To be exact; Utsumi® Half Moon Asian Fusion Combs.
As you can see in the picture, this is a curved stainless steel comb.
It is a 6.5 inch comb.
This comb is extremely thin.
It is also the lightest comb (this size) I have ever held and used.
It is also the most expensive comb I have ever bought!!
I will admit that I had read about this comb about six months ago.
The reviews from groomers that used them were mostly very good.
I wanted to try one, but the price.....
I just could not talk myself into paying that much for a comb.
Until last month, when my sharpening guy returned our HV dryer after he repaired it.
I don't even remember how we started talking about combs, but he sells this comb.
He had one with him (probably more lol) smart guy. :)
We talked about the comb.....oh, that's right, I remember now.....I am the one who asked about the comb.
I just wanted to know if he had heard any feed back about this Half Moon comb and if the feed back was good.
After we talked awhile, he asked if I would like to see one.
I was amazed at how thin and light it was.
I like light combs.
I thought that I already had a pretty light, thin comb, but this comb is super light weight.
Even though I liked the feel of this comb, I was still hemming and hauling over the price even though my sharpener was offering it for $6 to $8 cheaper than other places.
In the end I broke down and bought one.
I started using it right away.
And.....
I was not at all sure that I liked it.
It felt so different in my hand from what I was used to.
I mean I have collected many combs over the years.
Some hanging on my wall behind my table.
Some in my tool box.
But, I had one special comb that I used all the time.
I could pick up a comb blindfolded and immediately know if it was my special/favorite comb or not.
This Half Moon comb felt so different in my hand.
Sometimes I almost felt as if it was too light.
I also wasn't really sure that I noticed any difference in combing the hair with this comb than with my other (favorite) comb.
I mean, I did notice that it fluffed up the hair nicely for scissoring, but I thought that my other comb also did a nice job.
Good grief.....did I just spend way too much for this comb?
I admit, I only used it a couple of days before I went back to my old comb.
A week went by, and I was pissed at myself for spending so much on one comb.
I was also a little ticked at myself for giving up on it so fast.
So, I forced myself to put my 'old favorite' comb away, out of my reach.
Away from my table so that I would not automatically reach for it.
Then I used only the Half Moon comb for every dog.
By about the third day it felt more comfortable in my hand.
I was starting to get used to it.
I really liked it for faces.
But, I still felt like I was not seeing that much of a difference from my old comb.
At least not enough difference to justify what I paid for it.
So, for a little over two weeks the Half Moon comb was the only comb that I used.
Then I came in one day and my new comb was not where I normally store it for the night.
I could not find it anywhere.
What the heck!
How could it just disappear like that?
I had just used it on my own dog right before we had left the previous day.
As I looked and looked I felt sick to my stomach.
To be honest, I was still hung up on the cost of that comb, and all I could see was money disappearing instead of a silly comb.
I looked everywhere!
I was even ready to go through the trash.
I was afraid the comb was so light, it had been sucked up in the vacuum at the end of the day.
I didn't have time to look anymore, I had dogs waiting to be groomed, so I pulled out my trusty favorite.
I was still upset about the comb missing, but I would just use my favorite comb till I found the Half Moon comb, or whatever little Elf had taken it would bring it back.
So, I started grooming with my trusty old favorite comb, and wouldn't you know, I immediately notice a difference.
A big difference.
My old favorite comb was not picking up the hair, or combing out the hair the way the Half Moon comb had been.
How did I not notice this before?
As the day wore on I was missing that silly, expensive comb more and more.
I could not believe how different my old comb was to the new one.
Now, going back to the old comb, I could see how it just did not pick up and separate the hair as well as the Half Moon comb did.
I had also gotten very used to the very light weight of the Half Moon comb.
Did I mention that I really missed it for the faces?
I felt much better about how much I had spent on the comb (although I still think it is over priced, just my personal opinion)
There was only one problem.....I could not find the darn thing!!!
I looked again before we left that evening but still could not find it.
I tried to will that comb to show up the next day.
I told that comb that it better be back on my table by the time I get into work the next morning.
So, was it on my table the next morning?
Of course not, but I could wish couldn't I?
I was determined to find that comb the next day.
I did not want to use my old comb again.
I really wanted that Half Moon comb back!
Again I looked and looked.
I moved things.
I moved things that it couldn't possibly be under.
Where was this darn comb?
How could it just disappear like that?
Just when I had gotten used to it and really liked it.....I lose it!
Then I dropped a leash that I was hanging up.
I dropped it behind a fan.
A fan that I had picked up and moved several times in my search for my missing comb.
My eye caught a glimmer of shinny silver.
Could it be?!
No??!??
I had picked that fan up several times the day before, and just a few minutes earlier, and that comb was not there!
It was now!!
There it was, nestled between the fan and its base!
I didn't care that it had been right under my nose all along.
I had found it!
I was actually kind of happy that I misplaced it for a day.
I found out just how much I liked it.
Just to give you a small example of what this comb does.
At least the best that I can do with just pictures.
This little Poodle has an awful coat.
Believe it or not this Poodle has been bathed, blow dried and combed out.
Combed with my regular comb.
All of the tiny natty knots are gone and my regular comb glides smoothly through this coat even though it still looks a little clumpy.
After I completely combed this Poodle with my regular comb (shown in the picture) I used the Half Moon comb to comb through the coat again.
This is what the coat looked like after I combed through it with the Half Moon comb.
Can you see the difference?
Maybe this is better.
< Regular Comb
<Half Moon Comb
You can see the difference in the way the two combs comb out the same coat.
Using the Utsumi® Half Moon Comb does a much better job of separating the hair giving it more volume and making it much easier to get a nice finish.
The Half Moon Comb also catches hold of more hair on faces.
It allows you to comb the hair up and out to get a nicer and even scissor finish.
I have found two Cons to this comb so far.
One: The teeth are so thin and fine on this comb that I could see someone, who is heavy handed, using too much pressure while combing causing them to scratch the skin, or tearing the skin on a ear flap.
I hold all of my tools with a light touch, so this has not been a problem for me.
I will say that I have picked the darn comb up a couples of times and one of those very thin fine teeth have gone up under my fingernail.....ouch!!
Two: (This is a personal opinion) It is an expensive comb! They run about $80! Yes, you read it right.
Do I feel it was worth the money I paid?
Lets just say that I am not sorry that I bought the comb now.
It has become my go to comb.
I do really like it.
If you get a chance to go to a Grooming Expo, look for this comb.
Pick it up and feel it in your hand.
Check it out for yourself.
To me, grooming tools are a very personal thing.
Combs, brushes, scissors, and blades are all different.
Different groomers like different brands of the same tool.
I have seen groomers using brushes that I can't stand using, but they love the brush.
Some groomers may love this comb the very first time they try it.
Other groomers may need to force themselves to use it to get used to it. (like I did)
If you are interested in investing in one of these combs, my sharpener 'Blue Stallion Sharpening' sells the Utsumi® Half Moon Comb for $73 (free shipping at this time).
**I do not get anything from the Utsumi® Company for writing about their comb.
Nor do I get anything from my sharpener for mentioning his website.
So, if you have already heard about this comb, but was not sure if you wanted to sink the money into one, hopefully this post will help with you make up your mind. :-)
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