Once you've found your perfect hairbrush, it is important to learn how to learn how to properly care for it. When was the last time you cleaned out your hairbrush? If you're anything like me, the answer is NEVER. I know, I know... kind of gross, right?! I followed the tutorial below earlier this week and it couldn't have been easier! Read on for super brush cleaning tips.
The Dirt on Brush Cleaning: Between greasy hair follicles, dust particles, product residue, and even DUST MITES, brushes get pretty nasty. Keeping your brushes in tip top shape will keep your clean hair free of old product gunk and tangles. Oh, and free of dust mites. Did I mention the dust mites?
Daily Cleaning: Consider removing loose hair from your brush before each use. Doing this small step each day will make deep cleaning your brush much easier.
Monthly Deep Cleaning: For round and paddle brushes, the following cleaning method is your best bet. Before you get started, have a comb, a clean towel, and some gentle shampoo handy. Consider grabbing tweezers and scissors, too.
1. Start by pulling all of the hair out of the brush with your fingers. (If your brush is a total nightmare - and we aren't judging! - you'll want to use the tweezers and scissors to get all of the hair out)
2. Run both the brush and the comb under lukewarm running water.
3. Apply a small amount of gentle shampoo (I used Neuma Renew) directly to the bristles of the brush.
4. Holding both the brush and comb under the running water, gently scrub the two together (consistently brushing in the same direction) until all the shampoo suds are gone.
5. Rest the brush, bristles down, on towel to dry overnight.
Many tutorials advise you to soak your brush in water. BAD IDEA. Doing so can trap moisture and cause mold. Brushes get gross enough! Mold is the last thing you need.
Some brushes require some extra TLC. For example, a Mason Pearson brush comes with its very own cleaning brush. With higher-end brushes, consider using a gentle hand soap instead of a detergent, shampoo, ammonia-based cleaner or anything containing petroleum.
Do you have a favorite brush cleaning method? Any helpful tips we missed?
For the love of hair,
Melanie
