A small folding comb with one job. Here is what it does well, where it stops, and whether it belongs in your bag.
Yes, the ReFa HEART COMB Aira is worth it, if you want a pocket-sized comb for the hair around your face: fringes, face-framing pieces, a parting that has drifted by mid-afternoon. It folds shut to about 12.7cm, its chrome-coated teeth help calm static, and it weighs about 13 grams. It is not a detangling brush, and it is only for dry hair.
It is also one of the ReFa pieces our customers order most, second only to the AILE BRUSH over the past year. Below is what the Aira actually does, who it suits, and who should buy something else.
What is the ReFa HEART COMB Aira?
A folding comb from ReFa, the Tokyo hair-tool brand behind the heart-shaped brushes. Closed, the heart covers the teeth so it can go loose into a bag. Open, it locks in place, so the comb feels steady in the hand rather than floppy.
ReFa built the comb in three zones, each for a different kind of hair around the face:
- A wide comb section that covers a fringe in a single stroke.
- Shorter teeth that grip layered, unruly side strands.
- Tapered tips that narrow gradually, so they catch even fine, loose hairs.
That is the whole idea. It is a finishing tool for the part of your hair people look at first.
How do the Marquise teeth work?
Each tooth curves in towards the centre, a shape ReFa calls the Marquise structure. The streamlined profile is designed to reduce stress on the hair as the comb passes through it. The aim is a comb that passes through a styled fringe without pulling it out of shape.
Does the chrome coating stop static?
It reduces it. ReFa chrome-coats the comb section to cut the static that builds up from dry air and friction, which is when face-framing hair tends to lift and cling. It won't flatten hair that is genuinely frizzy from humidity, and no comb will. It is aimed at the flyaways that appear on a dry day or after pulling off a knit.
Can you use the Aira on wet hair?
No. ReFa is clear that the Aira is not waterproof and is made for dry hair only, because water can get inside. Keep it out of the bathroom, and store it somewhere cool and dry rather than in a hot car. To clean it, wipe it with a soft cloth. If it gets properly dirty, ReFa says you can rinse it, shake out the water and dry it off.
If you want a ReFa tool for the shower, that is a different job. Our Every ReFa Hair Tool, Ranked sorts the whole range by what each one is for.
How to use the Aira
Hold it by the handle, open, with the lock engaged. For a fringe, draw the wide section through in one stroke from the roots down. For side pieces, turn it so the shorter teeth take the strands, then finish with the tapered tips on the fine hairs at the hairline.
ReFa's one instruction is to go gently, especially at first, and keep an eye on your hair and scalp. If you have atopic dermatitis, ReFa suggests checking with your dermatologist before using it.
Who is the Aira for, and who should skip it?
Best for: fringes and curtain bangs, face-framing layers, fine hair that lifts with static, tidying a parting on the go, and anyone who wants a ReFa tool that fits in a small bag.
Skip it if: you need to detangle long or knotted hair from ends to roots. The Aira is too small for that job, and it isn't trying to do it. A brush is the right tool, and our ReFa brush comparison: Heart Brush vs Aile Brush vs Ion Care will point you to the right one.
ReFa also advises against using the Aira on hair transplants, wigs or extensions, where the teeth can catch.
If you want heat as well as smoothing, ReFa's two comb irons are compared here.
Which colour should you choose?
We stock the Aira in nine colours: the six classics (Rose Gold, Silver, Champagne Gold, Shine Red, Aqua Blue and Emerald) and three softer M Collection shades (M Pink, M Purple and M Mint Green).
Rose Gold is the one most of our customers choose, around two in every three we sell. Silver is the quieter alternative. For the M Collection shades and the Aira WITH, see ReFa Heart Mirror, Aira WITH and the New M Collection Colours.
SoJan tip: the Aira is the piece we most often suggest tucking into a new bag. It weighs next to nothing and has a job every day. What to Carry With It: The Everyday Seoul Bag Edit has the rest of that list.
Is the ReFa Heart Comb Aira worth it?
For what it is, yes. It is a small, well-made comb that does one thing well: it keeps the hair around your face in place through the day, without a brush and without a mirror session. The design is the reason it works. The three tooth zones match three kinds of stray hair, and the lock makes it steady to use.
It is also one of the easiest ReFa pieces to give. It arrives in a slim white ReFa sleeve.
Where to buy ReFa
Every ReFa piece we stock is bought in person in Tokyo by our personal shoppers and checked by our team before it ships. The Aira arrives in limited runs; if your colour is between runs, you can still order it and it ships when the next allocation lands. Free delivery available, and we ship worldwide.
Shop the ReFa HEART COMB Aira →
Questions we get asked
Is the ReFa Heart Comb Aira worth it?
Yes, if you want a compact comb for fringes, face-framing pieces and static. It is not designed to detangle long or knotted hair.
How big is the Aira?
About 127 x 31 x 11mm folded, and about 13 grams.
Can you use the ReFa Aira on wet hair?
No. ReFa says it is not waterproof and is made for dry hair only.
Does the Aira fold?
Yes. The heart closes over the teeth for your bag, and locks in place when open.
How do you clean it?
Wipe it with a soft cloth. If it gets dirty, rinse it, shake out the water and dry it.
Not sure which colour, or whether the Aira is the right ReFa tool for you? Ask our Personal Shoppers on Live Chat.
