To help prevent buildup in the first place, hairstylist and colorist Dan Williams recommends keeping your brushes in a safe space. “Gray fuzzies are usually dust and particles in the air (clothing/towel fibers) that attach to the bristles,” he says. “It’s important to store your brushes in a closed space and clean them regularly so products such as hairspray, gels, and oils don’t allow for more of these particles to stick.”
How often should I clean my hairbrush?
Consistency is key, and Olson recommends a thorough monthly cleaning, whether you use a boar bristle brush, round brush, paddle brush, or even a rat-tail comb. “You should be cleaning your hairbrush thoroughly about once a month as well as your hair combs,” he says. However, there are some exceptions depending on your hair type.
“If you have longer or thicker hair, it’s more ideal to be cleaning your brushes and combs every two weeks,” Olson says. Or, if you use a lot of styling products, you may want to clean even more often. “If you find that your brush is getting buildup very quickly due to excessive product buildup in your hair, then I would recommend a weekly brush- and comb-cleaning routine,” Olson adds.
A small, preventive step you can take: “Every single time you finish cleaning your hair, pick out and remove any hair that’s transferred to your brush bristles immediately,” he says. “This will help prevent further tangles in the hair and the brush.”
What happens if I don’t clean my hairbrush?
Cleaning not only promotes a healthy scalp and strands, it also helps your hairbrush perform better, especially if you’ve invested in a pricier brush. If you’re not regularly keeping your hairbrush clean, you may be making things harder for yourself. “Brushes can range in price on the market depending on the brand, quality of the brush, and whether it’s a ceramic or natural bristle brush,” Olson says. “You want to clean your brushes regularly to help prevent your hairbrush from not working as intended or effectively.”
Williams agrees, adding that tools are available to help make the cleaning process easier. “Cleaning your brushes regularly keeps the quality of the bristles in better condition,” he says. “It will also allow the brush to work to its highest capacity—when a bunch of hair clogs the brush, you’ll notice the quality of detangling and smoothing deteriorates. You can find brush-cleaning tools on Amazon that make cleaning your brushes a breeze.”
Not cleaning your hairbrush also may inflict damage on your scalp. “When you aren’t cleaning constantly, every time you brush your hair, a dirty brush can redeposit buildup, bacteria, and dead skin cells to your hair strands and scalp,” Olson says. “This also may make detangling your hair much harder to do.”
How to clean hairbrushes
Luckily, how to clean a hairbrush is fairly simple and easy to achieve at home. “For a quick everyday cleansing for someone on the go, simply spray your combs and brushes with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water to dilute,” says Olson. “This is an easy way to instantly kill any bacteria that may grow on the brush in between thorough cleanings.”
How to deep clean hairbrushes
For a deep clean, Olson recommends soaking your brushes and combs in a tub of hot water with soap. Then air-dry your brush bristle-side down so it fully drains and doesn’t leave excess water in the brush or handle. “Please make sure to let your brush fully dry before your use it again,” he says.
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