dirty hairbrushes

HOW AND WHY TO CLEAN HAIR BRUSHES

We will be the first ones to say that cleaning can be a bit of a drag. From cleaning your makeup brushes to cleaning your sheets, it looks as though there is a never-ending cleaning to-do list. One thing you can have forgotten to add to your cleaning checklist? Your hair brushes. Think you do not require to know how to clean hairbrushes? Think again. Below, we are sharing everything you require to know about how to clean a hairbrush and even how to clean a comb so you can keep this hairstyling necessity squeaky clean.

Why is it important to clean your hairbrush?

No matter how frequently you use your hairbrush, it has the ability to act like a sponge. This means it can trap all kinds of residue in its bristles, both from your hair and from the environment. Haircare products like leave-in conditioners, gels, or hairsprays can build up on your hair and stick to the bristles of your brush. Your brush also contains dead skin cells that can transfer back to your hair every time you use your brush. Also, hair sheds each day. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is normal to shed 50-100 hairs a day. A lot of this hair can accumulate at the base of the brush. Particles in the environment like dust, soot, and other grime can also settle on your hairbrush and build up over time. If the bristles are already coated in sticky or oil hair products, it can make it even easy for these particles to stick to your hairbrush. Without regular cleaning, all this residue can get deposited in your hair every time you use your hairbrush. As a result, a dirty hairbrush can have a much harder time doing its job and aiding your hair look its good.

How often should you clean your brush?

There’re no hard or fast rules regarding how frequently to clean a hairbrush. It actually depends on the kinds of products you use on your hair and how frequently you use them. If you regularly use hairspray, styling creams, or gels, the best rule of thumb is to clean your hairbrush once a week. If you do not use much product in your hair, try to make a habit of cleaning your brush every 2-3 weeks. To make cleaning easy, try to remove hair that is accumulated in the bristles every couple of days.

Hair brushes in a bucket

HOW TO CLEAN HAIR BRUSHES

REMOVE EXCESS HAIR

Obviously, you will want to remove any strands that’ve built up on your hairbrush. This’s the same for all kinds of brushes, whether you tend to reach for a paddle brush or a round brush. You can begin to do this by easily pulling away from the hair with your fingers. Any strands that look to have latched on and are a little more difficult to remove, you can use a pair of scissors to cut loose. You will want to do this about once a week, or when you notice your hair starting to build upon your brush. As with most cleaning, the more frequently you do it, the less you will have to do next time.

MAKE YOUR MIX

Once you have removed all excess hair from the brush, you will want to make a cleaning mixture. When it comes to giving your brush a thorough washing, your good bet is to create a concoction of water and shampoo. You can throw a bit of baking soda into the mix as well. Stir up your creation in a cup when you are ready to clean.

SCRUB AWAY

Reach for a clean toothbrush yes, a toothbrush. This will be your sidekick when it comes to cleaning your hairbrushes, as it will allow you to gently scrub away any buildup without being too harsh. Dip the toothbrush in your mix of shampoo and water, then gently scrub between the bristles of your hairbrush. After you have given your brush a thorough cleaning, rinse the bristles with water and allow your hairbrush to air dry.

Perform Daily Maintenance

Remove hair from the brush always when you use it. Hold your brush in one hand via grasping a comb in the other hand. If the comb has a pointed handle, hold the teeth not the handle, and run the point of the handle through the bristles some times to dislodge and remove any hair. Alternately, you can use the teeth of the comb to remove hair, raking them through the lifting and bristles the hair up and out. Discard the hair.

Shampoo Your Hairbrush

Shampoo the hairbrush once a month for removing dirt, oil, and any built-up hair products. While grasping the handle, swirl the brush head about in a bowl of warm water. then, put few drops of shampoo on the bristles of a toothbrush and use the toothbrush for scrubbing the bristles and base of the hairbrush. Rinse the brush by swirling it in the clean water bowl. Do not soak your hairbrush in water as that can harm its cushion and any wooden parts. Dry Hairbrush Overnight. Place the clean and wet brush on a dry towel with the bristles facing down for drying overnight.

What is the best way to clean a lice comb?

If you have had to deal with head lice, you can wonder if there’s a special way to clean the comb that is used to remove these nits.

To clean a lice comb

Use a paper towel to wipe the lice or nits from the comb after each swipe through the hair. Once you are done, place the paper towel in a sealed plastic bag and throw it away. Next, place the comb in a pot of hot water it should be at least 130°F/54.4°C to kill any remaining nits or lice. Let the comb soak for 10 mints. Dry the comb completely and pour alcohol over it. Let the comb air dry.

 

It can be simple to neglect a hairbrush or comb. But, if you want your hair to look its good, without any unwanted oils, dirt, or product residue, it is the best idea to give your hairbrush a thorough cleaning on a regular basis.