how to clean a comb

Often times, you may have come across tips on how to clean makeup brushes, but for reasons unknown, none on how to clean a hairbrush. Below, you will find all the answers on cleaning a hairbrush and tips to choose different types of hair brushes.

Similar to all beauty tools, hairbrushes are used often and prone to clog dirt. In addition to accumulating product residue and hair clumps, the buildup on hairbrushes could give rise to an infection. And you surely don't want that! And not cleaning the hair regularly will only deposit dirt with each stroke, and make your hair greasier.

If you want to know all the answers on keeping your combs clean and sanitized, then scroll down below.

Tips to Clean Different Types of Combs:

The first step on how to clean a comb is to find out what type of hair brush are you using. Then, you can go forward in doing your routine cleaning and follow these tips for an occasional clean-up.

1. Plastic Comb:

These types of hair brushes can endure a monthly clean-up since they dry off completely quite easily. Fill a bowl with warm water. Add a small amount of gentle shampoo and give the comb a good rinse. Leave it to air-dry.

2. Paddle Brush:

Hair brushes with spongy or soft bases need extra care. The paddle brush usually traps residue or dirt underneath which makes it hard to remove. The accumulated moisture can lead to odor or worse, bacteria. Therefore, wash these brushes every month.

3. Wooden Brush:

Take care whilst using wooden handles, as well. The wood finishing often gets damaged with use of soap and water. In addition, you must also check the care instruction and prevent rough scrubbing. We recommend a quick swish instead of soaking wooden brushes.

Simply Ways to Clean a Hairbrush at Home using Natural Ingredients:

Do you know that you can use natural ingredients to clean your hair brush to remove excess hair, lint, dirt, bacteria, and other products? Get all the answers you need below:

1. Baby Shampoo:

Description:

A routine cleaning using a mild solution like baby shampoo can keep your hairbrush with lice clean.

Things you'll need:

Baby shampoo

Bowl

Clean toothbrush

Towel

Steps:

First, use your fingers to clean comb with dandruff, lint, or dirt from the brush bristles.

Clean the brush under running water or dip it in a bowl filled with warm water. Add few drops of baby shampoo on a clean toothbrush. Scrub in between the hair bristles.

Dry the brush using a towel. This may take few hours or overnight.

Tips:

Do not soak a plastic brush for more than 5-10 minutes as you may risk spoiling the padding or handle.

2. Rubbing Alcohol:

Description:

Rubbing alcohol is a natural disinfectant for removing hairbrush lint. Mix one part of the solution to one part water for safely sanitizing your comb.

Things you'll need:

Rubbing alcohol

Towel

Bowl

Steps:

Fill a bowl with water and add rubbing alcohol.

Soak the comb in the solution for 10 minutes.

Take out for brush and rinse it under running water.

Air dry the hair brush using a towel or leave it to dry overnight.

Tips:

You can also use the solution on brush surfaces to wipe off any dirt. But do not use the rubbing alcohol on wooden brushes as it may ruin it.

3. Vinegar:

Description:

Vinegar contains natural antiseptic agents that serve as an inexpensive cleaning solution for hair combs. The solution is known to kill bacteria and remove sticky residue accumulated from mousse, hair gel, and other styling products. Cleaning the hairbrushes with vinegar takes minimal effort.

Things you'll need:

Measuring cup

Bowl or saucepan

White vinegar

Towel

Steps:

Transfer two cups of hot water and two cups of white vinegar into a mixing bowl or saucepan.

The water should be a minimum of 130 degrees F. This step is important to follow as the water temperature is said to kill head lice, germs, and bacteria.

Take the hairbrush handle and dip the bristle ends into the vinegar solution. Dip it enough to release the dirt accumulated, but not for long as it may melt the brush. But if you have used water from the tap, then you can soak your brush for few minutes.

Take out the hair comb from the vinegar mixture. Remove the dirt, lint, and hair, using your hands.

Rinse off the brush in clean water to remove vinegar odor.

Tips:

While cleaning metal hair brushes or combs in vinegar, protect your hands from burns.

Vinegar

4. Baking Soda:

Things you'll need:

Bowl

Baking soda

Shampoo

Old toothbrush

Towel

Water

Steps:

Fill a bowl with warm water. Add one tsp of shampoo and baking soda. Make use of a clean toothpaste to mix the solution.

Dip the toothbrush in the mixture and start scrubbing the hairbrushes to clean the bristles. Dip the toothbrush into the cleaning solution.

Rinse the hairbrush under warm running water.

Tips:

After the final rinse, lay the hair brush on a towel and air-dry.

Baking Soda

FAQ's:

Q.1. How long should a hairbrush last?

A. A good tip is to change your hairbrush every six months. Also, notice if your hair bristles are separating or cracked. This may suggest you need to toss off your hairbrush for good.

Q.2. How do you clean a smelly hairbrush?

A. Rubbing alcohol and vinegar are natural disinfectants and can safely sanitize your smelly hairbrush. You can either add one part of rubbing alcohol or vinegar in one part of warm water. Dip the hairbrush for few minutes to remove any unpleasant odor and dirt.

Q.3. How do you clean and sanitize hair brushes and combs?

A. You hair brush may get clogged from dirt, hair oils, and other styling products. Therefore, it is important to clean and sanitize your combs on regular intervals. This can not only keep hair clean but also increase the longevity of the hairbrush.

If you are looking to sanitize and clean your hair combs properly, then here is what you need to do:

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If your hair brush is clogged with dirt then rake the bristles of two brushes gently.

Moisten the hair brush bristles using warm water. Add few drops of shampoo or liquid hand wash to clean the bristles to remove grime. Rinse off the brush under running water.

Add ½ cup of white vinegar to ½ cup of warm water in a bowl. Sterilize the brushes by soaking them for 20 minutes. Or, apply the same steps by soaking the hair combs in ¼ cup ammonia and warm water.

Towel dry or air-dry.

You can also make use of other natural disinfectant like tea tree oil to clean hairbrushes. Soak the comb in a mixture of ¼ ounce of tea tree oil and a bowl of warm water.

Q.4. How do you clean a hairbrush with vinegar?

A. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to ½ cup of warm water in a bowl. Sterilize the brushes by soaking them for 20 minutes. Leave it to air-dry.

Q.5. How do you clean a hairbrush without a toothbrush?

A. You can clean a hairbrush without a toothbrush by simply picking from your fingers or rat-tail comb.

These are the solutions on how to clean a hairbrush naturally. We hope you find these tips useful. Leave us with a feedback in the comment section below.