Our Favorite Natural Hair Tools

Over the years, I have tried dozens of natural hair tools. Some were hits, and many were misses. Here, I’ve put together a list of my favorite natural hair tools that make caring for natural hair easier and more fun.

Wide Toothed Wooden Comb

My sandalwood comb is one of my favorite hair tools. It was a gift from my husband for Christmas and came in a nice box wrapped in a gold ribbon. I felt like I was opening a piece of jewelry. It’s seamless with rounded tips so it won’t scratch or snag, and it’s strong enough to withstand my comb-bending hair. It’s also just plain fun to use. I use this comb when braiding or twisting damp hair. I don’t use it in the shower because I don’t want it to stay wet for too long and get damaged.

Wide Toothed Shower Comb

In the shower, I like to comb my hair after soaking with water and adding a generous amount of conditioner. I comb my hair under running water after finger detangling. For this, I like to use a plastic shower comb with a hook on the end, so I can leave it in the shower and never have to look for it on wash day. I also use this comb on my daughter’s hair during her bath.

Rattail Comb

Most of us have a rattail comb from our permed days, and it is still useful for natural hair. The pointed end can be used to slice through our kinks for clean parts. Gently glide the comb against your scalp to part your hair, then use your fingers to gently pull the ends of your hair apart.

Steel Hair Pins

Several years ago, I came across these large Amish-made stainless steel hairpins. It made sense that women with lots of hair that needed to stay pinned up would be experts in making pins that hold. When I used to buy hairpins from the drugstore, my hair bent them and pushed them out. These pins are strong and hold a lot of hair – depending on the style I can sometimes get away with just using one of them. My favorite pins are the crinkly 3″ ones for maximum hold, but it’s a good idea to have a variety of sizes so you can use what works for your style. The only drawback is that these pins are silver so it takes a bit more effort to hide them.

Applicator Bottles

If you’re a kitchen mixtress as many naturals are, you will need at least a few bottles to apply your concoctions. Applicator bottles are perfect for applying diluted shampoo or rinses, especially if your hair is very thick. The pointed tip allows you to apply the product to your scalp with ease.

Spray Bottle

Use a spray bottle to spritz your hair while styling or sealing. Keeping your hair damp while you’re manipulating it makes it more pliable and less prone to breakage. You can fill your bottle with water, or a DIY mix of your choice.

Satin Everything

You know you need a satin bonnet and/or scarf, but there are a few other items that you can get in satin to help reduce the dryness and breakage that can come from your hair rubbing against rough materials. Many naturals enjoy sleeping on a satin pillowcase, which is also good for your skin as it prevents tugging. Satin lined hats and scrunchies are useful as well. For puffs, I like to cut the strings from a men’s satin wave cap and use one to secure my hair.

Butterfly Clips

Strong clips are needed to hold thick natural hair, and butterfly clips do the job well. They come in a variety of colors and last forever.  These clips are useful when sectioning your hair during cleansing, detangling or styling.

Invisibobble Hair Rings

These hair rings have mixed reviews on Amazon but I have enjoyed using them. They work well to quickly hold my super thick hair in a pony puff or bun, and without the slipping I sometimes get with hair bands. I stretch one around my hair, gently press in place where I want it to sit, then fluff or pin my hair. It is important to remove these rings slowly as the coils can get caught in your hair, but I love that it doesn’t put a lot of pressure on my hair or scalp and doesn’t require a lot of adjusting.

Conclusion

There are many natural hair tools that can be used to help keep your hair looking and feeling great. Most of these items can be purchased at your local drugstore, Target, Walmart, Sally’s, or of course, Amazon.

What are your must-have natural hair care tools?

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