Combs have been used for grooming since prehistoric times and in the days before regular shampooing, were primarily used to keep the hair clean. Although early combs are amongst the most ancient human artefacts in existence, they’re remarkably similar to those we use now. The materials and production methods have changed, but the design remains more or less the same; flat with uniform teeth. Variations in the length, width and distance between prongs help them work better for different hair types, with wide teeth particularly suited to thick, curly and Afro hair types. Ancient African combs, crafted from ivory, wood and bone support this notion as they tend to have longer teeth, set farther apart, with rounded tips – all of which allow the comb to remove tangles without pulling or snagging.