This is going to sound silly, but is there a "correct" way to care for wood hairsticks? I know they're not supposed to get wet, but do they need to be occassionally oiled like hardwood combs? I got a purpleheart Ketylo 'stick yesterday and want to make sure it lasts for years to come.

Thanks!

Hmmm, I really don't know ... and I should because I have wood stuff.  Ric the comb maker sells some compound with beeswax in it that works well, but I'm always a little leary of wax rubbed on my hair by the utensil.   I guess if I were to put something on my stuff I'd try something like castor oil as it is heavy and could be used to soak overnight ...g

Yes-- they definitely do need to be oiled. (on the safe side, I oil all wooden things including Dymondwood :P) I use Ric's polish on my other wooden things and it works just as nicely. The beeswax doesn't bother it.

Yep, wood needs moisture, just like hair.  However, water is bad for wood - it actually causes splits and drying out.  Oils are best for wood.  Waxes are OK as long as you don't overdo it - you don't want a wax buildup on the wood.  Ric's bee's wax and oil mixture has worked well on my combs.  If I don't have that around when I feel a stick or comb needs conditioning, I will use my jojoba oil on them.

Thank you very much, ladies! I got some camellia oil for a new boxwood comb and tried it on the hairstick. So far the stick seems to be okay (although I've only used the camellia oil once). Hopefully nothing weird will happen if I keep using this type of oil on it.    :P

Hi Juri ;D

Were do you get your camellia oil from?  I am dying to try it and I would love a boxwood comb!

Hey Lisabelle!

I'm from Hawaii so I was able to find the boxwood comb and camellia oil at a Japanese department store called Shirokiya. The comb was $21.50 and the camellia oil was $9.50 for 1.35 oz/40ml. If there's an Asian store in your area you might be able to find them there. There's also a website www.camelliaoil.com that carries camellia oil and boxwood combs, but I've never ordered from them before.

If you don't have any luck with the web or finding a store in your area, PM me and maybe we can work something out?

Thanks Juri! :D  I ordered some from the link you posted!  Wow I cannot wait!!  Thanks again! ;D

Don't forget to talk to your sticks in a soothing voice, and play classical music for them.  :-D  Just teasing!

Seriously though, this topic is very interesting!  I'll have to look into this myself since I eventually plan on getting some wooden sticks.  (BTW, I'm assuming you're talking about the unfinished/un-laquered kind, or do those need feeding too??)  

Cynde

wrote on Jul 12^th, 2005 at 1:23am:

Don't forget to talk to your sticks in a soothing voice, and play classical music for them.  :-D  Just teasing! Seriously though, this topic is very interesting!  I'll have to look into this myself since I eventually plan on getting some wooden sticks.  (BTW, I'm assuming you're talking about the unfinished/un-laquered kind, or do those need feeding too??)   Cynde

Works of art, hairsticks, like LongLocks Sticks, enjoy being spoken to, music played for them, and gentle fondling.  Avoid water, hairspray or other icky chemicals.  Never put any of the decopage styles in damp or wet hair (or you will suffer the rath of Susan!  :o)  Any varnished stick should avoid anything damp.  Enameled sticks can handle some dampness, but I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it.

If you have an unfinished bone stick, a gentle cleaning with a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth will keep it clean.

Unfinished wood should be oiled and water or dampness avoided at all costs.

Plastic and most metals can handle damp or wet hair.  Gentle cleaning with a soft cloth is usually all that is necessary.

Diamondwood or other types of resin impregnated laminated woods can handle being used in wet and damp hair.  If used in heavily oiled hair, a quick wipe with a soft cloth will restore the luster.  (Keep in mind these "woods" are designed to be used as knife and gun handles, being exposed to the elements, oils from the hand and guns, and a few other "substances" I won't go into here.   ;)

All sticks will appreciate being gently cared for.  Store them in a manner that will not scratch or bend them and you will be able to enjoy them for many years.

Lisabelle - No prob! The prices and shipping rates on that site seemed pretty reasonable compared to other websites I had looked at. If I hadn't found the comb and oil locally, I would have ordered from camelliaoil.com. It sounds like you're going to have a lot of fun when your order arrives!

Khrome - LOL! I always make sure to play music for the sticks. I usually alternate between Bach and Meat Loaf (the hairsticks insisted on that). ;) I forgot to mention this in the first post, but yep I am referring to un-laquered sticks. I seem to be in a natural-woods phase at the moment.

BB - Thank you very much for posting more hairstick care info! It'll come in very handy!

wrote on Jul 12^th, 2005 at 2:15am:

Any varnished stick should avoid anything damp.  Enameled sticks can handle some dampness, but I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it.

the difference being the material used for the final finish of the sticks? I thought all LL sticks are enameled, yes? Could you pls give me an example of "varnished" sticks that are not "enameled"
Sorry that I got a bit confused! Thank you!

I could be wrong here, but I have always thought of varnish as a "softer" coating than enamel.  LL sticks are enameled.

When I was in college (back in the dark ages) and taking some of my woodworking and plastics classes, I remember varnish being a coating that was very prone to yellowing and flaking.  Enamels, on the other hand, stayed clear and were much harder and more impervious to liquids.  I don't remember the chemical differences (sorry, it was over 30 years ago and not my primary area of interest! ;D ).  

Anyone else have any information on this?  Am I wrong in making the distinction between the two?

That sounds great, actually. I think Styg would know more of the technical details on this, but I would compare,

enamel = similar to the way nail polish works
varnish = similar to the way glue works.

Thanks for the info!  

When I take my (non-wood) sticks out, I usually give them a quick swipe with an eyeglass cloth (made from some new-fangled microfiber stuff.  it's very soft!)  I figure if I do that, it'll cut down on having to use a damp cloth.  But I knew eventually I'd need to do a full cleaning, so these tips help a lot.  :-D

Cynde