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How to wash your hair brushes clean your styling tools

In this article

Taking proper care of your hair should include not only looking after your high-quality brushes.

Maintaining hygiene and avoiding hair breakage is crucial while keeping your brushes in order.

Hair accumulations in the brush may lead to friction, hence to split ends and even hair breakage. Avoid all this by reading our article dedicated to cleaning brushes.

How to wash hair brushes at home - it's that simple

Your hairbrush has a rather hairy mission: apart from having to push through all the hair tangling your head each day, the brush is constantly being exposed to dust, tiny pieces of fluff, product residues, for instance, from the hairspray, and...

It's not surprising your brush wants to take a nice bath. Give your brush the luxury of cleanliness by washing it once a month or whenever you think it needs it. Your brush will remain squeaky clean and hygienic all the time.

We will give you some advice how to wash a hair brush - Follow our instructions to keep your hair brush as good as new, regardless of what kind you have - plastic, wooden or round one.

Step 1. Remove the hair!

How to wash my hair brush - get rid of the hair!

To start with, pull out the hair from the bristles of the brush. It is easier or more difficult depending on the length of hair and which brush is used.

Especially round brushes do not let go of your fallen hair easily. Long hair also does not make the task any easier.

But with some brushes (and mostly the flat normal brushes) it is possible to just pull the hair with your hand.

Tighter brushes will need help in the form of a hairpin; you just have to gently insert the pin under the hair stuck in the brush and then pull it up.

In case it is impossible to do so, simply grab nail scissors and cut the hair off the brush. Sometimes this method is the only one possible especially with round brushes.

Step 2. Get rid of lint and fluff!

After all the hair was pulled out of the brush, there might be some lint and fluff left in the brush. Just get rid of them by brushing it clean with a special hard toothbrush.

Step 3. Time for a bath!

Your hairbrush should be pretty clean right now. In order to remove everything that you used to style your hair, such as hairspray, gel, hair wax or whatever else you used to get your desired hairstyle, your hairbrush deserves a good bath.

The water may be fairly warm. Use some shampoo or washing up liquid for the water. Let your hairbrush have a soak.

Hairbrush washing procedure for wooden hairbrushes: Immerse your plastic hairbrush in the water for two hours. However, if you are dealing with a wooden hairbrush, immerse it only for 15 minutes or it might suffer under the influence of the water.

Now comes scrubbing your hairbrush again – this time with the toothbrush. This is when you will remove the leftover dirt from your hairbrush.

Step 4. Dry it out, that's it!

Now that you have washed your hair brush, you must shake it out dryly. The best place to do this is in the sink, while taking a shower, and sometimes even right above the bathtub. That's the best method to remove extra water.

After that, lay the brush bristles down on a towel and let it dry completely. If the brush is round, you should turn it around every half-hour to dry it properly from all sides.

When letting your brush dry, put it in a very airy place so that the water could fully evaporate, as otherwise it will begin to grow mold.

You can also just blow-dry your brush if you are in a hurry.

How do I wash brushes for my makeup that has natural hair?

First, moisten the brush with some water and gently brush over the brush soap to form foam.

After that, rinse the make-up brush with lukewarm water - that's it!

Just ensure that you wash the brush with its tip pointing downwards to prevent the press ring from getting wet.

How do I wash my hair brush that has boar bristles?

Our recommendation is that you use brush cleaner to properly wash your hairbrush made of boar bristles.

Or you could use another hairbrush to remove stray hair.

It is advisable to wash the bristles every six to eight weeks using a mild shampoo and lukewarm water.

Cleaning of hair brushes used after lice treatment?

Combs which have heat resistance properties, hair brushes, hair bands and hair elastics can be thoroughly washed in hot water using soap or soaked in hot water at 60° C for 10 minutes.

The pyjamas, bed sheets and the towels can be regularly changed and washed at a temperature above 60°C.

It is also essential to know that pillows, hats, soft toys and such like need to be placed in a plastic bag for at least three days.

The utensils which can be put into a tumble dryer should also be dried there for at least one hour.

It is quite easy to do cleaning of floors by regular vacuuming. Are you interested in killing lice by a hair dryer?

Hair brush washing process – what do I need for it?

It is necessary to think about what type of material the brushes are made of. There are various types of materials, so the washing procedure will vary.

The hair brush consists mainly of organic materials, so it is necessary to take care of the hairbrush very carefully.

All these elements – bristles, wooden pins, and pins, can stand moisture and mild shampoo.

Be careful: brushes made of goat hair should not be washed under running water! It is enough to brush lightly and tap it.

Hair brush washing technique and frequency

Perhaps, it is necessary to carry out cleaning only once every one-two months or even longer.

But if you apply hairspray, gel or other styling products, it will be reasonable to wash the brush more often, possibly once every two weeks.

This procedure is necessary to avoid stringy, greasy hair, and even hair breakage.

The take away message

Healthy hair grooming isn't just about hair products; the hairbrush itself also requires attention.

Cleaning your brush is important for preventing damage to your hair and ensuring proper hygiene.

Our article makes this easy for you with simple tips for keeping your hair brush clean.

From removing hair and lint to even giving your brush a bath, we tell you everything you need to know.

Whatever type of hairbrush you use – plastic, wood, or boar bristles – we have got you covered.

FAQs

How frequently should I wash my hair brushes?

Brushes should be deep-cleaned every two to four weeks depending on usage frequency. If you apply styling products daily, it is advisable to clean them more regularly.

What type of soap should I use to clean my hair brushes?

It is important to use specially designed clarifying shampoos or mild dish soap since such products are specifically created to remove hair oil residue, styling products, and skin cells from brushes.

Is it safe to immerse wooden hair brushes into water?

Absolutely not! Wooden and cushion brushes must never be dipped into water because long-term exposure causes the wood structure to decay, destroys adhesion substances, and promotes mold formation inside the cushion.

How should I properly dry my brushes?

First, shake out excessive water droplets from the bristles and then place the brush upside-down onto a clean, dry towel.

Kaedryn Thornvale | Laifen blog author
Kaedryn Thornvale
Kaedryn began her career behind the salon chair before moving into beauty writing. With hands-on experience in styling and product testing, she brings a real-world perspective to every piece she creates. Her work focuses on usable advice and routines that fit everyday life. Consistently relevant, Kaedryn’s writing helps readers make solid hair care and styling decisions.
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