How to clean your hairbrush in 5 easy steps
Olivia Perl
Beauty & Skincare
Reading time: 4 minutes
Neglected your hairbrush hygiene? We’ve got you. Banish bacteria & product build-up from your bristles with our expert-approved guide
Everyone knows how to wash their hair but have you ever considered how to clean your hairbrush properly? No judgement if not because the thought doesn’t often enter our heads either. It turns out, however, that keeping your brush head as clean as, well, your actual head, is an important part of maintaining happy, healthy scalps and hair.
“Cleaning hairbrushes helps to keep hair healthy, strong and shiny by distributing natural oils through the hair,” explains Kate Holden, trichologist. “A dirty hairbrush can cause excess oil build-up and make hair look greasy, dull and lifeless.” Between the two, we know which one we’d prefer.
“A dirty hairbrush can cause excess oil build-up and make hair look greasy, dull and lifeless”
So what’s lurking in between the bristles of our brushes? (We know you want to know). There’s the hair we’ve shed (which can be anywhere between 50 to 100 strands a day) plus, any product build-up that’s accumulated along the way (hello, dry shampoo).
Arguably though, it’s what we can’t see that can be especially stomach-churning. “A dirty hairbrush can harbour bacteria, fungi and dead skin cells, which can contribute to scalp irritation, dandruff and other skin conditions,” says Kate. Grim.
But never fear, because not only is avoiding this scenario refreshingly straightforward, but removing hair routine residue from your brush’s bristles can also be oddly satisfying.
Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley, compares it to washing any other beauty tool. “We clean our make-up brushes regularly to remove grime and we should be doing this with our hairbrush, too,” she says. “If we use a dirty brush to comb or style our hair, we’ll be transferring dirt back onto our strands and scalp.” Consider us convinced.
How to clean a hairbrush
So now you know you need to clean your brushes, how do you get started? It’s not as fiddly as you might assume, all you need are: your hairbrush, warm water, baking soda, shampoo or dish soap and a toothbrush.
That being said, you may need to tweak our technique depending on whether your brush has natural bristles or synthetic bristles. Kate says, “Natural bristles are usually made from boar hair or bamboo and tend to need more frequent cleaning with gentler detergents. Synthetic brushes are made from plastics, so are easier to care for, which means we can use stronger detergents.”
Also, bear in mind if the base of the brush is made from wood because soaking it in water could damage the material.
Now you’re all clued up, follow our step-by-step guide for getting that hairbrush squeaky clean.
1. Remove hair from the brush
First, make sure to remove the hair from the brush head. To do this, use a comb or fingers to gently brush away any debris. “Start at the bottom of the bristles and work up,” says Kate.
For the least amount of mess, we’d suggest doing this over a bin or sink to catch the dust and dead skin cells that are dislodged.
Try: Boots Basic Hair Pocket Comb
• Made from 30% recycled materials
• 100% recycled packaging
The narrow teeth on this pocket comb mean that it’s able to pick up dust, debris and dead skin cells on the base of the brush with ease. Plus, it’s super affordable, so if you don’t fancy reusing it for anything else, it won’t make much of a dent in your beauty budget.
2. Soak the brush in water
Next, fill a sink or a bowl with warm water. Anabel recommends mixing in either your regular shampoo or two tablespoons of baking soda before submerging the brush. Don’t worry too much about buying a specific product because these home remedies can work just as well.
Leave your brush to soak in the warm water for around 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, the shampoo or baking soda will help to break down oils or product build-up on the brush head (why not have a read of our guide to how to make your hair wash into the ultimate self-care ritual while you wait?)
Wooden brush watch out: try to keep your bristles facing down and in shallow water for only a few minutes, to reduce the risk of damaging the wood.
3. Scrub with a toothbrush
Once the brush has had time to soak, Kate recommends using a cleaning brush or toothbrush to scrub the bristles and the base of the brush.
Make sure to clean in between the bristles to help get rid of every last scrap of dirt
Try: Colgate Max White Medium Toothbrush
• Specially designed bristle pattern
• Ergonomic handle
When it’s time to clean your brush and get scrubbing, reach for a toothbrush that’s not used for anything else. This toothbrush’s ergonomic handle means a supremely comfortable grip for effectively clearing debris from between the bristles.
4. Rinse
Nearly there. Give the brush a rinse under warm water to get rid of any leftover soap or residue.
5. Dry
All that’s left to do is to leave the brush to dry.
“Gently pat the hairbrush with a clean towel to remove excess water and let it air dry completely before using it again,” says Kate.
“It can typically take between 12 to 24 hours for a brush to completely dry,” cautions Anabel, “so make sure to give it a good shake before setting it down on a hand towel or dish rack to give it a headstart.”
Washing a paddle brush? Give its cushion base a gentle squeeze to get rid of any excess water.
How often should I clean my hairbrush?
Simply put: more than you think. Both Anabel and Kate recommend aiming for every two to four weeks.
“It’s recommended to clean hairbrushes at least once a month - ideally weekly - particularly if you use a lot of hair products, have an oily scalp or a condition such as dandruff,” says Kate.
When is it time to replace my hairbrush?
It’s very easy to become attached to a favourite hairbrush, but sometimes a wash just isn’t enough to rescue it from the brink.
“If the bristles or prongs on the brush are snapping off or damaged, or the body of the brush is flaking or cracking, it’s time to replace it,” says Anabel.
Kate agrees, but goes one step further saying, “I recommend replacing hairbrushes every six to 12 months, depending on how often they’re used, how thick the hair is and the quality of the brush.”
Wondering if there’s anything else you should look out for? If your brush still looks dirty or feels waxy after it’s been given a good clean, then it could need replacing as this build-up will transfer on to your hair and scalp.
“If you notice any mould or discolouration’, adds Kate, ‘or if you’re aware of more hair breakage than usual, then it’s time to throw the brush away.”
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• Dry styler
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When the time comes to trade in a trusted hairbrush, this styler is a great one to replace it with. Synthetic bristles mean it’s seriously easy to clean, plus, its soft-tip, two-tiered teeth help gently smooth and capture every last strand.
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