Sure, we rely on hairbrushes to look presentable, but what they really do is remove loose hair and help us maintain a healthy scalp. Our hair care routine is a daily action, but aside from thumbing excess hair from brushes, cleaning and sanitizing is easily overlooked. Over time, combs and bristle brushes alike accumulate buildup of hair products, sebaceous gland oils, dry skin cells, and bacteria (awesome). A clean brush and hair accessories are a really important part of scalp health and beautiful hair, so if you're ignoring it, here's your sign.
Is Your Brush Really That Dirty?
The short answer: yes. The human head is a dirty place and hairbrushes are designed to remove strands of hair, dead skin cells, and to disperse natural scalp oils, and styling products. Without regular cleaning, all this debris gets rubbed into your otherwise clean hair causing it to look greasy or dirty faster. For most people, cleaning their brush once every two weeks is sufficient, but if you use heavy styling products or have long, shedding-prone hair, a weekly clean might be better.
How to Clean a Hairbrush
You'll Need:
- A wide-tooth comb or scissors
- Shampoo or gentle dish soap
- A small bowl of warm water
- An old toothbrush
- A towel for drying
Dealing With Lice? Start Here
If a head lice outbreak is a concern, cleaning your hairbrushes properly is super important. You need to take extra efforts to prevent reinfestation. Adult lice and lice eggs (nits) can cling to the bristles, making it necessary to sanitize the brush thoroughly.
- Remove all loose hairs from the dirty brush using a comb or scissors.
- Soak the brush in hot water (130°F or above) with a lice-killing shampoo for 10–15 minutes. If you use a soft bristled brush, midway through the soak, use your hands to work the sudsy mixture deep into the dirty hair brush.
- Scrub thoroughly in the soapy water with a clean toothbrush, paying special attention to the bristles and base to remove excessive hair product buildup.
- Rinse and sanitize the brush by dipping it in a 70% rubbing alcohol solution or boiling water for 1–2 minutes. Rinse well with warm running water.
- Dry completely before using it again to avoid mold or bacteria growth.
Routine Cleaning
Whether you use a wooden brush, a paddle brush, natural or synthetic bristles, it's important to keep them clean for maintaining healthy hair and scalp. Following a regular cleaning process removes buildup from hair products, oils, and stray strands, ensuring your brush continues to work effectively.
- Remove trapped hair. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to lift out any excess hair strands stuck in the bristles. For stubborn tangles, scissors can help.
- Make a soapy solution. Mix warm water with a few drops of gentle shampoo or mild dish soap in a shallow bowl.
- Soak the brush. Submerge plastic brushes for 5–10 minutes. For wooden brushes, dip only the bristles to avoid damaging the wood. Wooden combs or wooden bristle hair brush are better cleaned with a disinfecting spray or white vinegar rather than submerging them.
- Scrub with an old toothbrush. Gently clean between the rows of bristles, around each brush bristle, and along the base of the dirty hairbrush to remove buildup.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and pat dry to remove excess water. Leave the wet brush bristle-side down on a clean towel to air dry.
How Often Should You Replace Your Hairbrush?
You should replace your hairbrush every 6 months to 2 years, depending on its quality and how often you use it. Keeping your hairbrush clean will prolong it's use as well as give you healthier hair. But it'll have to be replaced on a fairly regular basis.
Signs that it's time for a new brush include bent, broken, or missing bristles, which can tug and damage your hair, or a cracked base or handle, which can harbor bacteria and make cleaning less effective. Your preferred type of brush and hair type can cause it to wear out faster.
Natural bristles will need more careful attention. If you notice scalp irritation, buildup, or the brush isn’t detangling or styling as well as it used to, it’s likely due for an upgrade. Proper care and regular replacement of your hair tools will maintain scalp condition and hair health.
