Your skin constantly sheds and produces oil, which often accumulates in your hairbrush. While this may seem unpleasant, it’s actually a normal process of renewal. Don’t forget to clean your brush regularly.
We sought advice on how to care for your hairbrush from experts.
What is this weird, dusty stuff in my brush?
Unpleasant news: Your hairbrush holds more than just dust. It collects dead skin cells, scalp oil, broken hair, and product residue—yes, it’s pretty gross.
Even worse, according to experts, bacteria and fungus can thrive on the stuff trapped in the brush. This can be a problem for people with scalp conditions like dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. That’s why it’s so important to keep your brush clean.
How often do I need to clean my brush?
This depends on how much you shed and the products you use, but generally, you should wash your brush at least every two weeks.
Just take a look at your brush to see if it needs cleaning: Can you see buildup or does it look “dusty?” If yes, it’s time to clean it.
What tools do I need?
You don’t need much to clean your brush—just these simple items:
- Liquid soap: Any regular soap, like dish soap, shampoo, or body wash, works for synthetic brushes. For brushes made of natural materials like boar bristle or wood, choose a mild, sulfate-free shampoo.
- A clean toothbrush that won’t be used for brushing teeth.
- A large bowl or a sink that you can plug.
- A towel: Any old towel will do, though we recommend using a good one.
- Optional: A pointy-ended comb, pen, chopsticks, or similar items can be used to remove debris from the bristles.
Remove the hair
Use your fingers to pull out the hair wrapped around the brush bristles. If the hair is tightly packed or hard to remove, consider cutting it with scissors. Using the pointy end of a comb can help, or you might try chopsticks, a pen, or any other pointy object. Removing hair helps clear out large clumps of dust and scalp oil, making it easier to clean the smaller, more stubborn parts later.
It’s a good practice to remove hair from your brush after every use to prevent damage to your hair. Hair tangled in the brush increases resistance while brushing, which can lead to more breakage or shedding.
Soak the brush
In a bowl or sink, add some soap to warm water and swirl it around to create a sudsy mixture. For synthetic brushes, any type of soap will do, as plastic and rubber are resilient materials—dish soap, shampoo, and body wash are all suitable. For brushes made with natural materials like wood or boar bristles, use a mild, sulfate-free shampoo to avoid damaging the bristles.
For synthetic brushes, submerge them in the soapy water, ensuring the bristles are fully soaked. Let them sit for about 10 minutes to loosen stubborn clumps.
For wooden brushes, avoid soaking them entirely. Instead, briefly dip the bristles in the soapy water. Then, use a toothbrush to gently scrub between the bristles and the base of the brush to clean thoroughly.
Scrub and pick
After you soak your brush, most of the yucky bits should be easier to remove. Using a toothbrush or your fingers, scrub between the bristles and along the base of the brush. Dunk the brush into the water as needed. You might have to use your fingers to slide any particularly clingy gunk up individual bristles.
Rinse and dry
Now that you’ve managed the unsettling task of removing debris from your brush, rinse it under running water to wash away any soap left behind. It’s important to rinse thoroughly because anything left on the brush will end up back in your hair.
Press the wet brush repeatedly to expel any water that might have soaked into the cushioned part. It’s crucial to avoid water getting trapped inside your brush as this could lead to bacteria growth. Don’t worry about any remaining moisture; what you can’t squeeze out will evaporate. Simply place the brush on a towel, bristle-side down, to dry.