For the sake of our hair health and overall hygiene, knowing how to clean hair brushes is a crucial part of any healthy hair regimen. Brushing distributes sebum that is necessary for maintaining our scalp’s pH balance and keeping strands moisturised. When you brush hair with a dirty hair brush, you pretty much negate all the good your brush is trying to do. It is as if you are re-contaminating the environment that was just cleansed.
Dirt, product, and dead skin cells get stuck in the bristles and can re-deposit into your scalp. This can cause a buildup of bacteria and lead to irritation or worse possible infection. Cleaning your brushes also optimises the performance of the brush. So to avoid chronic inflammation, irritation, dandruff, and other concerning scalp conditions that can occur when using a dirty tool on your head, here’s the official, expert-approved guide on how to clean your brushes. Elevate your hair care routine (and learn how to clean your hair brushes) with a few of these simple hacks, below:
Why is there grey fuzz in my hair brush?
The first sign you may need to wash your brush is when you start to notice grey-like fuzz wrapping around the bristles. That bit of fuzz is a combination of lint, dust, dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and hair product build-up. These particles can accumulate on the surface of the bristles if the brush is not cleaned regularly. The build-up of debris affects the appearance of the brush and can impact its effectiveness in styling hair.
How often should I clean my hair brush?
You’ll want to remove any hair you’ve shed from your brush after every use. Then you’ll want to consider your hair texture and what kind of brush you’re using to determine a washing schedule.
Here is a general breakdown on how often you should be cleaning your brush based on your hair type:
Thin or fine hair: weekly
Thick or coarse hair: at least twice a month
Natural curls: weekly
If you’re someone who uses styling products or hot hair tools often, it is recommended to do more frequent washes to get the debris out. For most types of brushes, such as a round brush, teasing brush, paddle brush, or flat brush, you can use the same cleaning rules listed above.
But for brushes that are used for your edges, wash them weekly. Combs don’t need to be washed that often if they’re made out of wood (Wooden combs by design do not need to be washed as frequently) focus on removing loose hair after every use. Combs made out of synthetic material should be washed weekly if you use it everyday and three to four weeks if not.
How do I clean my hair brush?
There are a couple of different ways you can go about cleaning your hair brush, but the first thing you’ll want to consider is the material you’re dealing with. Synthetic brushes will be easier to wash compared to ones that have natural bristles, such as a boar bristle brush. Natural bristle brushes need gentler cleaning methods to preserve their integrity. Brushes with cushioned bases and wooden handles require special attention during cleaning to prevent water damage or warping.
Here are the most common ways to clean your hair brush:
Hand wash with shampoo
Brushes made of non-porous materials, silicone, hard plastic, or rubber can be hand-washed with a DIY cleansing agent of shampoo and water. You’ll first want to use something to remove any hair trapped between the bristles, whether it be a comb or a cleaning tool. Then fill a bowl or sink with warm water and add a small amount of shampoo or liquid soap (or a detox shampoo) before soaking your brush in that soapy water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse the brush to get the suds out before laying it out to air dry.
Spritz on soap and water
Brushes made out of natural bristles, wood, or cork, require more TLC. Natural fibre brushes should not be submerged in water. For these, spritz a mixture of shampoo and water from a spray bottle all over the bristles. Then go in with your hands to massage the bristles or use a clean toothbrush to loosen any gunk or product residue left over and rinse with warm water before laying it out to air dry.
Use vinegar
Vinegar can help break down heavy oil and products that hold polymers in them, such as hair sprays and gel. Vinegar, especially white vinegar, has antibacterial properties to kill bacteria that might present as well as neutralise any odour. Because vinegar is a non-toxic cleaning agent, it is very safe to use on brushes without causing damage to the bristles or the base of the brush.
If you opt for this method, she recommends creating a solution with equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Then soak your brushes for about 15 to 30 minutes to break down any buildup and get rid of odour. Once it’s done soaking, rinse thoroughly and air dry completely before using again.
When should you replace a hair brush?
When should you throw in the towel and just get a new brush? When your brush no longer performs well, it’s time to replace it. Once you feel any snagging or pulling on your hair while you try to detangle or if there are any inconsistencies in bristle lengths, you can start thinking about tossing it out and looking for something new.
Adapted from: Vogue
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