Hairbrushes and combs collect shed hair, product residue (dry shampoo, hairspray, conditioner), skin oils, and dust. Brushing hair with a dirty brush redistributes all of that back onto clean hair. Most people clean their brushes far less frequently than they should — weekly hair removal and monthly washing is the right cadence.
Removing Hair (Weekly)
- Use a wide-tooth comb, a fine-tooth comb, or the tip of a pen to work through the bristles and lift the accumulated hair layer
- Pull the hair off in sections — it typically lifts in a mat
- Use scissors to cut through dense matted hair in the bristles before pulling it out if it's very compacted
Washing the Brush (Monthly)
- Fill a bowl with warm water and add a small amount of shampoo or dish soap
- For plastic and metal-based brushes: submerge and soak for 5–10 minutes, then use an old toothbrush to scrub between the bristles at the base where product build-up accumulates
- For wooden-handled or cushion-pad brushes: do not submerge — the water warps wood handles and breaks down the rubber cushion pad; instead, dip only the bristle end in the water and scrub with a toothbrush
- For boar bristle brushes: use the same method as cushion-pad brushes — keep the pad dry; boar bristle brushes hold water and mould if the cushion pad stays wet
- Rinse under running water
- Shake out excess water and place bristle-side down on a clean towel to dry — drying bristle-side up allows water to pool at the cushion pad
Combs
- Combs are easier — submerge in soapy water, scrub with an old toothbrush along the teeth, rinse, and air dry
- Fine-tooth combs: use a toothbrush to clean between each tooth; product residue compacts between the fine teeth over time