Best Teasing Comb

Is your hair dull, flat, and lifeless? Whether you just want a bouncier everyday do that doesn’t fall flat, or have an 80s party coming up, a teasing comb can be an excellent way to achieve the volume a lot of us don’t naturally have. 

If you’re just struggling to get your hair to hold its shape, a teasing comb is the answer for you. Although, with copious amounts of teasing combs available to buy, it can be difficult to find the right one to achieve optimum volume for your hair. Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard bit for you.

We’ve compiled a list of the top five teasing combs to take the hassle out of styling your hair. Alongside this, we’ve written a useful buyer’s guide of points to consider when choosing a teasing comb and some frequently asked questions you may have thought of. 

Flat hair will be a thing of the past once you have a brand new teasing comb for all of your styling desires!

Take a look at our top pick below.

Best Teasing Comb Buying Guide

There are a few things to consider when purchasing a teasing brush, but it mainly revolves around its rat tail handle and its teeth.

As teasing can be quite abrasive to your hair follicles, it is important that you are not tempted to buy the first teasing comb that you come across. Haircare is incredibly important, especially when it comes to teasing and aftercare, so you need a comb that is going to do the job well enough to create volume without damaging or breaking your hair.

We’ve written a buyer’s guide of points that you should consider when purchasing a teasing comb, alongside some frequently asked questions.

Check out the features below. 

Teeth

When looking for the right teasing comb for you, you need to find one with teeth that are suitable for your hair type to ensure that you are maintaining and caring for it properly.   

Like many hair tools, a teasing comb can cause damage and breakage to your hair if you’re not careful. As a result, you need to pick a comb that is gentle enough to not damage your hair but is firm enough to create the volume and specific style that you desire.  

You’ll want to choose a teasing comb that has many teeth that means you are less likely to cause breakage to strands of your hair and will offer you more comfort. Alternatively, sparse teeth can be rough and cause brittle ends, so the teeth of the comb you choose are incredibly important.

Be sure to inspect the teeth before you buy, after all, your hair’s health is the most important thing! 

Handle

Something important to consider when buying a teasing comb is its handle. Lots of combs come with what is known as a rat tail pick handle which is a handle that becomes thinner to a point at the end. 

Although this has no effect on how well the teeth will backcomb your hair, it can be an incredibly useful part of a teasing comb that makes your life much easier. A rat tail pick is handy when it comes to styling your hair as it allows you to section your hair with ease and with equal proportions, so your teasing will be consistent across your head. 

Length

Something else to think about when buying a teasing comb is its length. Ask yourself how big does your comb need to be? 

Some teasing combs come with longer handles so you can easily access and tease all the strands of hair that you desire. 

Alternatively, some teasing combs are foldable making them incredibly easy and convenient for traveling.  

Type of comb

It is important that when choosing a comb, you pick one that is specifically designed for teasing. As a practice, teasing your hair can be damaging without the proper tool, so it’s important that you pick a comb that is designed for the right purpose.

Teasing combs have special teeth that are clustered close together and are designed to grab hold of the hair, providing you with long-lasting volume without pulling or causing any pain.

You want to ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible and not damaging your hair, so be mindful of the type of comb you’re buying with the intention to tease your hair. After all, no one wants a bees nest for a hairstyle! 

Comb V brush

A big factor to consider when purchasing a teasing tool is whether you buy a teasing comb or a teasing brush. Typically speaking, you can find both that are suitable for all hair types, but make sure that you check the product description before buying one. Which one you choose is largely up to personal preference, but as with every hair tool, there are pros and cons to both teasing combs and brushes.

A teasing comb is a great way to achieve volume and a fuller hairstyle, and quite often come with a rat tail pick to make it easier to section and part your hair as you tease. They are often a more durable option, due to the fact they are usually made out of synthetic materials such as plastic. However, the combs teeth are often more sturdy than brush bristles and thus can be more rough to work with if you’re not mindful when applying backcombing techniques. 

A teasing brush on the other hand is easy to create gentle volume, as they are usually made with bristles that vary in length designed to give you the friction needed to create texture.

However, because they are often made with serrated bristles, they can be prone to losing and shedding bristles over time which doesn’t always make them the most durable option.

If you are familiar with teasing your hair then it is likely that you already have a preference. Every hair type is different and requires different care. That being said, you should always do your own research if you are unsure about which tool to invest in. 

Durability

When looking for a teasing comb, it’s important that you think about the durability of the product as you don’t want to be investing in a tool that doesn’t stand the test of time!

You want a comb that has bendable teeth, but not so flexible that they are prone to snapping or breaking. Usually you can tell whether a product is durable by checking the product reviews, as they are likely to tell you whether a product is faulty or good value for money. If in doubt about the look of a product, check the reviews before buying. 

Consult your hairdresser

If you’re anxious about teasing and backcombing your hair, you might want to seek advice from a professional. Your hairdresser should always be your first port of call before making any drastic changes to your hair care routine.

It is likely that they’ll be able to tell you what is best for your hair type, and any products to avoid using that have more potential to damage your hair, particularly if you bleach it regularly.

If in doubt, it is always best to have a chat with your hairdresser about the products that they recommend for volume. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is teasing bad for your hair?

Styling your hair can be damaging, yes. Teasing, otherwise known as backcombing, goes against the cuticle cells of your hair. Like many hair tools, hot or otherwise, teasing can be damaging if it is done regularly without proper hair care afterward. You are likely to damage your hair if it is already damaged or broken by teasing it as if you have multiple split ends, pushing against the cuticle is likely to make them worse.

However, with the right maintenance, you can work teasing into your hair care routine. Hair should always be shampooed and conditioned to keep it in the best possible condition before styling, and you should always take precautions to protect your hair with heat protection if you intend to style it with hot tools as well as teasing. 

How do you tease short thin hair?

Teasing can be a great way to achieve volume if you have hair on the thinner and shorter side. To tease short, thin hair, you should start at the root. 

Take a small section of hair from your crown or wherever you’re looking to create more volume, and lift. 

Secondly, begin to backcomb your hair in small strokes with your teasing comb until the hair becomes bigger in volume. Some people like to use hairspray in this step, too, to hold your hard work in place!

Divide your hair into smaller sections and start to work your way around your head. It will be easier to see which sections you have backcombed and which ones you have missed.

Once you have finished, style and position your hair into place and give your hair one last spray of hair to finish, and voila! Your bouncy hairdo is done!

Remember, the most important thing is to be gentle! Be patient with the teasing process and never pull on your hair, as you are likely to damage it, especially if you already have thin hair. Thin hair is more prone to breakages by nature, so it’s incredibly important that you’re caring for it properly aside from styling.

Always remember to condition your hair once you wash it to nourish and keep it in the best condition possible. 

Can you tease hair with a regular comb?

You can theoretically tease your hair with anything, even pushing it upwards with your fingers will grant you some volume. However, using a traditional comb can take significantly longer and lead to more damage than a proper teasing comb, meaning you could potentially be doing more damage the longer that you spend combing it against the grain that it grows. 

The teeth of a teasing comb are usually much finer than a normal comb and can grab hold of hair more easily, making it a quick and painless experience. It is therefore recommended that to achieve optimum volume quickly a teasing comb is best, especially as you will be spending less time pushing your hair cuticles back.