Yes, you should really be cleaning it.
We don’t blame you if washing your hair brushes isn’t always at the top of your list of things to do. Probably not even on your list of things to do. And cleaning hair brushes isn’t exactly something you can do while unwinding with a beautiful supper or while watching TV.
But we bet there are occasionally certain things you’d prefer not see when you peek at your hairbrush.
Why is It Important to Clean Hair Brushes?
Every day, you brush your hair, which distributes your hair’s natural oils and any style treatments you may have used. These products and oils accumulate on your brush over time.
Additionally, dead skin cells and hair follicles that normally fall off collect. Even tiny specks of dust and other environmental particles might land on your brush and hair.
When you brush your hair, this accumulation may then rub off on it. Transferring accumulation to your strands won’t help if they already feel or look oily lately.
Regular brush cleaning will remove debris, product residue, and scalp oils that collect on the bristles over time.
the positive news No matter what sort of hair brush you have, cleaning it doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Here’s a simple and effective method for cleaning hair brushes (and combs).
4 Steps to Cleaning Hair Brushes
So, how exactly does one thoroughly clean a hair brush? It’s actually rather simple. To get rid of any buildup on your hairbrush, just follow these simple instructions.
Just a few things are required to get going:
- bowl of warm water, or you can use the bathroom sink
- gentle shampoo
- baking soda (optional)
- scissors
- old toothbrush
- rat tail comb (optional)
There are just a few differences in the cleaning process depending on whether your brush is made of plastic or wood.
Step 1: Remove hair
- To remove hair from the brush’s base, use the long, pointed end of a rat tail comb (a kind of comb). Any pointed instrument, such as a pen, pencil, or ice pick, will do in the absence of a rat tail comb.
- To remove any hair that has been entangled in the bristles, use scissors.
Step 2: Dip and shake
- Fill a bowl or sink with warm water. Swish the water around after adding a few drops of mild shampoo to generate suds. You can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda for more cleaning power. Stir the water well.
- For a plastic brush, submerge the entire brush in water. Give it a three to five minute soak. Dip the brush bristles into the soapy water, being careful to keep the padding dry if the brush has soft cushioning at the base where the bristles join to the brush.
- Don’t entirely submerge a wooden brush. The wood and finish can be harmed by this. Simply immerse the brush’s bristles as previously mentioned for a brush with a cushioned base.
- Dip and shake the brush several times. Oils, dead skin cells, and product accumulation will be made looser and easier to remove this way. This should get rid of the most of the buildup if your brush isn’t too unclean.
Step 3: Use a toothbrush for extra cleaning
- You might need to clean the base and bristles of an extremely unclean brush with an old toothbrush.
- Make sure to scrape each bristle of the toothbrush when you dip it into the soapy water. Work your way up from the bristle’s base. To get rid of any accumulation, scrub the brush’s opposite edge.
Step 4: Rinse and dry
- After cleaning your hair brush, run it under a stream of cool water to finish the process. Alternately, you might dampen the brush’s base with a little water and wipe it dry with a towel.
- Place the brush on top of a clean cloth or towel to dry with the bristles pointing down.
How Often Should You Clean Your Hair Brushes?
The frequency of hair brush cleaning is not governed by any strict guidelines. It actually depends on the kinds of hair products you use and how frequently.
- As a general guideline, you should clean your hair brush once a week if you often use style products like creams, gels, or hairspray.
- Try to establish a routine of cleaning your brush every two to three weeks if you don’t use much product in your hair.
- Try to remove hair that has gathered in the bristles every few days to make cleaning simpler.
It is simple to forget to use a comb or hair brush. But it’s a good idea to give your hair brush a thorough cleaning on a regular basis if you want your hair to look its best, free of any undesirable oils, dirt, or product residue.