How Do I Clean My Hairbrush?
As a default, always follow the specific instructions that the manufacturer of your hairbrush might have. In most cases, hairbrush care is fairly simple and straightforward. Personally, the biggest challenge I have in hairbrush care is taking the time out to actually clean it.
Cleaning your hairbrush doesn’t take a ton of time, but it certainly does make a difference in longevity and maintaining the quality of it. Not to mention, the gnarly hidden buildup that might occur due to hair products, bacteria, sweat, natural scalp oils, and dead skin cells to name a few.
Not to give you the creeps, but those little lint and dust balls in your brush can harbor bacteria and dust from dead skin cells. At best, keep a routine in which you remove loose dust, debris, and hair that builds up in your hair brush on a regular basis. Whether that be on your “everything shower day” (in you know, you know) or a recurring task on the cleaning calendar.
Image by Greta Hoffman
What Products and Tools Do I Need to Clean my Hairbrush?
✅ your hairbrush (obvi 😜)
✅ The Tidy People Sink+Toilet cleaner OR another concentrated cleaner, (such as dish soap) can work
✅ a wide tooth comb that’s sturdy
✅ optional: a soft horse hair bristled brush or an old toothbrush
✅ optional: baking soda
The Step-by-Step Process on How to Clean Your Hairbrush
(1) Remove hair + dust with a wide tooth comb: ensure the comb is sturdy enough and the ‘teeth’ are wide enough to comb through the brush. As you comb, you’ll notice that dirt + debris will lift up and out of the brush. Discard anything that surfaces.
(2) Fill up sink partway with water & plug the sink: water ideally is lukewarm to hot.
(3) Add 2 parts baking soda: this part is optional, but it is recommended if your hairbrush has a fabric backing. The mild abrasive and deodorizing nature of the baking soda will help draw out any dirt that’s trapped in the fabric.
(4) Add 1 part concentrated soap: once added, add the hairbrush paddle end and stir the water, baking soda, and concentrated soap together.
(5) Let sit for 30min - 1hr: if you have other cleaning tasks or other to-do’s with your beauty routine, now is a great time to do these things during this idle time.
Notate that if you have a brush with a wooden handle, that the soaking time should be reduced to 5 minutes, max. Soaking wood in water for too long will cause the wood to break down.
(6) Scrub the brush: use the soft horse hair bristled scrub brush or an old toothbrush to scrub. The goal is to lift any remaining dirt + debris off of the hairbrush backing where the bristles are attached, as well as the bristles. Depending on how much buildup is in your brush, this task might take a minute. Take your time to ensure that all debris has been lifted.
(7) Drain the sink and rinse the brush: run fresh water over the brush in the sink to rinse, then let air dry.
Image by Greta Hoffman
How Often Should I Replace my Hairbrush?
Honestly, a good quality hair brush (such my fave, the Mason Pearson) should last you a long time — 2 to 10 years, depending on the brand and how well you maintain your hair brush. If you notice that a significant amount of bristles have fallen off, or if the hair brush is bent or broken then it’s time to replace it.
