It's just two combs with wide spaced teeth that slide into each other.  My mom got it for me for X-mas.  My initial thought was that with my layers and fumble fingers I'd never get any use out of it.  I lazily slid the ends through the top section of my hair from each side and slid the comb tooths into each other and voila; Half updo! :)  Some loose strands wouldn't stay in the combs but once the combs are in my hair, no pieces slide out.  If I apply a bit of styling product first, all parts stay up.  The other good news is that I don't have to comb my hair first and hold it in one hand while fumbling for combs with the other hand.  I am completely style challenged!

I wonder, if my hair had been longer and all one length, would these sort of crab combs be able to hold a twist together?  What other options could there be?

In the past I've had single combs, hinged combs, long "beaks", those bun half circles with a stick you slide through, the zig-zag things you close together at the ends, etc. but none really appealed to me.  In other words, I never developed the skill level to use them. :-[  I feel really good about having something that isn't a hair band, that I can actually figure out how to use and can use at the length my hair is now even though it's stubbornly straight and slippery.  I know I'm raving on and on but I've been in desperate need for a hair style success experience for over five years now.

However, googling 'The Crab' just shows up images of crabs. :o  

Sounds interesting - do you know the manufacturer of it?

No, but all the writing's in Dutch. ;D  A more intense google search showed something called interlocking combs.  I guess I've seen them before but never thought of buying them and wouldn't have known what to do with them.

http://www.cosmeticsolutions.biz/servlet/the-19604/Hair-Crab%2C-Hair-Clip%2C/Detail

Mine's a darker faux tortoise.

Wow neat hair toy! :)

That's really cool. I have something like that called an octopus clip for thick hair, but I don't use it that often. I'm just wondering though, Drear, when did you get layers? I always thought you had it all the same length.  :-/ :P

I had layers with the bob to make it fold under itself.  Then I had the layers changed a bit and the graduation lengths at the side changed so that it will eventually look better as it grows than if I'd just continued to get my hair trimmed in the shape of the bob I had (at the end because the stupid bob went through several interpretations too ::)).  There are only 3 or so layers at the bottom though so it's nothing severe and when it reaches BSL I may decide to stay that length for some time until the layers are cut away.  I haven't made up my mind yet.  

I have a set of those crab combs.  Unfortunately they don't hold all of my hair so its in the pile of "dang, it broke/doesn't work" hair accessories.

I'm glad you found a new toy-it can get so boring.  I hope you'll post a pic of it in your hair!

I imagine it could hold a twist up, peacock style.