How to Hot Comb Black Hair

Avoid metal hot combs, such as this one.

Although many black women straighten their hair with chemicals, others use hot combs. A hot comb is a metal comb that uses heat to temporarily straighten Afro-textured hair--a process known as thermal straightening or pressing. Unlike chemically relaxed hair, which stays straight permanently, a pressed style usually lasts no more than two weeks since sweat or humidity makes hair revert to its natural state. Even so, once the hair reverts, it can be pressed again.

Things You'll Need

• Hot comb
• Pressing oil or pomade
• Rat-tail or wide-toothed comb
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Curling iron
• Rubber bands

Instructions

1. Start with clean and conditioned hair. Dirt and chemicals from styling products can prevent hot combs from working at maximum efficiency.

2. Use an electric hot comb. There are two types of hot combs--electric combs and stovetop combs. You can control the heat setting on an electric hot comb. Stovetop combs do not have heat settings, and they can scorch hair if too hot.

3. Grease hair with pressing oil or pomade.

4. Part the hair into at least four sections with a wide-toothed or rat-tail comb. Hold the sections with rubber bands.

5. Comb slowly with the hot comb from the root to the ends. Pull out a small area, no longer than two inches, from one of the four parted sections. Put the hot comb near the root of this section and slowly comb from the root to the ends. Recomb if the hair is still not straight.

6. Curl the ends with a large curling iron. Although not necessary, curling the ends gives the hair volume and style.

References

• "The Hair in Black Women"; Neil Persadsingh; 2008
• eShopHair: Five Steps for Using Hot Comb Hair Straighteners