The Gross Reason You Should Clean Your Hairbrush

There are countless articles online detailing the various ways you can clean your makeup brushes and sponges. Less easy to find, however, is straightforward information on how to clean your hairbrush. While cleaning your hairbrush may not seem like the most important task, it’s a good chore to make a habit of. Just like your makeup brushes (which you likely do clean), hairbrushes accumulate dead skin, oil, and other debris with each use. And when you brush your clean hair with a dirty brush, you risk transferring all that gunk back onto your strands. Ahead, we’ll share everything you need to know about deep cleaning your brush — because contrary to what you may assume, it’s a bit more involved than pulling out the hair and calling it a day. 

How To Clean a Synthetic Bristle Hairbrush

Cleaning a synthetic bristle hairbrush is pretty easy, and you can do it with products you likely already have at home. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• A large, deep bowl
• A pintail comb or tweezers
• Baking soda
• Apple cider vinegar 
• An unused toothbrush or nail brush
• A clean towel 

Step 1: Remove the Hair

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs per day — many (if not most) of which end up tangled up in your brush. Start your deep clean by removing all of the hair, using either a pintail comb or tweezers. You may notice some “lint” around the base of the bristles after removing the hair. As hair expert Abbey Tameron explained in one TikTok video, that lint is actually “a collection of dead skin cells and oil from your scalp.” (Consider that your motivation to clean your brush more often.) 

Step 2: Soak the Brush

Next, fill your bowl with warm (not boiling) water and 1 tablespoon each of apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Then, place your brush in the soapy water, bristle-side down, and let it soak for about 10 minutes. If your brush has a wooden handle, take care not to submerge the handle — too much moisture can cause the wood to split. 

Step 3: Scrub To Remove Debris

Remove your brush from the water and grab your toothbrush or nail scrubber. Then, scrub between each bristle to help dislodge the oil and dead skin cells and remove any product buildup from the base of your brush. When you’re finished scrubbing, give the brush a final rinse under warm water. 

Step 4: Dry Overnight

Lastly, lay out a clean towel and place your brush on top of it (bristle-side down). Let it dry for several hours or overnight. 

How To Clean a Natural Bristle Hairbrush 

Natural bristle brushes, such as boar bristle brushes, are a bit more delicate than synthetic brushes. As such, cleaning them requires a slightly different approach. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A small bowl 
• A wide-toothed comb
• A small bristle brush, such as Kitsch Double Sided Hair Brush Cleaner
• Gentle shampoo, such as Odele Ultra Sensitive Shampoo
• A towel 

Step 1: Remove the Hair

Start by “combing” your hairbrush with your wide-toothed comb to dislodge any hair tangled in its bristles. If you don’t get all of it, use the small bristle brush to dislodge the excess. 

Step 2: Fill Your Bowl

Next, create a soapy solution by adding a few squirts of shampoo and plenty of warm water to your bowl. You won’t be soaking your brush in this bowl, so you don’t need much — a cup’s worth is more than enough. 

Step 3: Scrub To Remove Debris

Dunk your small bristle brush into the soapy solution, then begin scrubbing between the hairbrush bristles to remove dirt, oil, and product buildup. Redunk the bristle brush into the soapy solution as needed, but take care not to use too much water — you want to avoid getting your entire boar bristle hairbrush soaked. 

Step 4: Dry Overnight

Once your hairbrush is scrubbed clean, shake it to remove excess water. Then, place the brush bristle-side down on a clean towel for at least four hours, or until it’s completely dry. 

How Often Should You Clean Your Hairbrush? 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s no hard-and-fast guidance on how often you should clean your hairbrush. Some experts recommend a weekly deep clean, while others say once a month is enough. Ultimately, it depends on your hair type and routine — if you have an oily scalp or use a lot of styling products, you may want to adopt a more frequent washing schedule. And keep in mind that cleaning your brush doesn’t mean it’ll last indefinitely. You should still aim to replace your hairbrush at least once a year or when it begins showing signs of excessive wear (such as losing bristles).