Hair Styling Tools

How many times do we open up our vanity drawer and as we are starting to brush or comb our hair, we tell ourselves that we really need to clean that brush or comb?  We then use the item and then proceed to place it back in the drawer until the next time.

Why is it so important to keep our combs and brushes clean?  The reason is simply that a clean comb and clean brush contributes to good hair health.  Just think about it.  You wash your hair because it is dirty, so why would you want to use a dirty hairstyling tool on a clean head of hair?  If you are anything like me, thinking about cleaning my hairstyling tools was usually the last thing on my list of to-do’s, until I started spending more money on my professional hairstyling tools and wanted to make sure they lasted longer. 

The bristles of a brush and the teeth of a comb naturally gather dust, but they also get coated with hair styling products that you use, such as gels, mousses, serums, sprays, etc.   Also, when you brush your hair in between washings, natural hair oils, dirt, bacteria and dry skin flakes will accumulate on your brush.  So, if this isn’t something you want to continue to do, then it’s time to take care of business.

One of the first things that will make the task simpler is to start by removing all of the hair from your brush.  This can be a much easier task if you use a hair brush cleaner.  One that I found and now can’t live without is the Brush Cleaner by HairArt.  You can find it online or in some of the beauty supply stores in the hair styling accessories section.  This tool will help remove all of the hair from your styling brush.  The next thing to consider is what type of brush you are cleaning as there are different methods used for cleaning different types of brushes.  With the exception of rubber cushioned brushes, wooden bodied brushes or combs, and natural boar bristle brushes (these cannot be immersed) you can  simply soak all other types of brushes and combs in a sink filled with warm water and  either your favorite shampoo or about a half a cup of baking soda.  Let them soak for about fifteen to thirty minutes and then rinse again with warm water and let them air dry on a towel. 

Another method that is used to clean all types of brushes and combs is to aim only for the bristles and just dab a small amount of shampoo onto the bristles and teeth of the brush and comb and rub them gently against each other to clean them.  Hold them under the running warm water to rinse out the soap and let them air dry on a towel.  If you still find that some of the hair product goop is still present, take a cotton swab and dab it in some alcohol or vinegar to remove the excess.

Taking these few extra steps at least once a week should prolong the life of your combs and brushes and hopefully make you feel better about keeping your hair healthy and clean.