Regularly cleaning your brushes removes debris, product residue, and scalp oils that build up on your hair bristles over time. Keeping your brushes clean at all times will leave your hair shiny, dirt-free, and smooth.

Human hair can contain product residue, oils, loose strands, bacteria, and fungi that can stick to the bristles of your hairbrush. The more a hairbrush combs through the hair, the more residue it collects. As a result, dirty bristles can cause a lot of damage to your hair.

The issue then arises: How do you clean hair brushes? Have no fear. Learn how to clean hair brushes with these do-it-yourself instructions properly!

What Do I Need?

1. Cleaning agents
   ● For synthetic brushes, almost any cleaner will work: detergent, shampoo, or body wash.
   ● For brushes made from natural materials such as pig bristles or wood, use a mild sulfate-free shampoo such as those from GM Reverie or Davines.
2. A clean toothbrush
3. A large bowl or a sink with controlled water flow.
4. Towels: Any old towel will be okay.
5. Pointed tweezers, pens, chopsticks, or other pointy objects to clean hair off your brush.

How to Clean Hair Brushes with Synthetic Bristles?

These steps apply to all synthetic bristles and handles, including padded and paddle brushes.

Step 1: Remove hair

Use your fingers to pull out any hair tangled in the bristles. If the stuck hairs are particularly thick or difficult to remove, you can try cutting them with scissors. You can also try using a chopstick, pen, or other pointed object. Detangling helps remove many of the larger dirt and scalp oils, making it easier to remove the smaller, more sticky bits later.

In fact, you should get into the habit of removing hairs from your brush after each use, as clogged bristles can damage your mane. This creates a greater pulling action, which may lead to more breakage or shedding.

Step 2: Soak it

Fill a bathroom sink or large bowl with warm water. Add a generous amount of shampoo (about two teaspoons) and gently rub the brush into the solution to create some lather. Let the brush soak up to 10 minutes to break down stubborn clumps, then clean it. Use a clean toothbrush to scrub between the bristles and around the handle.

Step 3: Scrub with baking soda

If there’s too much hair product buildup, dip your wet toothbrush into some dry baking soda and continue scrubbing. Using baking soda as a mild abrasive you can clean up the sticky situation.

Step 4: Rinse thoroughly

After removing your inner human crumbs, rinse your brush under running water to remove any soap residue. Anything left on the brush will return to your head, so be sure to rinse it.

Rinse your brush under warm water and shake off any excess. You will need to squeeze the wet brush repeatedly to remove any water that has gotten into the liner portion. You want to avoid water getting trapped in the brush, which can lead to bacterial growth.

Once you have finished squeezing, place it on a towel with the bristles facing down to dry.

Step 5: Sanitize your hairbrush

Mix equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water. Dip your brushes into the solution, then place them on a towel, bristle side down, to air dry.

How to Clean Hair Brushes in Natural Bristle?

Natural bristle hairbrushes are more expensive than synthetic ones and leave hair smoother and shinier. You can use baking soda as a mild abrasive to clean up the sticky situation.

Step 1: Remove the hair

Also, use the end of a pin-tailed comb, your fingers, or tweezers to remove as much hair from the bristles as possible.

Step 2: Clean the bristles

Mix warm water and a teaspoon of mild shampoo in a shallow bowl wide enough to submerge the bristles but not the handle. Place the brush over the bowl, submerging only the bristles. Allow bristles to soak for 10 minutes. Remove the brush and rub the sudsy mixture between the bristles with your hands, brushing to the bottom.

Wooden-handled hair brushes should never be immersed in water as this can cause deterioration and bristle loss.

Step 3: Clean the brush handle

If excess hair care product has built up on the handle, dip the brush into soapy water and gently scrub to remove residue. Wipe the handle with a clean towel, then place it bristle-side down on the towel to air dry.

Step 4: Rinse the brush

Remove the natural bristle brush from the bowl and scrub the space between the bristles with your fingers or a toothbrush. Make sure you do it your way and clean all the dirt with your fingers/toothbrush and soapy water. Then, quickly rinse the brush with warm water and place the bristle on a towel to dry overnight.

Step 5: Sanitize the brush (Optional)

If you feel your brushes need to be sanitized, lightly spray them with a sanitizing spray (such as Lysol) to kill bacteria. Do not use isopropyl alcohol, which will dry out the natural bristles.

How to Clean Hair Brushes in Plastic?

These steps apply to all plastic hair brushes, including paddle and padded hair brushes. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Remove Hair from the Brush

The first step, of course, is to remove all the accumulated hair from the brush’s bristles. You can use a pin-tail comb, fingers, or tweezers (whatever you prefer) to pull out stuck hair. Pluck as many hairs as you can, making it easier to eliminate any other dirt that may be left behind.

Step 2: Clean your hairbrush

Put shampoo or detergent in a basin or sink full of warm water and sprinkle it about. Scrub the solution repeatedly with a brush. Let the hairbrush wade in the water for a while. The back-and-forth motion helps loosen dead skin cells and dirt from the brush.

Step 3: Scrub with a toothbrush

Once cleaned, dirt is easier to remove. So, to remove it, you can use a toothbrush or your fingers if you don’t have one. Scrub the space between the rows of bristles and the handle with your toothbrush to remove the dirt.

If any hair care product is left in your hairbrush, dip it into baking soda and continue scrubbing. Baking soda’s abrasive properties will help get rid of grime and oil.

Step 4: Rinse thoroughly and dry it

After washing and scrubbing, rinse your brushes with warm water to avoid soap or baking soda residue. Be sure to rinse your brush properly, as any residue left on the brush will get on your hair.

If the hairbrush has a liner, you may need to squeeze it properly to avoid residual water, which can promote bacterial growth. Don’t worry if you can’t squeeze all the water out – any water you can’t squeeze out will evaporate. You can shake out the water vigorously before drying your brush, and then place it bristle-side down on a towel to air dry.

The Ending Ideas

Brushes are a must-have for keeping your hair neat. However, unclean brushes can affect your hair. Therefore, you must know how to clean hair brushes of dust and dirt. Having a clean hairbrush will prolong its life and make your hair look better. We recommend that you clean your hairbrush at least once a month and brush it after using it every day. Also, ensure your hairbrush is in good condition, and you should get a new one when it is faded or broken.