Have You Cleaned Your Hairbrush or Comb Lately?

Hairbrush and Comb

Ahh … have I caught you there? When was the last time you gave your hairbrush and/or comb a good cleaning? 😉

If you want to keep your hair tangle-free, dirt-free, etc-free for long, it’s important to use clean hairbrushes or combs. Hairbrushes and combs get dirty with repeated use, especially if you use styling products on your hair. This does not only apply to women, but even more importantly, to men who use hair wax or gel on a daily basis.

Imagine after washing your hair, it’s all nice and clean, and then comb all that clean hair with a gunky comb that you haven’t washed in ages.

How’s that for motivation?

There’s no need to throw out that old brush or comb and get new ones just because it’s accumulated so much gunk over the months and *gasp* years.  If the bristles aren’t worn or snapped off, when you do give them a good cleaning at least once a week, it should work like new.

I’ve had the same hairbrush and comb for 7-8 years now. Even though I bought a new hairbrush a month ago, I couldn’t bear to throw out the old paddlebrush I bought from Boots 7 years ago. Holds such a sentimental value to me.

I digress. To properly give your hairbrush or comb a good cleaning, all you need is:
1. Shampoo
2. Toothpick
3. Toothbrush

If you haven’t removed hairs from your hairbrush for a long time, chances are there will be a LOT of tangled hairs at the base of the comb. Remove hair which are sticking out of the brush with your fingers, stick a toothpick in between the hairs at the base and gently pull out the bits that are stuck to the base.

I keep a separate toothbrush just to clean my hairbrush and comb (also to clean the husband’s). A cheapo toothbrush would do; I got mine from the $2 store (4 in a pack). Squeeze out some shampoo onto the toothbrush, and start brushing the hairbrush or comb. I like to use hot water when washing the gunk out.

Some people recommend soaking the hairbrushes and combs in hot water and bleach first before cleaning the brushes. I don’t think it’s necessary if you maintain your hairbrush and combs well. Remember to let the hairbrushes and combs dry completely before using them.

Time to go wash your hairbrush and/or combs, girls. While you’re at it, why not wash your man’s combs too? Chances are, they haven’t washed theirs in ages too 😉

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17 comments… add one
  1. prettybeautiful

    oooops! i havent washed mine in….ermm…… hehehehehee. last time i used to soak comb in warm water with shampoo, it works really well to clean the dustttsssss n dirt. i have been using my wooden comb for about 5 years and still loving it 😉

  2. jojoba

    all my tools are clean!!! i hate dirt… you probably already know that. and i agree you don’t need much to clean a brush. 🙂

  3. Nikki

    The OC-ness in me schedule to wash my hair brushes same as I wash my cosmetic brushes! LOL Nice post, this is a very good reminder for a lot of us who takes care of our skin and hair but tend to forget about the tools we use! 😀

  4. ParisB

    oops! guilty as a girl can be! 😀

  5. Catherine

    Hmmm, I’ve never washed a hairbrush before, but I don’t use products in my hair very much… I do pick hair and fuzzies off my brush every few weeks though.

  6. plue

    i wash them every once a week. dry them under a shade, when the sun’s hot 😀

    tee hee. i sure am a good girl 😛

    and oh, for those fine tooth comb, run them with a dry toothbrush first, it gets most of dirty flakes out, then proceed with water and shampoo, i find that the comb’s cleaner this way 🙂

  7. gio

    Oops, I’m guilty of not cleaning my hairbrush as oftn as I should. I think I’d better go and do it now 🙂

  8. LyNn

    yeah i’ve heard of this.
    that you should wash your hair brush or comb with the shampoo you use on your hair.
    at least once a month.
    but im planning to get a new wooden comb though.

  9. fuz

    I clean the hair out of it but I don’t do thorough cleaning… 😛

  10. Indulgent Diva

    Hey, I’ve got the same brush from Lady Jayne! 🙂 I just threw away my 7 year old brush set which I bought from Target coz all the bristles are snapped and hurts my scalp. Bought a few Lady Jayne brushes…they’re great! I clean the hair out of it everyday and give it a good wash under hot water every week. Don’t really scrub it though…hehehe….doesn’t seem to have anything there since I pull out the hair. Shall look more closely…thanks for the reminder! 🙂

  11. fabulessbeauty

    It’s quite funny. My mom has always reminded me to clean my brushes. I should do it more often than I do.

  12. j3nny9irL

    Hmmm I wonder if this happens to anyone out there? If I don’t wash my hair brushes or combs I get dandruff. So I wash them everytime when I feel an itch on my scalp. Most is I wash them twice a week. Sometimes I wash them using anti-dandruff shampoo as it cleanse off most of the dirt and also with a clarifying shampoo. I’m using a ‘cow horn’ comb if that is correct. Got them from China. It kinda works better than a wooden comb as it has no static and it massages your scalp. Wooden comb kinda makes my hair tangle. Hmm… Some chinese use the ‘cow horn tool’ to do this thing called ‘tui na’ I don’t know what you call them in English. 😛 It’s like using this tool to push it on the muscle and er your foot. I think…

  13. Traclyn Yeoh

    You see, Tine. You always remind many of us some little things that we should take care. This is such a great reminder for all of us. I need to get my hair brushes a wash too! *runs*

  14. Juny

    Ah, you caught me there. I haven’t washed my combs in years @_@

  15. Rene

    Great “food for thought” article. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t think a good washing can do their hairbrushes and combs justice instead of just tossing them out and buying new ones everytime they get build up. Think of how many good hairbrushes and/or combs are going to waste. 🙂
    Rene recently posted..Biotin Check-In #7: The Journey ContinuesMy Profile

  16. PurpleDove

    I have long hair so it’s especially important for me to clean my hairbrush!! I always pick off the hair from the brush after I brush my hair, but I realized I never actually cleaned it. I will be sure to clean it sooner or later. 🙂
    PurpleDove recently posted..Beautyholics Anonymous Reader Survey 2013 (Including A Surprise At The End!)My Profile

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