Hair combs

Fashion Synopsis

The oldest hair accessory this side of the hairpin, the hair comb works as a series of prongs that help to comb through the hair. A toothy curve pulls the hair back, which is then flipped around to tuck into the hair. And that’s all there is to it.

Combs are made in colored plastic, fancified metal, and decorated with things like jewels or feathers. Ancient Greeks tidied their tresses with golden combs, and giant Spanish mantilla combs peeked out above crowns of hair.

A short story by O. Henry entitled “The Gift of the Magi” chronicles the sacrifices a poor couple makes for each other. The wife, of long and glorious tresses, sells her hair in order to buy a watch fob chain for her husband’s watch. The husband, unbeknownst to the wife, sells his watch so that he can buy her a magnificent pair of tortoise shell hair combs for her crowning glory. The moral of the story? Hair combs are useless if there’s no hair to hold back! Which is why the hair combs lost their favor any time bobs, gamines, and other short haircuts came into fashion.

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