How to properly clean your hairbrush
Contents:
- Why is it important to clean your hairbrush?
- How do you clean boar bristle or nylon hairbrushes?
- Which tools and products should you use?
- How to care for your brush and extend its performance over time
Why is it important to clean your hairbrush?
Hair, dust, dead skin cells, sebum, styling product residue… all this residue builds up on your hairbrush over time. What is less visible is what happens with each brush stroke: a dirty brush can redeposit these residues back onto clean hair, weigh down the hair fiber, and leave the scalp more prone to build-up. Besides the obvious hygiene factor, this can affect the beauty and health of your hair and scalp, while also reducing the effectiveness of the brush.
For boar bristle brushes in particular, build-up is especially problematic: the natural keratin in the bristles - which allows them to capture and redistribute sebum - gradually loses its ability to perform this essential care function. A bristle clogged with residue can no longer nourish, smooth, or deliver the expected shine.
The verdict is clear: if you want to keep your brush working well for a long time, you should clean it regularly. And this rule of thumb applies to all types of brushes, whether you are #Teamboarbristle or #Teamnylonfiber.
How should you clean a boar bristle or nylon hairbrush?
At Altesse Studio, we recommend that you clean your brush after every use, just as professional hairdressers do between customers. This simply means removing the hair trapped in the boar bristles or nylon fibers of the hairbrush with a comb, another brush, or your hands after use.
Experts also recommend deep cleaning your hairbrush once a week. This important 4-step cleaning routine only takes a minute:
- Step 1: fill a basin or sink with warm water, add a small amount of shampoo, and swirl the solution to create foam.
- Step 2: soak the bristles of the brush in the soapy solution, making a figure-8 shape to make sure they are completely soaked (repeat this motion 4 times for best results).
- Step 3: rinse the nylon fibers or boar bristles under running water, then wrap a towel around them, applying light pressure to squeeze out any excess water.
- Step 4 (for boar bristle brushes): leave your brush to dry on a flat surface, bristle-side down, away from any heat source.
- Step 4 (for nylon fiber brushes): leave your brush to dry bristle-side down, making sure the nylon fibers don’t touch any surface, as the weight of the brush can twist them out of shape. Our tip to prevent this: place a rolled towel under the brush handle to keep the brush head raised while drying.
What tools and products should you use to properly clean your hairbrush?
For daily cleaning, it is best to use a purpose-made accessory. Altesse Studio has designed a cleaning brush specifically designed for this purpose: its firm fibers move easily through boar bristles or nylon fibers without damaging them, removing hair and residue in just a few seconds after each use. A simple, quick gesture that helps maintain your brush over time.
For a deeper weekly clean, use a gentle shampoo diluted in warm water. Avoid overly harsh or alcohol-based products, as they can damage boar bristles and speed up wear and tear.
Properly caring for your brush helps maintain its performance over time
Your hairbrush is much more than an ordinary accessory: think of it as a vital part of your hair care arsenal that keeps your mane looking healthy and beautiful! Properly cleaning and maintaining your hairbrush is essential so it can detangle, condition and work all its “magic” on your hair.
At Altesse Studio, each brush is designed to last well beyond everyday use. Made in France, drawing on expertise passed down since 1875, they are created to be passed down through generations and repaired for life. Regular care is the key to ensure this investment lives up to its promise over time. Take care of your brush as it takes care of your hair - with consistency and the right steps. To learn more about the materials behind your brush and what makes it so enduring, explore our commitment to sustainable materials.
