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How To Clean Hairbrushes- Easy Methods!
While cleaning your hairbrush might not be at the top of your to-do list, learning how to clean hairbrushes is vital as a part of self-care routines. That is especially true if you love keeping your hair in good condition.
Brushes, similar to other beauty tools, will get messy over time. If your hairbrush is getting a little untidy, it might be the best time for a good cleaning. Combs and brushes can usually be cleaned using only a mild cleanser or a toothbrush.
If you have not scrubbed your hairbrush or comb in a prolonged time, it’s a great idea to disinfect your brush and comb in rubbing alcohol or vinegar. Once you’re done with treatment, you’ll be excited to have neat and hygienic brushes or combs.
Why is it vital to clean your hairbrushes?
It does not matter how frequently you use the hairbrush, and it tends to work like a sponge. This suggests it can trap all sorts of remains in the bristles, both from the environment and your hair.
Haircare products such as leave-in conditioners, hairspray, or gels may build up on the hair and attach to the bristles of the hairbrush. Your brush also holds dead skin cells, which may move back to the hair every time you brush your hair.
Also, your hair sheds each day. As per the American Academy of Dermatology, it is expected to shed 50 to 100 hairs per day. A lot of the shed hair can gather at the base of the hairbrush.
Particles in the atmosphere like dust, soot, and other dirt can also cling to your hairbrush and accumulate over time. If the bristles of your brush are already covered in oil or sticky hair care products, it may make it even more uncomplicated for these dust particles to adhere to the hairbrush.
Without routine cleaning, all these remains can get deposited in the hair each time you utilize the hairbrush. Consequently, a dirty hairbrush might have a much more challenging time accomplishing its job, and assisting your hair is looking its best.
How frequently should you clean your brush?
There aren’t any hard or fast regulations regarding how to clean hairbrushes and how frequently you should clean your hairbrush. It depends on the kinds of products you employ on your hair and how frequently you use them.
- If you use styling creams, hairspray, or gel regularly, a good rule of thumb is to wash or clean the hairbrush once a week.
- If you do not use many products in your hair, attempt to make habits of washing your brush once every 2 to 3 weeks.
- To make cleaning more effortless, try to draw out the hair collected in the bristles every few days.
Cleaning a hairbrush does not require much time. Once you learn how to clean hairbrushes, they will be more manageable the next time.
You only require a few things to get started:
- one bowl of warm water, or you can also use the washroom sink
- a mild shampoo
- baking soda (optional)
- old toothbrush
- scissors
- rat tail comb (optional)
The cleaning process will follow the same steps, with only a few variations, whether the brush is created from wood or plastic. Let’s see how to clean hairbrushes neatly in less time.
How to clean hairbrushes
1. How to clean hairbrushes- Removing the hair first
1. Remove excess hair from the brush using your fingers- Get hair out of the brush first by thoroughly picking it out using your fingers. Hair must come out relatively quickly, so try to be as careful as possible. If you experience any hair stuck on, use an excellent toothpick to relax it and release it using your fingers.
You might even be able to buy tools developed to extract hair from the brush. Alternatively, you can even try using the end of a rat tail comb or a hair pick.
2. Mix a gentle cleanser with warm water- You are not required to use powerful cleaners on your hair or hairbrush. A gentle cleanser, such as shampoo or dish soap, also works outstanding. Add a little dab to a bit of bowl filled with warm water. There are no exact amounts suggested, but you generally do not require an unreasonable amount of cleanser to wash your hairbrush or comb.
3. Scrub down the hairbrush using a toothbrush- First, drench your brush in the cleaning solution for approximately 15 minutes to help ease any stuck-on hair or material. Then, get a toothbrush damp with the cleaner and firmly swab down the hairbrush or comb in between the brush’s bristles. It would be best to wipe down the sides of the hairbrush, as these make touch with the hair and buildup residues over time.
However, if you have a hairbrush having a wooden handle, prevent getting its sides wet. Water will damage the wood.
4. Rinse the hairbrush or comb- After giving the hairbrush or comb a fine scrubbing, you must flush out the cleaner. Rinse the brush out under the tap using hot water till the water runs completely clean.
Let the hairbrush or comb air dry once you finish cleaning it. If you are in a hurry, you can also dab it dry using a paper towel or try a hairdryer on medium heat several inches far from it.
2. How to clean hairbrushes made of plastic and metal
1. Immerse the hairbrush in vinegar for at least 30 minutes to deep-clean it- Put your hairbrush in any shallow plate and stream half cup or 120 ml of vinegar along with half cup (or 120 ml) of warm water inside the plate. Allow the brush to soak for at least 30 minutes, and then dampen it before you clean the brush. If your hairbrush has a lot of dead skin cell buildup, dampening the hairbrush will aid loosen the dirt.
- Use apple cider vinegar or plain white vinegar.
- Do not utilize this solution for brushes having wooden handles, as it will impair the wood.
- You can likewise use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
2. Make a cleaning solution using shampoo and baking soda- Pour one cup (or 240 ml) of water inside a bowl and put one teaspoon (or 4.9 ml) of your used shampoo along with a teaspoon (or 5 g) of baking soda. Swirl or whisk the blend till the baking soda is completely dissolved.
- Baking soda soaks odors and is a little bit abrasive to release built-on dirt.
- Prevent using conditioner and solid soap since these tend to stick to the hairbrush and may be challenging to remove.
3. Use the solution to wash or scrub the hairbrush- Take a neat washcloth and sink it in the cleaning liquid you have made. Brush the cloth all over the hairbrush to release any surface dirt. Then, drop an old toothbrush in the mixture and use it to gently clean the brush’s base and get in between the brush’s bristles.
If the brush has natural bristles, clean carefully and gently so that you do not turn or break any of the bristles.
4. Rinse the hairbrush using water- If you washed a paddle or round hairbrush created from plastic or metal, run your hairbrush beneath water till the cleansing solution is flushed off. You should not see any bubbles of soap on the bristles or base of the brush once you’re done with the cleaning.
5. Pat the hairbrush using a cloth and place it on a towel- Take a neat cloth and brush it over the hairbrush to clear the water on the brush’s exterior. Then rotate the hairbrush such that the bristles point down and put it on a towel.
Do not try a hot hairdryer to air-dry the hairbrush. This may damage the bottom of the brush along with the bristles.
6. Leave the hairbrush to dry thoroughly- based on the material and style of the hairbrush, you might want to allow the brush to dry overnight. Wait till the brush is thoroughly dry before you employ it to brush the hair.
Avoid utilizing the brush when it is still damp, especially if it’s created with natural bristles. This may cause the bristles to turn and break down.
3. How to clean hairbrushes made of wood
1. Mix a cleaning solution with tea tree oil and water- If the hairbrush has a wooden base, you will want to prevent the brush’s handle from being too wet. To form a simple cleaning solution, combine 1 cup (or 240 ml) of water and five drops of tea tree oil.
Since this blend does not include shampoo, you don’t require to clean it off and get the wooden handle moist. Research indicates that tea tree oil contains antimicrobial properties, which causes it to be a great cleaning product.
2. Cleanse the brush using a washcloth and toothbrush- Wet a clean fabric with the cleansing solution and massage it all over the brush’s exterior. Then, sink a toothbrush in the liquid and rub it on the bottom of the brush gently. Also, make sure to operate between the thin bristles of the hairbrush carefully.
Wash gently so that you do not turn or break the bristles.
3. Wipe the brush with a dry, clean cloth- Since you should not get highly wet wooden hairbrushes and do not use shampoo in the solution, do not rinse the hairbrush using water afterward. Instead, take a parched washcloth and dab the brush to release excess liquid.
As tea tree oil is not soluble in water, rinsing or spraying the brush with liquid would not help remove it. Disclosing your brush to excess water may also damage its wooden handle.
4. Leave the hairbrush to air dry- After patting and wiping the brush dry using a clean cloth, set the brush down on a clean towel. Wooden brushes need a longer time to dry than metal or plastic ones, so you might need to allow the brush to dry overnight before trying it again.
Do not use the brush till it has dried thoroughly, particularly if it has natural bristles. Utilizing the brush when it is yet wet could harm the bristles.
What’s the best way to clean a lice comb?
If you have suffered from head lice, you might wonder if there is a sure way to cleanse the comb used to extract these nits out of the hair.
To clean lice comb, you only need to:
- Using a paper towel, wipe the lice or nits from the brush after each swipe across your hair. After you’re done, put the paper towel in any closed plastic bag and toss it away.
- Next, put the comb in a jar of hot water (it must be at least 130°F/54.4°C) to destroy any leftover lice or nits.
- Let the hairbrush soak for at least 10 minutes.
- Dry the hairbrush entirely and then spray rubbing alcohol over it.
- Let the hairbrush air dry.
The bottom line
It is pretty easy to overlook a hairbrush or comb. But, if you wish your hair to appear its most pleasing version, without any undesirable dirt, oils, or product remains, it is a good idea to provide the hairbrush a complete cleaning on a routine basis.
That was all about How to clean hairbrushes neatly for better healthy hair.
