How To Clean Any Kind Of Hairbrush

collage: a variety of styles of hairbrushes and a plastic hair brush over a dish of soapy water.

Say Goodbye To Hairbrush Buildup

Learning how to clean a hairbrush was essential for me, because for some reason my husband likes to spray his hairbrush first and then run in it through his hair. It causes this sticky layer of buildup on the hairbrush, and it is not attractive. Most of the time, though, he cleans his own hairbrush, so I don’t have to deal with that mess.

But even though I don’t usually get any sticky buildup on my hairbrush, I realized the other day that it had been a while since I cleaned my own brush! So I decided to do a little research and find out how I should be cleaning my hairbrushes, and how often. I also found out how to get dust and hair out of a hairbrush before cleaning it, and I’ll be sharing all of that with you today! :-)

I actually have 3 different hairbrush cleaning methods to share with you. Each method is best for a particular type of hairbrush, so make sure to read the descriptions carefully so you can choose the best method for your brush. But before we get to the cleaning methods, I want to begin by explaining a little bit about why it’s so important to keep your hairbrush clean.

How To Clean Your Hairbrush - each of these hairbrushes is made from different materials, but they all need to be cleaned

Why Clean Your Hairbrush?

Any brush or tool that you use on your skin or hair needs to be cleaned regularly, including your hair brush. Not only does hair build up on your brush over time, but it can also accumulate hair products, dead skin cells, dust mites, lint, dust, and the natural oils from your hair.

Buildup on your hair brush can turn into a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, and that’s definitely not what you want! Cleaning buildup out of your brush regularly ensures you’re not brushing bacteria and other gunk into your hair.

That brings us to the second reason to keep your brush clean: to keep your hair looking fabulous! If you use a hairbrush that’s covered in hair, product, and other gunk, brushing your hair could leave your hair looking less clean than it did before.

The step one of cleaning a hairbrush is to remove any mats of hair - you can use scissors or even a chopstick!

How To Get Hair Out Of A Brush

You should remove the hair trapped in your hairbrush around once a week. To get hair out of a brush, use a pair of scissors, a thin comb, a paper clip, or even a bamboo skewer to lift it out. (You can also buy a special comb cleaning tool online for just a few dollars!)

In addition to weekly hair removal, you should wash your brush thoroughly about once a month. (Unless it’s a delicate or natural brush, in which case you can clean it once every other month.) The best method for washing/deep cleaning your brush depends on what kind of brush it is, so I’ve included instructions for three common brush types below.

How To Clean A Hairbrush

Before and after - a hairbrush that needs to be cleaned, and a clean hairbrush

Method #1 – For Sturdy Plastic Brushes & Combs

This method is great for vented brushes, combs, and any other hair tool made of sturdy plastic. That means no squishy parts, no wood, no natural fibers or materials. Just a good old plastic brush!

You’ll need:

A toothbrush
4 cups hot water
1 Tbsp shampoo
1 Tbsp baking soda
A large bowl

Directions:

Start by mixing the water, shampoo, and baking soda in the bowl. Place your brush(es) in the bowl and allow them to soak for 20 minutes or so.

Then use your toothbrush to scrub the base and bristles for a few minutes to cut through any remaining gunk. Once the brush is clean, rinse it under clean water and let it dry completely on your countertop.

Method #2 – How To Clean Plastic & Metal Brushes

This method is good for a wide variety of brushes, including paddle brushes, round brushes, and wet brushes. Make sure your brush is made of plastic or metal before following these instructions. (We’ll focus on natural materials next!)

You’ll need:

A toothbrush
1/2 cup hot water
1 tsp shampoo
1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Stir the shampoo and baking soda into the water, and swish it around to mix. Dip your toothbrush into the cleaning solution and apply it to the brush bristles and the base they are attached to. Brush gently, but thoroughly. (If your brush has a squishy base, try not to get it too wet to avoid mildew issues.

When you’re finished cleaning, dip the toothbrush into clean water and go back over any soap areas to “rinse” them clean. Use a towel to dry the brush as much as you can, and allow it to dry on your countertop bristle-side down.

Cleaning a hairbrush with natural bristles isn't hard - this boar bristle hair brush cleaned up beautifully, as you can see from these before and after photos

Method #3 – How To Clean Wooden Brushes & Natural Bristles

This method is the one you want to use if your brush has a wood handle or natural bristles. It’s the gentlest method and will help keep a delicate brush clean without causing damage.

You’ll need:

A toothbrush
1/2 cup hot water
5 drops Tea Tree essential oil

Directions:

Add the Tea Tree oil to the water and stir. Dip your toothbrush in, and use it to gently brush the bristles and handle.

Don’t use too much of the water mixture, because you want to keep it as dry as possible. Once you’re finished cleaning it, simply wipe the brush down with a clean, dry cloth, then let the brush dry bristle-side down.