Solo combs - where did I go wrong??!!

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SueAllen

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I know they are frowned upon but I bought a cheap one to tidy up Ned's mane and made it a complete mess!! Mane is now choppy and different lengths and probably impossible to plait properly now I have really ball*sd it up! Where did I go wrong? (ok, ok, using one in the first place!)
 
we use one a lot my auntie had a tb with a really thin mane so didnt want to pull it so she got one of them and his mane looked fine we used it the way you would pull a mane
 
This happened to me at first.
I have to use one all the time on my horses bushy mane as he wont let me pull it. I think its harder to use one on a fine mane as they easily get the 'cut' look.
You have to use them as if pulling a mane ie back comb a small section to the roots and then 'cut' otherwise I feel you may as well use scissors as all you are doing is cutting bits off the length. You can tidy it up a bit at the bottom but you have to be really careful and do it randomly otherwise it looks like youve hacked at it with scissors.
If his manes thick, try backcombing sections but take it right to the roots and it should help get rid of the 'cut look'.
If its fine, I would take random bits and backcomb slightly but dont go to the roots otherwise you will make it really thin.
Good luck, Im sure you will sort it.
 
You need to only cut very few hairs at a time, if you wouldn't be happy ripping them out, then you've got too much.

Its quite easy to cheat and get carried away with a solocomb and take too much off.

I would not never pull a mane traditionally, I think its cruel for the sake of vanity. On the other hand a few of mine get hogged as the neck covers rubbed out their mane.
 
I love mine, horse is a bit of a pain to pull normally, but solo makes it lovely. Got complimented on his mane by an ex 4* eventer when it was done with solo so can't be that bad! You just back comb a small amount at a time, and then chop with the blades. I only do a bit all along to begin with, and then take more off accordingly.
 
Have to sgree with Sophandhal, my horse hates having his mane pulled so for years used a comb used for stripping dogs coats, like a covered razor blade. Had a go with a solo comb on a friends horse with a really thick,long mane and it worked a treat! Certainly doesnt look cut. You just have to make sure you back comb the mane first before you start pulling. And as for them being frowned upon I really couldnt give a toss what anyone else thinks! My horses mane looks fine!
tongue.gif
 
Thanks MM - I didn't do that. Will try next time when current mess grows out!! If it grows like his coat is then it shouldn't take long!
 
I made a bit of a mess of it when I first had a go, my horse has a very thin mane and I got bored of back combing and just chopped at it. Not a good idea, but I just then backcombed it a bit more and thinned it to get rid of the cut with scissors look.
 
I was taught that a mane was pulled simply to thin it out - then a razor [or the small clipper blade - sands clipper/electriity] was used to even/shorten up the ends.

This is apparently what veteran show people do - veteran showing people here may [and no doubt will] correct me.

So - solo combs [even cheap ones] are meant as a safety razor basically to take the hair off at the ends- you need to practise this to get good but it does look much more natural than cutting if you get it right.

If you try to 'pull' the mane with a solo type comb - ie combing it back and razoring it off near the roots- you are going to create a lot of bushiness underneath [and yes, I tried it too - error learned v quickly] which will look orrible as it grows out. Hence veteran show people having nothing to do with them.

So a thin mane will shorten up nicely with a solo comb - but a thick one will need pulling then shortening.

Thats my theory and I'm sticking to it.
 
You'll get the hang of it, get a willing victim (maybe a friend you have fallen out with) or find a kid on your yard who could do with a radical new hair do.

The thicker the mane, the harder it is with a solo comb, they are easy to use on t.b's nice thin manes, I would'nt try on anything else because I think I'd have to go in hiding for a year.

Put it down to experience and laugh about it. I once got the scissors out to a mini sheltland's mane because there was no way it could be pulled, trimmed etc. He looked like a punk when I'd finished, but the summer was hot and it was kinder for him. I never lived it down, but what the hell
 
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