Do You Clean Your Hairbrush?
Okay, let's get real for a sec. We've all been there—looking at our hairbrush and thinking, "Is that linty mess a sign to throw it out?" Guilty as charged! Turns out, that gunky buildup isn't a death sentence for your brush; it just means it's time for a little TLC.
Have you been pulling out the loose hairs in your brush, thinking you were doing enough? Newsflash: You aren't. Cleaning your hairbrush isn't just about the hair – it's about giving it a spa day with some shampoo, soaking, and a good scrub.
Consider this: You clean your makeup tools regularly to avoid gross stuff, so why neglect your trusty hairbrush? Using a dirty brush means you're basically redepositing a cocktail of buildup and oil back into your locks. Not exactly the glam squad your hair deserves.
Let's make cleaning your brushes a thing. Aim for every 2-4 weeks if you're into having happy hair and a healthy scalp. We have a great method below!
One of the most tried-and-true methods for cleaning a hairbrush involves shampoo, a toothbrush, and a comb. One thing to keep in mind: Wooden hair brushes and natural bristles can't be submerged in water like plastic ones can, so make sure you separate your brushes before you get started.
What you'll need:
- Dirty hair brushes
- Large plastic dishpan
- Gentle sulfate-free shampoo
- Clean comb and toothbrush
What you'll do:
- Run a clean wide-tooth comb through your brushes to pick up any excess hair or product buildup. Don't worry about being too perfect here—just remove as much hair as you can before you move on to step two.
- Next comes the washing. Remember: Your plastic and aluminum brushes will go through a slightly different process than your wooden ones, so separate your brushes before you do the following: - For plastic hair brushes: Throw your brushes into a dishpan, drop in a decent amount of mild shampoo, and fill up the bin with warm—not hot—water until your brushes are completely submerged. Let them soak for 10 minutes, then grab a toothbrush and gently clean any leftover hair and buildup from the bristles. -For wooden hair brushes: Fill up your basin with warm water and shampoo, and dunk each brush one at a time into the soapy water, cleaning the bristles with your toothbrush. The key here? Absolutely no soaking—just clean your brush, remove it from the water, and set it aside.
- Rinse each brush with cool, running water, making sure to get rid of any leftover shampoo. Pro tip: Gently squeeze the water out of your paddle brushes to prevent any buildup from forming underneath the base.
- Lay out your brushes on a clean towel and let them dry for a sold 12 to 24 hours (the longer you wait, the more likely they'll be totally dry)
Looking for a new hairbrush? Pony Pick has a great one!