Kent Combs

Just a few weeks ago I wrote about traditional American haircuts such as the Princeton and the Ivy League and I mentioned that I keep a bi-weekly haircut appointment. Keeping a regular appointment with your barber is just one of the necessary chores (or life’s small joys in my case) required to maintain a neat appearance, but that alone is not enough. Styling your hair on a daily basis is just as, if not more important than the frequency of your haircut and to style your hair you must have the proper instrument. You can use a brush or a comb depending on your hair type, style and personal preference; I myself prefer a comb.

Kent folding pocket comb 1

I carry a comb with me everywhere I go. Often the weather likes to send my hair into disarray and it is nice be able to put everything back into its proper place upon my arrival indoors. I usually pick my comb up at the grocery costing me little more than a dollar, but I thought it was high time that I invest a little bit more into an item that is always by my side.

After a little online window shopping I decided to purchase a Kent comb. I ordered the Kent folding pocket comb from O’Connell’s Clothing for $16.50. Kent combs was founded in 1777  (more history here). They are handmade out of block cut acetate which is designed to create less static and due to their hand polished and buffed teeth they will not damage your hair or scalp.

Kent Folding Pocket Comb 82T

I want to love my Kent comb. It looks great, it is much sturdier than the throw-away combs that I buy at the grocer and of course I was attracted to the heritage of the product. However, after a few days of use I was a little disappointed in my purchase. The fine tooth end of the Kent comb is not as fine as my disposable comb and the blunt end of the teeth couldn’t “grab” my hair as well as the cheap comb. Kent does offer a comb with finer teeth, but I am hesitant to test it out when the disposable combs work so well.

If you don’t need your hair to be “slicked” (for lack of a better word) back, down, or over when you comb it then this may be the perfect comb for you. The quality and cool factor are there without a question, but unfortunately the performance for me was not. I guess it is back to the cheap disposables.

oxford cloth button down
Jerrod Swanton is a simple man interested in simple, classic, and traditional style.

2 Comments on "Kent Combs"

  1. LIn says:

    I love how it looks – maybe you could get used to how it works 🙂

  2. hardline_42 says:

    Just now reading through your blog so, sorry for comments on older posts. I’m not a fan of Kent combs. Sure they make a mean brush, and buying seconds from their eBay store is one of the great hidden values in toiletries out there, but that quality just doesn’t translate to their combs. I have one of the Kent dresser combs and it’s rather poorly finished, has some terrible gilt stamping and no where on the comb or the packaging does it say it’s made in England. On the flip side, Speert makes and excellent comb. It’s ever so slightly more expensive but the polishing of the teeth is better, the gilt stamping is more of an embossing and nice and clear, and they’re definitely made in Switzerland. I’m sticking with Speert for combs from now on and I’d recommend you try one next time.

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