Write: Suavi Kemal Yazgıç, Photo: Ahmet Bilal Arslan

The Harmony of Hair and Comb

The artisans crafting combs out of the horns of cattle, sheep, and goats didn’t know that they were using organic materials closest to hair itself, of course. Dermatologists today say that combs made from bone are unlike many of those today made from materials not found naturally effective against hair loss and dandruff by virtue of the keratin they contain.

Plastic combs can cause allergic reactions on the scalp, not to mention the stress inflicted upon the body by plastic’s static charge. Mother-of-pearl artisan Zafer Karazeybek trained with fourteen masters to combine their experiences in crafting bone combs. He was one of the last master artisans of such combs, which once were essential parts of bridal trousseaux. Standing out for their natural colors and aesthetically appealing, bone combs are essential items today for people seeking to use organic products as pervasively as they can.

From Horn To The Comb

1.Dried after being procured from the butcher, the horn is cut according to the measurements of the comb to be produced.

2.The horn is then heated to make it easier to mold.

3.Heated so it can be made into a comb, the horn is stretched out.

4.The horn is then cut with a lathe.

5.The shape of the comb is cut into the horn.

6.The comb’s teeth are formed with the lathe.

7.The comb is compared to another comb to ascertain the fidelity of its measurements.

8.A name is engraved on the comb if requested.

Combs aren’t the only thing made from horns this crafting technique is used to make products ranging from barrettes to shoehorns.