Design Studio Blond creates Edge Slick, Ruka’s first hair styling tool designed to be seen and reused.

In collaboration with Ruka, award-winning London creative and design studio Blond has designed the EdgeSlick, a styling comb for baby hair and edges with refillable heads. The product is the hair care brand’s first styling tool in its catalogue, and is the first refillable tool of its kind on the market.

Ruka, founded in 2020, recognised a gap in the market for a more stylish comb that would be highly functional but also striking in design. The brand briefed Blond on creating a styling comb that people would feel proud to have on display alongside their other beauty essentials.

Blond conceptualised several iterations before landing on the eventual design. The final form is a multifunctional appliance, with one end designed for applying the gel and the other for styling.

Through research, the design studio noted toothbrushes are commonly used as a makeshift tool for edges, despite there being existing baby hair products on the market. They noticed a lack of quality, long-lasting products that celebrated the ritual of the process – something that both Ruka and Blond felt was key.

Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, the designers decided to replicate the aspects of a toothbrush that worked. Blond created two sides to the comb’s head – one holding soft, nylon bristles for swooping, shaping and layering; and the other with firmer bristles for combing and detangling.

From talking with users and understanding their experiences, Blond recognised how removing gel from jars currently on the market was an awkward process, so wanted to produce something that dignified the action. The body takes inspiration from paddles, with two functional ends that have the exact same outer profile. One end holds the brush heads and the other is designed to scoop the styling gel onto the hair with ease, taking cues from cosmetic spatulas used in the skincare market.

Through testing and refinement, Blond ensured that the heads of the comb, which are available in three different colours, click onto the handle with little effort while remaining securely in place. Extra refill heads can be stored inside the base, which also functions as a stand for the comb, allowing the product to sit proudly in the home.

Through the design process, Blond quickly came to recommend that the head be detachable in order to extend the life of the product. The packaging, also designed by Blond, is made from fully recyclable paper pulp.

Tendai Moyo, CEO and Co-founder at Ruka, says; ‘We briefed Blond on creating a product that we wanted our consumers to feel proud to have out on display and to become part of their beauty ritual. It was important that it appeared stylish while remaining timeless. We really feel they understood what we were asking for; the product is beautiful, and we’re excited to have it as part of our hair care range.’