Why Should You Clean Your Hair Brush?
The major reason to clean your hair brush regularly is to stay healthy and hygienic. Unclean hair brushes are filled with dirt, natural oils, sweat, dead skin cells, product buildup (leave-in conditioners, gels, and hairsprays), microbes (yeast, bacteria, dust mites, and lice), and hair strands.
Hair accessories and brushes become breeding grounds for microbes like bacteria and fungi (yeast) if we do not clean them properly. They transfer grime and germs to your hair, compromising hair and scalp health. This also results in swelling, itching, and dandruff and may lead to folliculitisi and seborrheic dermatitis.
A thorough monthly cleaning is sufficient for most hairbrushes and combs. If you have very long hair or use lots of styling products, you may need to clean the tools every two weeks. It’s a good idea to remove the tangled hair around the bristles regularly, even if you don’t do a thorough cleaning.
How To Clean A HairBrush
1. Remove The Hair
Thus, the most important step is to remove all the hair tangled from the brush or comb.
You may notice that the hair may be knotted within the bristles. Use scissors to cut the hair stuck between the bristles into smaller pieces. This will not only make hair removal easy but also protect the bristles from separating or getting damaged. You can turn the brush bristle side down and use a toothbrush to clean lint, dust particles, and grime.
2. Wash The Brush
You Will Need
- A large bowl
- Warm water
- Clarifying shampoo or baking soda
- An old toothbrush, towel, or napkins
Steps
- Add shampoo (dime size or approximately 10 ml) to a bowl of warm water. You can also use your sink instead of a bowl.
- Mix thoroughly to form lukewarm sudsy water. Soak the unclean hair brushes and combs in the warm, soapy water. Depending on the type of hair brush, the soaking duration and cleaning solution will vary.
- Swish the hair brush around the bowl to remove debris.
- Scrub between the bristles gently with a toothbrush. You can also massage the bristle tips with your palms.
- Rinse the bristles thoroughly with warm water.
- Remove excess moisture by patting it dry with a towel or napkin.