Line #82 Main/CombatHaircomb


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[Series/KillingEve https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fight_comb_5.png]]]]
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7	->'''"Have you heard of the Kunoichi? [...] It's the deadly sisterhood of the Ninja, originally Japanese. Like the geishas, they were trained in singing and entertaining so they could get access into the household of an enemy warlord, and just when he'd gotten her nice and cosy in his arms he'd end up with an icepick through the ear into the brain -- one of their favourite tricks, in my language the ''ssu chieh wen'' -- the kiss of death."''
8	-->-- '''Literature/{{Quiller}}'s Run'''
9
10	Women get [[VictoriasSecretCompartment all the best]] HiddenWeapons. A woman with a Combat Haircomb has an ornamental comb or pin to fasten her hair that is also a dagger or other sharp implement. It may be inside a sheath, or the hair itself may serve to hide the blade. It's very popular for spies and assassins as well as undercover warriors who need to blend in to high society functions.
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12	In a pinch, chopstick-style plain wood hairpins can be used this way, as an ImprovisedWeapon. Another variant is to use a big brush comb and use the handle to hide a weapon or as a blade. In rare cases, it's an ''actual'' comb, albeit with poison tips.
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14	See also NothingUpMySleeve, SlipknotPonytail, and VictoriasSecretCompartment. Subtrope to ArsenalAttire.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
21	* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Matsuri's pinwheel is not exactly a weapon, but is a MagicWand for ninjutsu that also detects evil spirits. After [[GenderBender he is turned female]], Matsuri takes advantage of his lengthened hair to store it hands-free while passing it as an accessory (though he actually ties it with elastic bands so he can take the pinwheel out). Previously, he had to hold it in his hand, [[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth mouth]], or the armlet of his combat outfit.
22	* Paako from ''Manga/{{Beelzebub}}'' sometimes uses her flower hairpin as a knife.
23	* ''Manga/BlackDiamond'': Miko has combs that she can combine to use as spiked brass knuckles.
24	* Princess Kyougoku from ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' uses her hairpin as her metal vessel.
25	* In the first ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' CompilationMovie, Yoko [[ImprovisedWeapon improvises]] the two needles that serve as her hairpins to stab Adiane's [[BewareMyStingerTail scorpion tail]], pinning it to the floor. This also draws a backup pistol Yoko [[HairyHammerspace stores in her tied up hair]], which she uses because Adiane broke her rifle.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Films — Animated]]
29	* ''Animation/WhiteSnake2019'': Blanca possesses a jade hairpin that's actually a powerful magic weapon made by the Jade workshop. Not only it serves by being a deadly FlyingWeapon, but also has the magical ability to [[EnergyAbsorption absorb magic or the essence of other beings]], although constant use seems to have the side-effect of messing with the memory of its user.
30	* ''WesternAnimation/MakeMineMusic'': In ''Literature/CaseyAtTheBat'', after the title character gets a strike, a woman in the stands attempts to stab the umpire with a hairpin, brandishing it like a dagger.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
34	* ''Film/BlackChristmas2019'': When Riley is forced to kneel at Brian's feet in the frat house, she grabs the comb that had been stolen from her earlier off the altar and uses it to rake Brian's face.
35	* In ''Film/TheBoldCaballero'', Isabella's duenna stabs the Commandante in the shoulder with the sharp comb used to hold up her mantilla.
36	* In ''Film/CountessDracula'', Elisabeth murders the HotGypsyWoman by stabbing her through her jugular with a jeweled hairpin.
37	* In ''Film/{{Cruella}}'', Cruella uses a long hairpin to jab the Baroness to [[spoiler:distract her while she steals the dog whistle]]. Notably, Jasper thinks she is planning to murder the Baroness with it.
38	* In ''Film/DeathWish'', one of the New Yorkers inspired by VigilanteMan Paul Kersey is an old woman who stabs a mugger with her hatpin.
39	* In ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom'', Golden Sparrow wears a magical dart in her hair that can kill an immortal. She's waiting to meet the magical warlord who killed her family.
40	* The seeresses in ''Film/{{Immortals}}'' had one used to break out of captivity.
41	* In ''Film/KissOfTheDragon'', a prostitute uses her hairpins to assassinate her client [[OutWithABang while she's servicing him]].
42	* In ''Film/LadyNinjaKaede'', Kaede uses her razor sharp hairpins to fatally stab Kichiemon in the back.
43	* A character in ''Film/LeprechaunInTheHood'' is killed with an afro pick to the throat.
44	* In ''Film/NothingButTheNight'', Dr. Haynes is murdered by being stabbed through the temple with one of Anna Harb's hatpins.
45	* In ''Film/TheScavengers'', Nancy kills Cpl. Mason by luring him into an intimate embrace, then stabbing him in the neck with a hatpin.
46	* Irene Adler in the trailer to ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009''. The scenes [[MissingTrailerScene never made it into the movie]].
47	* ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers1973'': While fighting Constance Bonacieux over the diamond-studded necklace, Milady pulls an ornamental hairpin out of her hair and uses it as a weapon.
48	* A male example is the title character of ''Film/UndercoverBrother'', who uses his afro picks as throwing knives.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Literature]]
52	* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'':
53	** In ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'', Conina the barbarian hairdresser is the daughter of Cohen the Barbarian ("wholesale slaughter") so has no choice but to accept destiny as a barbarian warrior. But what she ''really'' wants is to own a hairdressing salon. In between bouts of sickening violence, she keeps her hand in by doing hairdos. Sometimes combs and scissors become lethal weapons in her hands...
54	** Anyone who sees Granny Weatherwax remove her hatpins had better start running...
55	** Played absolutely straight by [[BattleButler Willikins]] in ''Literature/{{Snuff}}''. If he's tasked with keeping you under control, and you start getting any funny ideas about escaping, and you see him remove a steel comb from his pocket... you just sit right where you are and don't so much as ''breathe'' in a threatening manner.
56	** That indefatigable chronicler of Discworld Rail Ways, Mrs Bradshaw, notes in her Handbook that pins are frequently deployed by ladies nervous of being molested by strange men with whom they are forced to share a compartment. She hints that many prim old ladies seem to ''hope'' men will molest them under cover of darkness...
57	* In the ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/ColdDays'', Sarissa, Harry's personal trainer, is invited to a fae party and taken hostage. She breaks out by using her hair needles--while they're just ordinary glass decorations, inside they are supported by steel rods, [[ColdIron which burn fae]].
58	* In ''Literature/TheGardellaVampireChronicles'', Victoria's hairdresser hides her stakes within her hairdos, for easy access.
59	* In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'', Talia's [[ArsenalAttire formal Whites]] include two long pins in her hair that could, in a pinch, be used as stilettos. She also has throwing knives on her wrists ([[NothingUpMySleeve concealed by long sleeves]]) and a long dagger--almost a short sword--strapped to her thigh, accessible through an invisible slit in her skirt.
60	* In ''Literature/IronWidow'', Zetian spent her life's savings to create a hairpin with a hidden stiletto so she could sneak into the military and assassinate her sister's killer. [[spoiler:She loses it by accident, but kills him in the mecha anyway.]]
61	* ''Literature/JudgeDee'': TheReveal of ''The Chinese Nail Murders'' involves a mysterious death finally being explained by [[spoiler:the victim's wife driving a shoe nail into her husband's head.]]
62	* In the ''Literature/KateDaniels'' series, specifically ''Magic Strikes'', this is first averted--with Kate telling her companion that her hair ornaments aren't knives, as this is a good way to lose a chunk of hair when you pull them--and then played straight, with Kate killing an attacker with them and explaining that, technically, the sharpened wooden sticks are ''spikes'', not knives.
63	* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': In ''Kushiel's Avatar'', Phèdre uses a sharpened hairpin to [[spoiler: assassinate the Mahrkagir]].
64	* ''Literature/PartnersInCrime'': The Literature/TommyAndTuppence short story "The Sunningdale Mystery" has them investigating a man who was stabbed with a hatpin. Tuppence immediately rules out the main suspect, who has a TwentiesBobHaircut and therefore wouldn't have a hatpin. [[spoiler: She later extends this to correctly concluding that the murderer was a man, trying to make it look as though a woman had done it.]]
65	* ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'': Shada D'ukal's EstablishingCharacterMoment in ''The Last Command'' is her instant transformation from decorative escort to incredibly lethal bodyguard by pulling out her hair needles and using them as throwing daggers.
66	* In ''Literature/{{Tigana}}'', [[spoiler:Catriana uses a bladed, poisoned hair comb to assassinate Anghiar, who is the conqueror's emissary in the free province of Senzio.]]
67	-->''You could buy anything you wanted in Senzio’s weapon market. Anything at all. Including a woman’s ornament with a hidden blade. And poison on the blade. An ornament for the hair, in black, with shining jewels, one of which released the spring that freed the blade. An exquisite, deadly thing.''
68	* In ''Literature/TrickstersDuet'', the royals of the Copper Isles have spells that warn them if weapons are too close to their person. Aly spots a raka servant (and fellow [[LaResistance spy]]) with some rather pointed hairpins, and compliments her ingenuity.
69	* Inverted in ''Literature/TwentyYearsAfter'', where a perfectly ordinary comb is confiscated by an overzealous LawfulStupid jailer, whose orders were to prevent the prisoner from having any sharp objects. [[spoiler:It's part of a plan to ensure no one knows the jailer is actually there to help the prisoner break out.]]
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71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
74	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E20GoFish Go Fish]]", Buffy runs into evil vampire Angelus and draws a small wooden stake she was holding her hair bun in place with, ShakingHerHairLoose in the process. Angelus promptly quips, [[BeautifulAllAlong "Why, Ms. Summers! You're]] ''[[BeautifulAllAlong beautiful!"]]''
75	* ''Series/KillingEve'': Villanelle has used a hairpin with a syringe built inside it to poison someone.
76	* ''Series/PeakyBlinders'': Polly pulls out a very long, very sharp hairpin to threaten [[spoiler:Grace]]. Then she puts it back in her hair and they sit down and talk.
77	* ''Series/PrincessAgents'': Chu Qiao uses a sharp hairpin as a dagger.
78	* ''Series/RobinHood'': If Marian is wearing anything in her hair it will be used as a weapon, a lockpick, or both.
79	* Queen Anne from the ''Series/TheMusketeers'' proves she’s [[EyeScream useful with a hairpin]] during Rochefort’s AttemptedRape.
80	* ''Series/ShadowAndBone''. Inej has to do an ExtendedDisarming of all her knives before meeting with Tante Heleen, the woman holding her in IndenturedServitude, concluding with a blade she uses as a hairpin, which Heleen's bodyguard says is new.
81	* Maurice in ''Reginald the Vampire'' carries around a wooden pick haircomb both for his hair and to improvise as a stake against other vampires.
82	* In ''Series/The10thKingdom'', Virginia kills the Evil Queen by raking her with the poisoned comb the latter had previously attempted to kill Literature/SnowWhite with.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Music]]
86	* [[JapanesePopMusic J-Pop]] group ''Brown Eyed Girls'' has the kunoichi version in their ''Film/KillBill'' video, among the various other assassinations.
87	* Music/PinkFloyd in song "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" on album ''Music/{{Animals\|1977}}'' has the lyric "You like the feel of steel, You're hot stuff with a hatpin, And good fun with a hand gun..."
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Video Games]]
91	* [[GenderInvertedTrope Red XIII]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' can equip various hair clips, combs, and headdresses as weapons.
92	* One of the Hoshidan {{joke weapon}}s in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is a cute-looking, intricately-crafted [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Hair_Pin Hair Pin]] with a single [[CherryBlossoms cherry blossom flower]] on its handle. It can only be used by female characters.
93	* Leona from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' uses her barette as a boomerang-like projectile.
94	* Komachi from ''VideoGame/NarutoClashOfNinja 2'' uses her kanzashi as weapons.
95	* Cate Archer of ''VideoGame/NoOneLivesForever'' carries a barette with a poisoned blade inside in the first game.
96	* EVE's CoolSword in ''VideoGame/StellarBlade'' doubles as a retractable hair accessory that hangs from the top of her long ponytail.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Webcomics]]
100	* From ''WebComic/DubiousCompany'', we have [[ActionGirl Tiren's]] hair... chopstick... things.
101	-->'''[[http://dubiouscompany.com/comics/2006/10/01 Tiren:]]''' Ha! They never take the hairsticks!
102	* The Erlking's Daughter in ''{{Webcomic/Roommates}}'' has a hairpin as part of her human disguise that came in handy in many situations. Including as stabbing weapon to threaten a magical mercenary with it. And Glinda had magic sleeping spell poppies among the flowers in her hair at least once.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Western Animation]]
106	* The ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "Bravo, James Bravo" (a ''Film/JamesBond'' parody) had several spy gadgets, including the bomb hair comb -- one wave would arm it, another would disarm it. After getting it, Johnny immediately proceeds to rapidly comb his hair, sending his higher-ups into a panic. It doesn't explode though, because he's just ''that'' good at combing.
107	* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaRama'': In "Toys 'R' Us", Duncan is trapped in Chef's old Hair Force Commando action figure. During a battle with a squirrel, he uses the figures comb accessories as throwing weapons to pin the squirrel's tail to the floor.
108	* The Tangle Web Comb on ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' turns into a bunch of strings that can be used to bind the enemies.
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Real Life]]
112	* Real-life {{geisha}} Mineko Iwasaki wrote in her autobiography ''Geisha: a Life/Geisha of Gion'' that geisha occasionally used their ''kanzashi'' (hair ornaments) to defend themselves or their clients from assault.
113	* In feudal Japan, the poisoned hairpin was a standard weapon for ''kunoichi'' (female assassins).
114	* Cold Steel makes the [[http://www.armedinheels.com/cold-steel-hair-brush-defense-dagger-p-1684.html Honeycomb]], a hairbrush that conceals a dagger in the handle.
115	* Steel combs were and are a favored weapon among greasers around the world.
116	* The Granny Weatherwax example above is TruthInTelevision; Edwardian era women used their [[http://mentalfloss.com/article/60353/how-hatpin-became-tool-womens-liberation hatpins defensively]] against street harassment. It got to the point that "[b]y 1910 Chicago and other cities had passed laws limiting the length of hatpins".
117	* People can buy butterfly knives that have a comb replacing the blade. They are surprisingly sharp, and if you push slightly too hard on your hair you may hurt your scalp. If you have one, don't pull it out next to someone. It will probably alarm them. The knife can also be used for butterfly knife tricks which is great practice without the risk of really hurting yourself.
118	** Novelty combs modeled after straight razors and switchblades also exist, and like the above can be dangerous if misused. Plastic versions that are less likely to accidentally stick yourself with are just as common, however.
119	[[/folder]]

Context Main / CombatHaircomb