Girls,
a couple of questions first.
Have you ever cleaned your hairbrush?
Was it a simple or tricky task?
What method did you use?
I dare to conclude that most of you haven’t cleaned their hairbrushes, ever (apart from taking the longest hairs out). It’s a big mistake!
DID YOU KNOW…?
Researchers in Arizona have found that one hairbrush can be a house for even 529 bacterial colonies per square centimeter. More than a sink with approx. 424 of them!
We are often unconscious that a simple hairbrush might be a source of so many bacteria, which is a “highway” to infections causing e.g. dandruff, itchiness, oiliness, acne, etc. A hairbrush which isn’t washed regularly poses a real threat.
Where do bacteria on your brush come from?
Naturally, from the surroundings. By brushing the hair every day, you gather all impurities from hair and skin, including sebum, products, dust, dead cells, sweat. They build up on the brush and make up food for bacteria.
In the worst-case scenario, a brush is used by more than one person. This, in turn, means more impurities which are varied whereas the bacterial flora of one person is mixed with the others’.
Does hairbrush cleaning routine make sense?
Of course, it does. Actually, it’s the only way to avoid unpleasant consequences of using a dirty hairbrush.
You need to clean your brush on a regular basis. Feel free to try various methods. The choice depends on the material of your tool and its purpose. Cleaning procedure differs for combs and brushes. There’s a specific way of cleaning hairstyling brushes and wooden combs, for instance.
That’s why I’d like you to read my brief guide.
HOW TO CLEAN A HAIRBRUSH?
Contrary to appearances, it’s an easy task. All you must know is the type of your brush and a method that goes with it.
Cleaning a brush made from plastic, a comb or a styling brush
Take a toothpick or other pointy-ended object to get the hairs out. If you like, try a readymade hairbrush cleaner which resembles a rake and helps comb hairs out of spaces between the teeth. Done? You’ve made the first step!
Now, dip the brush in water with soap (it might be shampoo or a teaspoon of baking soda with shampoo). The thing is the water must be warm. A few motions in water lets you rinse out all impurities.
To finish off, dry the brush completely e.g. using paper towels and then a blow-dryer.
Cleaning wooden brushes and combs
At first, you need to do exactly what’s been described at the beginning of the previous point, namely, get rid of the longest hairs.
Next, use water with soap (or shampoo/soda) to rinse out other impurities yet never dip the brush in the mixture. If you steep wooden accessories too long, they absorb water and become useless. Make sure you rinse and dry them fast.
Cleaning natural-bristle brushes
Keeping this type of accessory clean might be tricky. It’s pretty unusual and, apart from washing, it needs grooming. Yeah! You’re not having vision problems. Your natural-bristle brush needs care!
The first steps are obvious. Comb out the hairs using a toothpick, comb or cleaner. Then, dampen the bristle with water and shampoo it. Try SLS or SLES shampoo which contains strong detergents and allows easier removal of impurities.
Once you rinse the shampoo, get a… conditioner! Your day-to-day hair product will do. A mild conditioner helps keep the bristles soft. After a few minutes, you can rinse the product and dry the brush.
Last of all, try making a weak solution by mixing water with vinegar and spray it on the bristle to kill the bacteria that might have been left.
That’s all for today.
Hopefully, my how-to-clean-hairbrushes guide will help you keep your hair accessories immaculate. 🙂
XOXO
