Comb vs. Pick — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 16, 2024
A comb typically has fine teeth and is used for detangling and styling hair smoothly, while a pick, with its wider teeth, is designed for fluffing and adding volume to hair, especially effective in managing thick or curly textures.
Difference Between Comb and Pick
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Combs are versatile grooming tools, generally made from plastic, metal, or wood, and feature a row of fine teeth which makes them ideal for fine, straight, or moderately wavy hair, whereas picks are usually plastic or metal with wider spaced teeth, tailored for volumizing and detangling dense or textured hair.
The design of a comb facilitates precise styling, allowing for the creation of neat, clean parts and smooth styles, while a pick is designed to lift the hair from the roots without clumping, maximizing volume and maintaining natural textures.
Combs are often used in professional hairdressing for tasks requiring tight control, such as cutting or applying hair products evenly, whereas picks are favored for personal use in daily hair maintenance, particularly to enhance curly or afro-textured hair styles.
Due to their finer teeth, combs are more prone to causing breakage when used on very curly or coarse hair, whereas picks, with their wider teeth, minimize snagging and breakage, making them safer for use on such hair types.
While a comb can be used on wet or dry hair for a variety of hair types, a pick is most effective on dry hair to prevent disrupting the hair’s natural pattern or causing frizz, particularly in curly hair types.
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Comparison Chart
Teeth Spacing
Fine teeth, closely spaced.
Wide teeth, spaced farther apart.
Best For
Fine, straight, and wavy hair types.
Thick, curly, and afro-textured hair.
Primary Use
Detangling, smoothing, and styling.
Volumizing, detangling, and maintaining textures.
Material
Plastic, metal, wood.
Often plastic or metal.
Usage
Professional and personal, suitable for wet or dry hair.
Primarily personal, best used on dry hair.
Compare with Definitions
Comb
A tool with fine teeth for detangling and styling hair.
She used a comb to part her hair evenly before braiding.
Pick
Helps maintain and enhance natural hair textures.
After drying his hair, he used a pick to define his afro.
Comb
Can be used to apply hair care products evenly.
He ran a comb through his hair to distribute the conditioner.
Pick
A tool with wide, spaced teeth for fluffing curly hair.
She used a pick to fluff her curls and add volume.
Comb
Suitable for precise hairstyling needs.
The stylist used a fine-tooth comb for the intricate updo.
Pick
Ideal for adding volume at the roots.
She lifted the roots with a pick to achieve a fuller look.
Comb
Available in various materials and sizes.
Her favorite was a small wooden comb that fit in her purse.
Pick
Minimizes hair breakage in thick or curly textures.
To avoid damage, she used a pick instead of a comb on her thick hair.
Comb
Often used in professional hairdressing.
The barber had several combs for different hair cutting techniques.
Pick
Primarily made from durable plastics or metals.
His metal pick was durable enough for his dense hair.
Comb
A comb is a tool consisting of a shaft that holds a row of teeth for pulling through the hair to clean, untangle, or style it. Combs have been used since prehistoric times, having been discovered in very refined forms from settlements dating back to 5,000 years ago in Persia.
Pick
Detach and remove (a flower, fruit, or vegetable) from where it is growing
I went to pick some flowers for Jenny's room
Comb
A thin toothed strip, as of plastic, used to smooth, arrange, or fasten the hair.
Pick
Choose (someone or something) from a number of alternatives
Maggie picked on a nice reliable chap
Maybe I picked the wrong career
He was picked for the England squad
Comb
An implement, such as one for dressing and cleansing wool or other fiber, that resembles a hair comb in shape or use.
Pick
Repeatedly pull at something with one's fingers
The old woman was picking at the sheet
Comb
A currycomb.
Pick
Pluck the strings of (a guitar or banjo)
People were singing and picking guitars
Comb
The fleshy crest or ridge that grows on the crown of the head of domestic fowl and other birds and is most prominent in the male.
Pick
An act or the right of selecting something from a number of alternatives
Laura should have first pick
Take your pick from our extensive menu
Comb
Something suggesting a fowl's comb in appearance or position.
Pick
An act of blocking or screening a defensive player from the ball handler.
Comb
A honeycomb.
Pick
A tool consisting of a long handle set at right angles in the middle of a curved iron or steel bar with a point at one end and a chisel edge or point at the other, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.
Comb
To arrange or groom (the hair) with or as with a comb
Combed her hair with a comb.
Combed his hair with his fingers.
Pick
An instrument for picking
An ebony hair pick
Comb
To move through or pass across with a raking action
The wind combed the wheatfields.
Pick
To select from a group
The best swimmer was picked.
Comb
To straighten and separate (wool or other fibers) using a comb.
Pick
To gather in; harvest
They were picking cotton.
Comb
To search thoroughly; look through
Combed the dresser drawers for a lost bracelet.
Pick
To gather the harvest from
Picked the field in one day.
Comb
To eliminate with or as with a comb
Combed the snarls out of his hair.
Pick
To remove the outer covering of; pluck
Pick a chicken clean of feathers.
Comb
To roll and break. Used of waves.
Pick
To tear off bit by bit
Pick meat from the bones.
Comb
To make a thorough search
Combed through the file for the contract.
Pick
To remove extraneous matter from (the teeth, for example).
Comb
A toothed implement:
Pick
To poke and pull at (something) with the fingers.
Comb
A toothed implement for grooming the hair or (formerly) for keeping it in place.
Pick
To break up, separate, or detach by means of a sharp pointed instrument.
Comb
A machine used in separating choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
Pick
To pierce or make (a hole) with a sharp pointed instrument.
Comb
The toothed plate at the top and bottom of an escalator that prevents objects getting trapped between the moving stairs and fixed landings.
Pick
To take up (food) with the beak; peck
The parrot picked its seed.
Comb
A toothed tool used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser.
Pick
To steal the contents of
My pocket was picked.
Comb
The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
Pick
To open (a lock) without the use of a key.
Comb
The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
Pick
To provoke
Pick a fight.
Comb
A toothed plate used for creating wells in agar gels for electrophoresis.
Pick
To pluck (an instrument's strings).
Comb
(weaving) A toothed wooden pick used to push the weft thread tightly against the previous pass of thread to create a tight weave.
Pick
To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
Comb
One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen in scorpions, with which they comb substrate.
Pick
To play (a tune) in this manner
Picked a melody out on the guitar.
Comb
A crest:
Pick
To decide with care or forethought.
Comb
A fleshy growth on the top of the head of some birds and reptiles; crest.
Pick
To work with a pick.
Comb
(by extension) A crest (of metal, leather, etc) on a piece of armor, especially on a helmet.
Pick
To find fault or make petty criticisms; carp
He's always picking about something.
Comb
A structure of hexagon cells made by bees for storing honey; honeycomb.
Pick
To be harvested or gathered
The ripe apples picked easily.
Comb
(music) The main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached.
Pick
To throw (a shuttle) across a loom.
Comb
A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening soft fibre.
Pick
The act of picking, especially with a sharp pointed instrument.
Comb
An old English measure of corn equal to the half quarter.
Pick
The act of selecting or choosing; choice
Got first pick of the desserts.
Comb
The curling crest of a wave; a comber.
Pick
Something selected as the most desirable; the best or choicest part
The pick of the crop.
Comb
A connected and reduced curve with irreducible components consisting of a smooth subcurve (called the handle) and one or more additional irreducible components (called teeth) that each intersect the handle in a single point that is unequal to the unique point of intersection for any of the other teeth.
Pick
The amount or quantity of a crop that is picked by hand.
Comb
A kind of vertical plate in a lode.
Pick
(Sports) An interception of a pass.
Comb
(rare) combination {{rfex}}
Pick
(Basketball) A screen.
Comb
Alternative form of combe
Pick
A tool for breaking hard surfaces, consisting of a curved bar sharpened at both ends and fitted to a long handle.
Comb
(dialectal) coomb#Etymology 1
Pick
Something, such as an ice pick, toothpick, or picklock, used for picking.
Comb
To groom with a toothed implement, especially a comb.
I need to comb my hair before we leave the house.
Pick
A long-toothed comb, usually designed for use on curly hair.
Comb
(transitive) To separate choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
Pick
A pointed projection on the front of the blade of a figure skate.
Comb
(transitive) To search thoroughly as if raking over an area with a comb.
Police combed the field for evidence after the assault.
Pick
(Music) A plectrum.
Comb
To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Pick
A weft thread in weaving.
Comb
To turn a vessel parallel to (the track of) (a torpedo) so as to reduce one's size as a target.
Pick
A passage or throw of the shuttle in a loom.
Comb
An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
Pick
A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.
Comb
An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
Pick
A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock.
Comb
A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc.
Pick
A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair.
Comb
The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red.
Pick
A choice; ability to choose.
Comb
The curling crest of a wave.
Pick
That which would be picked or chosen first; the best.
Comb
The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb.
When the bee doth leave her comb.
Pick
(music) A tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar; a plectrum.
Comb
The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
Pick
An anchor.
Comb
That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it.
A gradual rise the shelving combeDisplayed.
Pick
(basketball) A screen.
Comb
A dry measure. See Coomb.
Pick
(lacrosse) An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Comb
To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See under Combing.
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright.
Pick
(American football) An interception.
Comb
To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Pick
(baseball) A good defensive play by an infielder.
Comb
A flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
Pick
(baseball) A pickoff.
Comb
The fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds
Pick
A pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
Comb
A fleshy and deeply serrated outgrowth atop the heads of certain birds especially domestic fowl
Pick
(obsolete) A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
Comb
Any of several tools for straightening fibers
Pick
A particle of ink or paper embedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and causing a spot on a printed sheet.
Comb
Ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore
Pick
That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
Comb
The act of drawing a comb through hair;
His hair needed a comb
Pick
(weaving) The blow that drives the shuttle, used in calculating the speed of a loom (in picks per minute); hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread.
So many picks to an inch
Comb
Straighten with a comb;
Comb your hair
Comb the wool
Pick
(AU) Pasture; feed, for animals.
Comb
Search thoroughly;
They combed the area for the missing child
Pick
To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.
Don't pick at that scab.
He picked his nose.
Comb
Smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb;
Comb your hair before dinner
Comb the wool
Pick
To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground.
It's time to pick the tomatoes.
Pick
To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.
She picked flowers in the meadow.
To pick feathers from a fowl
Pick
To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.
To pick rags
Pick
To remove something from somewhere with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.
To pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket
Pick
To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.
I'll pick the one with the nicest name.
Pick
(transitive) To seek (a fight or quarrel) where the opportunity arises.
Pick
(cricket) To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released.
He didn't pick the googly, and was bowled.
Pick
(music) To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument.
He picked a tune on his banjo.
Pick
To open (a lock) with a wire, lock pick, etc.
Pick
To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
Pick
To do anything fastidiously or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
I gingerly picked my way between the thorny shrubs.
Pick
To steal; to pilfer.
Pick
(obsolete) To throw; to pitch.
Pick
(dated) To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
Pick
(ambitransitive) To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points.
To pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
Pick
(basketball) To screen.
Pick
To intercept a pass from the offense as a defensive player.
The pass was almost picked, but the tight end was able to hold on.
Pick
To throw; to pitch.
As high as I could pick my lance.
Pick
To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
Pick
To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points; as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
Pick
To open (a lock) as by a wire.
Pick
To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc.
Pick
To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket.
Did you pick Master Slender's purse?
He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seemsWith an old tavern quill, is hungry yet.
Pick
To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; - often with out.
Pick
To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; - often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information.
Pick
To trim.
Pick
To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
Why stand'st thou picking? Is thy palate sore?
Pick
To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
Pick
To steal; to pilfer.
Pick
A sharp-pointed tool for picking; - often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock.
Pick
A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at both ends, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in the middle, - used for digging ino the ground by quarrymen, roadmakers, etc.; also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
Pick
A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
Pick
Choice; right of selection; as, to have one's pick; in cat breeding, the owner of a stud gets the pick of the litter.
France and Russia have the pick of our stables.
Pick
That which would be picked or chosen first; the best; as, the pick of the flock.
Pick
A particle of ink or paper imbedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and occasioning a spot on a printed sheet.
Pick
That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
Pick
The blow which drives the shuttle, - the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute;
Pick
The person or thing chosen or selected;
He was my pick for mayor
Pick
The quantity of a crop that is harvested;
He sent the first picking of berries to the market
It was the biggest peach pick in years
Pick
The best people or things in a group;
The cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War
Pick
The yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving
Pick
A small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
Pick
A thin sharp implement used for picking;
He used a pick to clean dirt out of the cracks
Pick
A heavy iron tool with a wooden handle and a curved head that is pointed on both ends;
They used picks and sledges to break the rocks
Pick
A basketball maneuver; obstructing an opponent with one's body;
He was called for setting an illegal pick
Pick
The act of choosing or selecting;
Your choice of colors was unfortunate
You can take your pick
Pick
Select carefully from a group;
She finally picked her successor
He picked his way carefully
Pick
Look for and gather;
Pick mushrooms
Pick flowers
Pick
Harass with constant criticism;
Don't always pick on your little brother
Pick
Provoke;
Pick a fight or a quarrel
Pick
Remove in small bits;
Pick meat from a bone
Pick
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Pick
Pilfer or rob;
Pick pockets
Pick
Pay for something;
Pick up the tab
Pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
Foot the bill
Pick
Pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion;
He plucked the strings of his mandolin
Pick
Attack with or as if with a pickaxe of ice or rocky ground, for example;
Pick open the ice
Pick
Hit lightly with a picking motion
Pick
Eat intermittently; take small bites of;
He pieced at the sandwich all morning
She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between a comb and a pick?
The main difference lies in the teeth spacing; combs have finer teeth ideal for styling, while picks have wider teeth for volumizing thick or curly hair.
Can a comb be used on curly hair?
Yes, but care should be taken as finer combs can cause breakage; wider-tooth combs or picks are recommended for very curly hair.
Is a pick suitable for all hair types?
A pick is particularly effective for curly, thick, or afro-textured hair to add volume and manage curls without causing frizz or breakage.
How should I use a pick on my hair?
Use a pick to gently lift and separate curls from the roots without pulling through the entire length to avoid disrupting the curl pattern.
Why might a professional stylist use a comb instead of a pick?
Stylists use combs for precision in cutting and styling, especially for fine or straight hair, where control over detail is crucial.
How do I choose between a comb and a pick?
Choose based on your hair type and styling needs; use a comb for fine detailing and a pick for volume and texture maintenance.
How does a comb affect hair health?
Using the right type of comb can prevent breakage and ensure even distribution of hair products, promoting healthy hair.
What materials are combs and picks made from?
Combs can be made from plastic, metal, or wood, while picks are usually made from plastic or metal for durability.
Are picks only used for volumizing hair?
While primarily used for volumizing, picks also help detangle and maintain the natural texture of curly hair.
What are the advantages of using a wooden comb?
Wooden combs reduce static, gently massage the scalp, and distribute natural oils through the hair more effectively.
Can picks be used for hair styling besides volumizing?
Picks can also be used to gently sculpt and define larger sections of curly hair, enhancing overall shape and style.
Can I use a pick on wet hair?
It's best to use a pick on dry hair to avoid disrupting natural patterns and causing frizz, especially in curly hair types.
How often should I clean my comb or pick?
Regular cleaning is essential to remove hair, oil, and product buildup to maintain hair health and hygiene.
What role does a comb play in professional hair cutting?
In professional settings, combs are crucial for achieving precise cuts and ensuring even lengths throughout the hair.
What are some tips for using a pick on afro-textured hair?
Use the pick at the roots to gently lift and separate hair without combing through to maintain texture and minimize frizz.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
