Noticing some gross-looking buildup on your hair brush? In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to clean a boar bristle brush easily at home.
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You might be a little surprised by the idea that you should clean your hair brushes. It’s not something that most of us think of, or remember to do!
Take a look at your hair brush right now. See all that hair and stuff that’s collected in the bristles? Sniff it (yes, really). Think about when the last time you washed it was. Yep, you know it’s time to clean it.
Using a dirty hair brush decreases how well it does its job. This can make your hair look and feel worse!
If you’re noticing that your hair:
- Gets greasy fast
- Doesn’t smell good even though you’ve washed it
- Has had an increase in scalp flakes and irritation
…it’s time to give your brush a wash.
Especially if your boar bristle brush smells bad.
So there’s a super simple solution, and that’s to clean your hair brush (it’s really easy, and only takes a few minutes!).
In this post we’re going to cover:
- How to wash your boar bristle brush
- How your dirty hair brush could be ruining your hair
- Some FAQ’s on boar bristle brushes, including how often to clean your hair brush
Cleaning is a very important part of caring for boar bristle brushes, and you only need a few items to get the job done. Here’s your easy guide on how to clean a boar bristle hair brush.
How to Clean a Boar Bristle Brush
Let’s get right into the instructions. In the following section, we’ll go over what can happen to your hair if you don’t clean your brush.
What You’ll Need
- A comb or brush rake
- A boar bristle cleaning tool (the Mason Pearson brushes usually come with a bristle cleaner) – this is optional
- Small bowl (or use your sink)
- Gentle shampoo or soap
- 1-2 clean hand towels
Instructions
- Use your comb or brush raking tool to gently remove loose strands of hair and lint from the hair brush.
- With your bristle cleaning tool, gently run it through the bristles of your brush, to remove buildup from the hair brush pad.
- Fill the container with warm water, adding a small amount of gentle shampoo or soap.
- Dip the bristle cleaning tool into the soapy water, then run it through the bristles of your brush. Repeat as necessary.
- If you don’t have a bristle cleaning tool, flip your brush bristles facing down, and dip the hair brush bristles into the water (without submerging the entire brush). Gently use a clean towel to wipe the rubber pad and in between the bristles.
- Lightly rinse the brush with water, and shake out the excess.
- Place the hair brush on a clean towel to dry for 24 hours.
If the handle of your brush needs a cleaning, simply wipe it down with a little bit of the soapy water on a towel. Then wipe it once more with a clean towel and leave it to dry.
Some boar bristle brushes have other types of bristles mixed in with the natural ones. If you have a mixed bristle brush and are wondering how to clean a boar and nylon bristle brush, the above steps will work well for your brush.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Hair Brushes?
When you use your hair brush, it doesn’t just pick up strands of hair that you’ve shed.
It also collects dead skin flakes, oils from your scalp, sweat and hair products. Dust, lint and dirt also get caught in the bristles.
Boar bristle brushes specifically are meant to distribute the oil from your scalp down the length of your hair, so they’re very good at collecting oil.
All of those oils, hair products and dirt collect on the brush every time you use it. So using dirty brushes distributes that buildup, bacteria and germs back onto the hair.
We don’t want that, especially if we’ve just washed our hair!
Using a dirty hair brush can lead to:
- Greasy, oily hair
- More dandruff and scalp flakes
- Hair that smells bad
- Scalp irritation
- A decrease in the health of your hair and scalp
Your hair brush can’t do its job properly if it’s full of gunk and dirt, so make sure you clean it!
High quality boar bristle brushes like the ones by Mason Pearson are designed to last for a long time, and caring for your brush will help make sure that it stays in good shape for years.
FAQ’S
How to clean a boar bristle brush with a wooden handle?
To clean the bristles, follow the same instructions as above. Be sure not to soak the brush or hold it under water, as the water can damage the wood.
To clean a wooden handle, use a damp towel with a small amount of gentle soap and wipe down the handle. Give it another swipe with a clean towel, then leave the brush to dry.
How often should you wash a boar bristle brush?
How often to clean a boar bristle brush depends on how often you use it. If you are using your brush daily, you will want to remove shed hairs and lint with a comb or brush rake as often as every 1-2 days. Clean it with gentle shampoo/soap every 1-2 weeks.
Boar bristle brushes are amazing for improving the health of your hair and scalp, and work best when they’re taken care of. Follow this easy routine to wash your boar bristle brush and keep it in top shape!
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