Seven hassle-free ways to clean your hair brushes

Why bother to wash your brushes anyway?  It’s okay to let the hair strands and the product buildup stay because its harmless, right?

Wrong!

Hair brushes are similar to makeup sponges and brushes. They can harbor a ton of bacteria which could lead to infections in the long run.

Cleaning the brushes can be quite strenuous and the thought of clearing out the all the hair cream, oils and tangles is enough to postpone the wash day. Ask me, I would know.

Good thing is, we are here to save the day with essential, hassle-free, brush cleaning techniques that work perfectly.

i.Dislodge the hair strands

There’s no way you can access the dirt underneath without removing the hair strands first. This should be the first step.

ii.Get a hair brush cleaner

It’s basically a mini rake that quickly lifts tangled hair strands from the bottom of the brush before washing. It’s made up of many hooks that helps you save a lot of time because it can access many rows at once.

Some brush cleaners even come with multiple sides for cleaning where one has the hooks and the other the brushes. It’s all up to you to decide which one works best for you.

iii.Use a rattail comb

This one works for most types of brushes. It’s a personal favorite because there’s no fancy tool needed here. A good option is the metallic rattail because its slimmer and can easily remove the hairs that are caught up as compared to the thick plastic ones.

It’s effective if you’re dealing with long hair stands that have tangled up in between the bristles. It’s also good for brushes that have sparsely spaced bristles because it could damage tightly packed bristles as it forces its way through.

iv.Use another comb

This works well with tightly packed bristles without bulbs. It also clears out any debris that’s lodged there without any stress. Gently pass the comb through to prevent any damage.

v.Detangle with a pair of scissors

It’s common to have long hair strands that get stuck in your brush. You can lift them with a rattail comb to loosen them first then split them carefully with a pair of scissors without chopping any bristles in the process.

vi.Wash

A lot of buildup will need more time to clear. You can get some warm water in a basin and shampoo. This combination will loosen the dirt properly as compared to plain water and soap. You’ll start by letting the brush soak in the water for a few minutes as you swirl it around in intervals to allow the shampoo to sip into all the areas.

If the buildup isn’t too much, just proceed with cold water and any type of soap. You could even use antibacterial soap if you feel more comfortable with that.

The best type of brush to use for washing is with a nail brush or a toothbrush. They both maneuver around the bristles properly but the toothbrush would be best in most cases.

As you wash, take your time to make sure that all the dirt gets out. This should be a very simple two minute process.

vii.Rinse and dry

Rinse the soap out properly and remove the excess water. Let it dry in a cool room with the bristles facing downwards. Any water that’s trapped inside should be able to pour out.

If your brush is delicate like the wooded ones, you need to be extra careful. Use gentle soap and don’t wash with any harsh chemicals or dip the whole brush in water. This will degrade the material quickly.

Just dip the tooth or nail brush in the soapy water then scrub instead of dipping the entire brush.