Alright, so folks have been kinda curious about this whole "blue combses" journey I went on. It wasn't some genius plan, not at all. It actually started pretty small, like most things do, I guess.
The Spark
It all kicked off because my youngest, she got totally hooked on this one cartoon. And in this cartoon, the main character had these super specific blue combs. Not just any blue, mind you. It was this vibrant, almost glowing blue. And naturally, she decided she absolutely needed one. Or, well, a set of 'em. That's how these things go, right?
The Great Search Begins
So, my first thought was, easy peasy. I'll just pop down to the local shops. Big mistake.
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First, I tried the big supermarkets. You know, the ones with aisles and aisles of stuff. Found every color comb imaginable – pink, black, green, even those weird tortoiseshell ones. But that specific blue? Nope. Not a single one.
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Then, I hit up the pharmacies and those little beauty supply places. Same story. Lots of combs, zero of the right blue ones.
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Okay, I thought, the internet will have it. The internet has everything! So, I spent a good few evenings, scrolling and scrolling. Saw some pale blues, some dark navy blues. But that electric, cartoon blue? It was like it didn't exist in comb form.
I was starting to think these "blue combses" were a mythical creature at this point.
If You Can't Find 'Em, Make 'Em?
After striking out everywhere, I got this bright idea: I'll just make them myself! How hard could it be? Famous last words, let me tell you. This is where things got a bit messy.
First, I bought a bunch of plain white plastic combs. Figured they'd be a good base. Then came the coloring part.
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Attempt 1: Spray Paint. Oh boy. This was a disaster. The paint went on all uneven, some bits thick, some bits thin. It stank to high heaven, and the worst part? It chipped off if you just looked at it funny. Definitely not something I wanted my kid handling.
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Attempt 2: Plastic Dye. I did some research and found this special dye for plastics. Sounded promising. I got the dye, followed all the instructions – hot water, vinegar, the whole nine yards. Stirred those combs in the pot like I was brewing some magic potion. The result? Well, they were blue-ish. Kinda. More like a sad, faded denim blue. And splotchy. Not the vibrant blue I was aiming for. Not even close.
I was getting seriously frustrated. My workshop looked like a blue crime scene, and I still had no proper "blue combses" to show for it. My kid was starting to give me those puppy-dog eyes, asking every day, "Any blue combs yet, Dad?" It was heart-wrenching, man.
A Stroke of Luck
I was pretty much ready to throw in the towel. I even started looking into custom 3D printing, but that seemed like overkill for a bunch of combs. Then, out of nowhere, salvation!
We were at this old flea market, just browsing, not looking for anything in particular. And there, tucked away in a dusty old box under a table, filled with random bits and bobs, I saw it. A flash of perfect blue.
I dug around, and sure enough, there was a small, unopened packet of three combs. The exact color. The exact vibrant, cartoon blue. They looked ancient, probably from the 80s or something, the packaging all yellowed. But the combs themselves? Perfect.
I think I actually gasped. The seller probably thought I was nuts. I paid the five bucks he asked without even haggling. Best five bucks I've spent in a long time.
So, What's the Big Deal?
And that, my friends, is the story of the "blue combses." It wasn't about some fancy technique or secret supplier. It was just a lot of hunting, a couple of failed DIY experiments, and then a massive dose of dumb luck. Sometimes, the things you're looking for turn up when you least expect them, in the strangest places.
The kid was absolutely thrilled, by the way. Carries one of those blue combs everywhere. And honestly, seeing her that happy made all the searching and the blue paint fiascos totally worth it. So yeah, that's my practice with the elusive "blue combses." A bit of a wild goose chase, but we got there in the end!
