How To Clean Hair Brushes (The Easy Way)

Taking care of your hair has many aspects to it. It’s not only washing and cleaning. Brushing it with the right brush is also crucial for good-looking hair. But have you ever thought that your hair brush needs to be washed, too? When was the last time you cleaned your hairbrush? My guess is that it’s pretty neglected. I looked at my hairbrush the other day and realized how absolutely disgusting it was! It was about time to take the matter to my hands and clean it. Then, I thought I might show you how to clean your hair brushes and combs, so they’re squeaky clean and your hair looks amazing. My deep cleaning process is simple and it takes almost no effort and your brush will be looking as good as new in no time!

How To Clean Hair Brushes (The Easy Way)

As soon as I realized how much dirt has my brush accumulated, I knew a simple rinse under running water won’t do the trick. I had to clean it thoroughly. Even though I didn’t really feel like cleaning my brush, I had to find motivation. Which was easy.

I just thought about how ridiculous it was that I was washing my hair with shampoo, then with a conditioner, then I spray it with my favorite heat protection spray, I apply some crystals, and then… I am putting a dirty brush in it immediately. That made no sense at all! So, I thought I would figure out how to clean hair brushes so they looked brand new without taking a ton of time or a lot of scrubbing.

And frankly guys, I think I figured it out! I’m SO excited to share my secret with you!

But first thing’s first. Let’s talk about hair brushes for a second.

How Dirty Is Your Hair Brush?

“Clean my hair brush” is probably not the first task on your To-Do list. It wasn’t on mine, either. Until I read a bit and I realized how important actually keeping your hair styling tools is.

…research revealed that the average lifetime of a hairbrush is six months to a year — “lifetime” meaning how long the average person is willing to put up with a dirty hairbrush before buying a new one.

via ScienceDaily.com

During the time you use your hair brush, it can get really nasty.

We know that we lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day but that’s not all our hair brushes need to deal with.

Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist in New York City shares what else we could find on a brush (and the list is not final):

Leftover shampoo (especially if you use dry shampoo often)
Dandruff
Hair spray (and other hair styling products)
Residue
Dead skin cells
Oil (from your scalp and from the products you use)
Lint
Dust
etc.

This can lead to the rapid growth of harmful bacterias, yeast, and unpleasant smells. And no one wants these things anywhere close to their hair.

Keeping Your Hair Brushes Clean Is Crucial For A Beautiful Hairstyle

Dirt buildup may affect how well your brush works. It’ll also end up dirtying your strands. So think about it: if your hair is getting greasy in the roots quickly, a filthy hair brush might be making your problem worse.

A hair brush could act just like a sponge. It traps all sorts of gunk in its bristles, both from your hair and from the environment. If you don’t clean your hairbrush regularly, all this grossness can be transferred back to your hair each time you use your brush. And no one wants that.

Scared already? Don’t throw away your hair brush yet! Clean it! Here’s how.

How To Clean Your Hair Brushes With Almost Zero Effort And Get The Best Possible Results?

Cleaning your hair brush doesn’t have to be an unpleasant chore! And I promise you will not need to spare any extra time to make it look like it’s brand new again.

So, if your brush needs a deep clean, roll up your sleeves and follow the instructions below. I promise it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Here’s what you need to do:

The first thing you need to do (which is something you probably already do on occasion) is getting all the hair out. Use a pair of scissors (or anything long and strong enough) to really dig down deep and get it all out.
Then, grab a big bowl and fill it with warm water.
Take your favorite shampoo and squeeze some in – about two tablespoons worth.
Take a wisk and mix it all up (Don’t skip this part! Otherwise, the shampoo will just sink to the bottom).
Place your brush in the water and let it soak for about 15 minutes.
When it’s all done, take it out.
Rinse it. If you notice a dirty spot, just wipe it off with a rag. No scrubbing at all! (I had a spot of foundation on mine that came right off!).
Squeeze and shake your brush and put it out in the sun to dry.

Isn’t that just so easy? And the results are going to amaze you!

This cleaning recipe works for all types of hair brushes: plastic, wooden, metal, natural bristles – you name it. Just keep in mind that you would not want to soak a wooden hairbrush for too long in water because it might get damaged.

I’ve also made a video tutorial for you. If you’re as visual as I am, it will be much easier for you to understand and remember the whole process of how to clean hair brushes without scrubbing.

Video: How to Completely Clean a Hairbrush

It’s one thing to read about how to do the brush cleaning routine, but I know a short video that shows you the process is always a good idea! Check out the video below and convince yourself how simple cleaning our hair brush really is.

Not only will it be crystal clear but it will smell amazing for weeks! I just love this simple trick.

There is good news, too. The more often you clean your hair brushes, the easier it will become and the better the results you’ll achieve.

How often should you clean your hair brushes?

There are no hard or fast rules regarding how often to clean a hairbrush. It really depends on the types of products you use on your hair and how often you use them.

If you regularly use styling creams, gels, or hairspray, a good rule of thumb is to clean your hairbrush once a week.

If you don’t use much product in your hair, try to make a habit of cleaning your brush every 2 to 3 weeks.

To make cleaning easier, try to remove hair that’s accumulated in the bristles every couple of days.

via Healthline.com

I have long hair and I know that keeping your brush clean could become an annoying chore. But what I can share from my personal experience is that you can build the habit of cleaning your hairbrush every time you use it on your hair.

Use your hands to remove most of the hair that your brush or comb gather. Doing this will not only improve the quality of work your brush does on your hair but will keep your drawers cleaner, too.

Another thing to have in mind when cleaning your brush is that the handles could get dirty and nasty, too. If you don’t soak the whole brush when you’re cleaning it, you might want to wash the handle with soap or wipe it with an antibacterial wipe every now and then. After all, having clean hands is a priority in these crazy times.

For more helpful tricks and tips, check out our beauty hacks and hair hacks.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking at your brush and you’re seeing things you wouldn’t want to see on it, it’s time for a good old deep cleaning. Keeping good hygiene is important not only for your overall health and well-being (which includes your hair, too). We learned that lesson well and in a hard way during the past year or two.

Cleaning your hair brush is the same form of prevention, just as washing your hands is. And if you want your hair to always look clean and at its best, without any unwanted oils, dirt, or product residue, you’ll need to give it a good cleaning every now and then. You’ll soon be convinced that the effort is totally worth it.