-conditioned and fully dried hair presses better and more safely than hair pressed to disguise buildup.

Safety and handling

These tools get very hot and stay hot long after they are switched off or removed from a burner. Use a heat-proof mat, keep the handle away from the element, and never rest a hot comb on a counter or a towel. Protect the scalp and ears with a comb held between the tool and the skin when working near the hairline.