Nowadays many people prefer to use wooden combs. Such combs are environmentally friendly, do not damage the scalp, and do not electrify the hair, unlike plastic ones. But more often than not, these combs are simply polished well, without applying any decoration. A wooden hair comb can be decorated in an interesting way using decoupage. This technique requires accuracy and precision in work. If you do everything correctly, the result will definitely please you. The work does not require expensive materials or special skills.

wooden comb;
acrylic paints;
picture;
sponge;
tassels;
PVA glue";
scissors;
acrylic lacquer.

1. First you need to disassemble the comb. Separate the brush from the wooden body. For our work we will only need its wooden part; we put the brush aside.

2. We will make a comb for a girl, so we select a suitable thematic picture. The picture can be on a napkin or postcard. We cut out the design, giving it an oval shape and the appropriate size - we make it slightly smaller than the body of the comb.

3. Cut out the second picture – a small heart. It will be located at the end of the wooden handle.

4. Now let's start coloring the comb. Apply several layers of pink acrylic paint. This can be done with a brush, sponge or a piece of foam rubber. Apply a new layer only after the previous one has completely dried. To make the color bright and saturated, you need to apply at least three layers of paint.

5. While the paint on the wooden base of the comb is drying, we begin preparing the pictures. They are cut from a card, so they need to be thinned out. Place both pictures in warm water for 10 - 15 minutes to soak. Then we separate the top layer, which we will use in further work. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the picture, since wet paper tears easily.

6. On the reverse side, coat the pictures with glue diluted with water. Apply a little glue so that it does not protrude beyond the edges of the picture. To avoid the formation of wrinkles and unevenness, glue the picture, starting from the middle, and carefully smooth it out. If the picture shifts or a wrinkle appears, you can lift the edge of the picture and straighten it out.

7. Add yellow dots to the combs. We dip the back side of the brush in yellow paint and put dots around the pasted pictures, then all over the comb. You can apply dots with a toothpick or a wooden stick, the main thing is that they are the same size. After the applied paint has dried, we open the surface with varnish. It's better to open it several times.

Decoupage is perhaps the most versatile decorating technique. Using decoupage you can decorate any objects made of wood, glass, plastic, metal and even stone. The choice of objects for decoration is varied - from buttons and hairpins, to entire cabinets and walls.

The main advantage of decoupage is its relatively simple technique, even a beginner can easily cope with it.

There are six decoupage techniques

Direct (classic) decoupage is the main decoupage technique, when a picture is applied to a previously prepared surface and then treated with varnish.
Reverse decoupage is used for transparent objects and is performed in the reverse order - first the picture is glued, and then the background is processed.
Artistic (smoky) decoupage - the background around the picture is painted with colors and contours, which creates the effect of a real painting.
Volumetric decoupage - performed using structural paste.
Decopatch is a patchwork quilt technique.
In this article we will look at the classic technique of decoupage on wood, using the example of decorating a wooden comb.

Such a comb can be an excellent, and at the same time budget-friendly, gift for a holiday, for example, on March 8th.

Decoupage of a wooden comb with an antique effect

Decoupage is performed using the most common materials, most of which can be found in almost every home.

Tip: materials for decoupage do not have to be purchased in specialized stores for creativity. It is much more profitable to buy glue, paint and varnish in regular construction or hardware stores.

So, to decoupage a wooden comb we need:

Actually, the comb itself. You can also use any other wooden object.
Acrylic primer or white acrylic paint.
PVA glue (glue must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1
Acrylic varnish, in our case, is better than matte.
Acrylic paints (colors used in this MK are ivory, burnt umber, antique gold).
Napkins with a pattern or decoupage card. A decoupage card differs from a napkin in its greater density and brightness. It is easier to work with - it does not tear and does not form folds or bubbles. But napkins look more natural and beautiful.
Tools – sandpaper, brushes for glue, paints and varnish, sponge.

Work process

The first step is to clean and level the surface of the wooden product, in our case a comb. To do this we use regular sandpaper. If the surface is smooth, you can skip this step, limiting yourself to only degreasing the surface, alcohol or nail polish. After this, the comb must be primed; you can use white acrylic paint or a special primer.

After the primer has completely dried, the surface must be completely sanded so that the surface becomes perfectly smooth. Now paint over the areas of future abrasions with burnt umber color - you can paint the entire comb or just the sides.

Also, we wait for the paint to dry completely, after which we apply the main color to the comb, in our case, ivory paint. And then, using sandpaper, we imitate old scuffs. And to give a more interesting effect, the sides of the comb can be treated with a sponge dipped in antique gold paint.

Tip: to make it easier to remove the paint, creating an aging effect, the sides of the comb can be waxed.

Next we start decorating. A napkin with a pattern must be divided into layers (we only need the topmost, colored layer). Cut out the design with scissors or carefully tear off excess pieces of the napkin with your hands.

There are several ways to glue a napkin:

Dry - place a napkin on the comb, coat it with PVA glue on top;
Wet (file method) - place the drawing on the file, moisten it generously with water, place the napkin along with the file on the base and carefully straighten it. Then remove the file and also treat it with PVA glue.

Tip: the napkin must be leveled from the center to the edges, so the picture will lie evenly and will not tear.

Excess pieces of napkin must be removed; this is very easy to do, because... The napkin is soaked with glue. After the glue has dried, the borders of the picture can be treated with suitable paint. This will smooth out the edges of the picture and give it the feeling of a real painting. In our case, antique gold paint is ideal. Apply the paint with a sponge and blend.

The final stage of work

Cover the entire comb with matte varnish. Ideally, you need to apply 2 layers of varnish, waiting for each layer to dry.
The result is such a beautiful and unusual comb.

Tip: acrylic paints and varnishes, until completely dry, can be easily washed off with plain water. Therefore, unsuccessful work can always be corrected.
Also, to complete the look, you can decorate the comb handle on the other side.

In the same way, you can decorate any wooden object - a cutting board, a tea house, or even cabinet doors. Try, experiment, show your imagination, and your home will shine with new bright colors!

Video: Decoupage of a massage comb, an original gift from the YouTube channel - Olga Shamray.

It’s very simple and quick to make your own something so beautiful and stylish. It will not only perfectly complement the decor of your dressing table, but it can also be an excellent option for a sincere gift.

For decoupage we will need:

wooden comb blank;
priming;
glue;
acrylic paint (white and dark);
brush;
sandpaper;
candle;
napkin.

Master class on decoupage on wood

Cover the comb with primer on both sides alternately and leave to dry for at least an hour.

We also cover the comb with dark acrylic paint on both sides and leave it to dry for another couple of hours.

Our preparation has dried. Now we take a candle and rub it on all the protruding parts of the comb, and also make a couple of stripes on a flat surface. These will be our future cracks, so we try to make straight lines. As soon as we have touched the candle, we need to brush off all the excess particles with a soft, dry brush.

We cover the comb with several layers of white paint with intermediate drying.

After our comb has dried, we take sandpaper and sand the places that were rubbed with a candle so that the lower dark layer of paint becomes visible.

We select the motif we like from a napkin and tear out the necessary fragments of the design. Separate the top colorful layer of the napkin.

We glue our image using the file method, which you can learn more about in the previous decoupage master class. Let the comb dry.

We get such wonderful textured spots! We also spray on the second side.

After this, cover the comb with several layers of varnish and let it dry. Thus, we get an unusual, beautiful designer comb, which will be one of a kind!

Thank you for your attention and good luck!

To massage your head while combing, you need to use massage brushes. However, a regular wooden comb is boring. In order to diversify the contents of your handbag, a wooden comb can be decorated using your favorite decoupage technique. However, we will learn how to create an antique effect in decoupage without using craquelure.

Prepare an image that you want to see every day. For example, you can take these dull roses and decorate your comb in an antique style.

For decoupage you will also need: acrylic paint of several colors (white, ivory, burnt umber, light gold), acrylic varnish and decoupage glue.

Before painting wood with acrylic, you need to remove the layer of varnish that was applied industrially. To do this, sand the wood with sandpaper, first with coarse grain No. 100, then No. 230.

Cover your work area with film. Cover the sanded comb with white acrylic paint in several layers.

The acrylic must dry for at least 30 minutes. In this case, the paint will act as a primer.

Then, sand the comb with sandpaper to remove any uneven paint.

Let's start applying the main tone, it will be burnt umber, this color is suitable for creating the effect of antiquity in decoupage. You can apply the paint with a brush; it is not necessary to create a perfectly uniform layer.

Set the comb aside to let the umber dry.

Now apply the top tone of the comb. For an antique effect, ivory color is suitable. We will create the effect of darker paint showing through from under light paint. Use a brush to paint the comb with ivory color, do not try to apply the paint in a thick layer.

While the paint is drying, tear out the roses and small butterflies with your hands. The edges of the torn fragments of the napkin should not be smooth.

After the light paint has dried, you should see with your own eyes the antiquity showing through in the decoupage: the umber should be visible from below, as if, over time, the top layer of paint had simply become thinner.

Arrange the pieces of napkin compositionally and glue them with a soft brush onto decoupage glue.

When the glue has dried, cover the wooden comb with one layer of acrylic varnish so as not to damage the design or stain it.

Next, we will do the “old look” and enhance the worn-out effect of the comb. Mix a drop of burnt umber with gold and apply it to the sides of the comb with your finger or sponge (and then be sure to rub the paint with your finger). The important thing here is to get the effect of old worn gold. It was possible to use the “old gold” color, but there is a way out when this color is not available. Rub the same mixture of paints around the hole on the comb handle. You can even make a few strokes along the pasted rose (just apply the strokes with an old hard brush, and then wipe the paint almost dry).

Girls love to fix their hair at every opportunity. It will be nice to comb your hair with such a beautifully decorated comb and an antique effect (with scuffs). You can do decoupage on wood with your own hands after studying our master class.

For decoration, take a regular wooden massage brush.

Sand the wood with sandpaper. It is imperative to move the sandpaper “along the course” of the fibers in order to smooth out the roughness.

First we prime the comb. The primer will “close” the pores of the wood and saturate it so that the paint adheres better to the surface.

When the primer dries, paint the entire comb with white acrylic paint. It is best to apply the paint using a special foam brush so that strokes are not visible.

When the acrylic is thoroughly dry, you need to sand the surface again. This way we will remove excess paint and make the surface for decoupage on wood perfectly smooth.

Now you need to mark the places of future “old” abrasions. We take blue acrylic paint (the color of the paint should be in harmony with the color scheme of the napkin design), and paint over all the roundness on the comb, all the protruding parts and those places where we want to “age” the comb a little.

For example, this is how paint is applied. It is here that in the future there will be a manifestation of antiquity.

Then, exactly in those places where the contrasting paint was applied, we rub it with a candle.

When this layer of paint has dried, take the sandpaper again and start rubbing it over the comb. In those places where there are traces of candle wax on the blue paint, the top, light beige layer is peeled off. And beautiful abrasions appear, which create the effect of a “grandmother’s comb.”

Let's select a design for decoupage on wood. I liked the bouquet of violets in the basket; you need to tear it out of the napkin and separate only the top layer.

Now we glue the fragment torn from the napkin. We place it on a comb and coat the top with special glue for decoupage.

After the decoupage glue has completely dried, sand it a little with sandpaper to remove the smallest irregularities.

At the end of decorating the comb, you need to cover the wood decoupage with several layers of acrylic varnish. In this case, you need to use a matte varnish; it is more suitable in style to the scuffs on the comb.

Any fashionista will be pleased to show off such a comb.

2. Decorating a wooden comb for a girl using decoupage technique. Creating the effect of antiquity in decoupage

Author MK zanzibar
To massage your head while combing, you need to use massage brushes. However, a regular wooden comb is boring. In order to diversify the contents of your handbag, a wooden comb can be decorated using your favorite decoupage technique. However, we will learn how to create an antique effect in decoupage without using craquelure.

Prepare an image that you want to see every day. For example, you can take these dull roses and decorate your comb in an antique style.

For decoupage you will also need: acrylic paint of several colors (white, ivory, burnt umber, light gold), acrylic varnish and decoupage glue.

Before painting wood with acrylic, you need to remove the layer of varnish that was applied industrially. To do this, sand the wood with sandpaper, first with coarse grain No. 100, then No. 230.

Cover your work area with film. Cover the sanded comb with white acrylic paint in several layers.

The acrylic must dry for at least 30 minutes. In this case, the paint will act as a primer.

Then, sand the comb with sandpaper to remove any uneven paint.

Set the comb aside to let the umber dry.

While the paint is drying, tear out the roses and small butterflies with your hands. The edges of the torn fragments of the napkin should not be smooth.

Arrange the pieces of napkin compositionally and glue them with a soft brush onto decoupage glue.

When the glue has dried, cover the wooden comb with one layer of acrylic varnish so as not to damage the design or stain it.

To make the design stronger, cover the comb with layers of acrylic varnish. After every three layers of varnish, sand and varnish again.

Please note, it seems that this comb was used by a girl from a rich family many years ago. Noble rubbed gold on the sides of the comb, brown paint showing through under the noble ivory color, delicate, not bright roses - all this adds a touch of mystery and paints in the imagination the history of the former owner. And it all started with an ordinary wooden Chinese comb.