TSUGE BOXWOOD BRUSH - 3LINES and 2LINES
The high temperature and high humidity of Kagoshima, Japan, is the perfect weather for healthy plants. The southern Satsuma district is known as the home of Boxwood and an abundant supply of materials. The quality, luster, and elegance of (Japanese) wood is rose in color and is dense and hard; it was said that the color of Satsuma's boxwood is excellent and was often used for making seal materials and hair combs.
The origin of the "Satsuma Tsuge comb" began when samurai warriors from the Satsuma clan first started making them as they returned from Edo after completing the flood prevention works at Kiso River during the Edo period. The boxwood comb making became widespread as a side job for lower-level samurai warriors. There were about ten comb manufacturers by the time of the Taisho Period, and each manufacturer put all their ingenuity into the design of comb.
In times past in Japan's Ibusuki region, when a girl was born, a boxwood tree was planted, and the two grew up together. When the girl gets married, combs and furniture are made with the same tree, which she then would take into her new home.
All of our tsuge combs/brushes are handmade by skilled artisans in Japan and take a long time to complete. The materials are naturally dried for more than three years and hand-carved individually. And finally, camellia oil is applied repeatedly into the comb or brush to bring out its gloss.
In our history, women comb or brush their hair for long periods (sometimes upwards to 100 strokes through the hair). The materials of tsuge boxwood are so gentle to the hair and scalp that help maintains lustrous hair. But we don't take that much time anymore. Why? Because we have great shampoos, conditioners, and effective treatment products. We have been conditioned to believe that using "product" saves us time and makes it so our hair doesn't need management. But combing or brushing is always really good for your hair. It helps to move the hair's natural oils from the scalp towards the ends of your hair. If your hair is dehydrated, try to brush it using our Tsuge Brush with Camellia Oil. It also gives an excellent scalp massage that will lift and tighten the skin of both your scalp and face. It does make a remarkable difference!!
As fashion/trends changed over time, the artisans needed to make changes in their products accordingly for their customer's demands. They started to offer more new products such as simple combs & brushes. Unfortunately, it is becoming much harder for them to continue their work due to a shortage of materials or artisans' rarity in Japan... We are doing our very best to maintain these excellent traditional products.
MATERIALS
The pins are made of Satsuma Tsuge Boxwood, and a different Boxwood is used for the handles. They are genuinely beautiful hairbrushes... unlike a plastic or metal material which may cause static electricity; these wooden brushes are very gentle to the hair and scalp yet handy to help maintain lustrous hair. Also, the round ended teeth (just like our brushes) are much softer on your scalp than a sharp one. Handmade in Japan
HOW TO USE
Once a week, take a drop of our original pure camellia oil and warm in between hands, then rub the oil onto the comb. Do not use soap or water to wash the comb and only use pure vegetable oil to prevent the products' breakage. If the comb needs to be deep cleaned, please use a toothbrush with a little bit of camellia oil (or vegetable oil) and gently wipe around the comb’s teeth. “Oil removes oil.” This is the traditional way to maintain Tsuge combs. Please do the same cleansing method for the Tsuge brush but using the Q-tips dipped with camellia oil. Massaging your scalp with the Tsuge brush once a day helps boost blood circulation and improve your complexion. Facial skin and scalp are the same; that’s why your facial skin pulls when you put your hair up in a ponytail.
