Cleaning Brushes

Written by Emily McBride (last updated March 15, 2021)

Most likely, your hairbrush brushes through a lot of hair, hairspray, gel, mousse, conditioner, pomade, and whatever other hair products you use. These products build up residue in your brush. Yet, for most people, cleaning their brush is a chore they rarely think about doing. Having a clean hairbrush will help you to keep your hair looking nicer and cleaner.

  1. First, you need to clean up the hair. If you have long or thick hair, you probably have quite a bit of hair tangled up in your brush. To loosen the hair, use a wide-toothed comb and thread it through the bristles of your brush. Instead of using a wide-toothed comb, you can also use another brush. Another option is to loosen the hair with a fork. This should help you to loosen the air, which you can then grab out and throw away.
  2. Plug the sink and fill it up with warm water. Add a small amount of hand soap or shampoo. Dip the brush in it. Using vinegar instead may also work as vinegar will eat away the oily residue on your brush. You can use an old toothbrush to scrub off the residue, or use a cotton swab to wipe away residue.
  3. Use cold water to rinse the brush. Make sure to get rid of all the soap—otherwise the residue from the soap will just replace the residue from your hair products.
  4. Use a dry cloth to pat down the brush. Let it air dry on a paper towel.

Some brushes should not be soaked for a long time. If they are made of wood, the wood could warp. If they have a rubber cushion, the water can become trapped inside. Natural boar brushes will get ruined if you soak them in water as well. Instead of soaking it in the water, use a toothbrush with some mild soap and scrub the brush with it. Then, quickly rinse your brush under the sink. Dry your brush with a blow dryer. Washing a comb is much easier. Just fill the sink with warm, soapy water, and let the comb soak.

It's best to clean your brush once a week. If you clean it frequently, it will make it easier to clean each time. Cleaning your brush will help you keep your hair cleaner. Also, taking care of your brushes and combs will help them last longer.

Author Bio

Emily McBride

A senior majoring in English and editing at BYU, Emily hopes to enter the field of professional editing upon graduation. Emily has done humanitarian work in Africa and studied in London. She enjoys blogging, foreign films, and playing the piano. ...

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