How to Clean Your Hairbrush and Finally Get That Layer of Buildup Off

Regularly cleaning your hairbrush is important because of everything that collects on it with daily use. Dead skin cells, shedded hair, scalp oils, sweat, and hair product residue all accumulate on a hairbrush and if not removed properly and regularly, can affect your hair quality.

Clumps of hair and built up gunk begins to coat the brush head and bristles, and the handle gets coated with germs given its high-touch nature. In addition to a dirty hairbrush being more prone to broken bristles and cracks in the brush head, it can also cause irritation to your scalp and dirty your freshly washed locks.

The good news is, a quick daily clean and a monthly deep clean will keep your hairbrush in good condition and help protect your hair and scalp. For best results, you should remove clumps of loose and tangled hair from your brush after every use and deep clean it with warm water and either shampoo or mild soap once a month.

Here’s how to clean your hairbrush to remove any buildup and lint.

What You’ll Need

Supplies/Tools

• Scissors
• Large bowl or plastic container
• A pointed tool such as wood dowels or a thin comb
• Clean toothbrush
• Hand towel
• Paper towel

Materials

• Warm water
• Shampoo, mild dish soap, or body wash

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How to Clean a Hairbrush

Before you start cleaning your hairbrush, assess its condition and note whether there are missing or loose bristles and whether there are any cracks on the surface of the brush head. If there is excessive damage to the hairbrush, it may be time to replace it.

1. Remove collected hair: Use a pointed tool such as wood dowels or a thin comb to remove clumps of collected hair from the brush. Work slowly and gently from one end of the brush to the other, in order to remove as much hair as possible.
2. Cut the hair: If the hair is tangled around bristles or you are cleaning a round hairbrush, use a clean pair of scissors to cut through clumps for easier removal. Make sure you’re working over a trash can or a surface that can get dirty as this can be a messy task.
3. Rinse the brush: Once all the hair has been removed, rinse the brush under warm running water.
4. Fill a container with warm water: Fill a large bowl, sink, or clean plastic container with enough warm water to submerge the brush later on.
5. Add shampoo or soap: Add a couple of drops of your shampoo directly onto the base of the hairbrush. Use your regular shampoo or a clarifying shampoo which is designed to deep clean and remove buildup. Alternately, you can also use mild dish soap or a gentle body wash.
6. Scrub the brush head: Use a clean toothbrush or your fingers to scrub the brush head clean with the shampoo or soap. Work gently around the bristles to prevent damage. Dip the brush head into the container of warm water periodically to remove loosened bits of dirt.
7. Clean the brush handle: Add a drop or too of the shampoo or soap directly onto the brush handle and scrub it clean.
8. Rinse with water: Once you’ve scrubbed down the brush head and handle, rinse it under warm running water to remove the soapy residue and any lingering dirt.
9. Wipe the brush down with a towel: Dry the cleaned hairbrush with a clean hand towel, removing as much excess water as possible.
10. Let air dry: Place the hairbrush face down on a clean, dry hand towel or paper towel and let it air dry completely before using it again.

How Often Should You Clean Your Hairbrush?

Hair sheds daily and collects on a hairbrush as you brush it, as do dead skin cells, scalp oils, and hair product. You should remove the loose hair that has accumulated on your hairbrush every day, and deep clean the brush using the above method about once a month, or more frequently if you notice excessive buildup around the base of the bristles.

When Should You Replace Your Hairbrush?

If you start noticing broken or bent bristles and cracks on the brush brush head, it may be time to replace the hairbrush. The lifespan of a hairbrush depends on the type and frequency of use, but even if you take excellent care of it, a frequently used hairbrush should be replaced every six months to a year. If you continue to use a hairbrush with missing bristles or cracks, it can snag and pull on your hair, causing potential frizz and damage.