Why You Should Clean Your Hairbrushes

Dirty hairbrushes transfer oil, dead skin, product residue, and bacteria back onto your freshly washed hair, making it greasy faster, causing scalp irritation, and undermining all the work you put into your hair care routine. Cleaning your brushes weekly removes this buildup, extends the life of your tools, and helps your hair stay cleaner longer between washes.

Hi, I'm Bri, a stylist at The Warehouse Salon. One of the most overlooked parts of hair care has nothing to do with shampoo, conditioner, or styling products. It's your hairbrush. Most people never think about cleaning it, and that's a problem.

Can a Dirty Hairbrush Actually Ruin Your Hair?

A client named Jenna came in a few months ago complaining that her hair was getting oily way too fast. She'd wash it in the morning and by dinner, it looked greasy.

"Bri, I don't understand," she said. "I'm using good shampoo, like the Amika Normcore Signature Shampoo you recommended. I'm not over-conditioning. I'm doing everything right. But my hair looks dirty by the end of the day. It never used to be like this."

"When's the last time you cleaned your hairbrush?" I asked.

She paused. "Cleaned it? I pull the hair out of it sometimes. Is that what you mean?"

"Can I see it?"

She pulled her brush out of her bag. It was packed with old hair, and when I looked closer, I could see a layer of gray buildup coating the bristles and the base of the brush. Product residue, dead skin cells, oil, dust - months of it, maybe longer.

"This is your problem," I said. "Every time you brush your hair, you're putting all of this back into it. You wash your hair, it's clean for about five minutes, then you run this through it and transfer all the oil and gunk right back. Your hair isn't getting greasy fast - you're making it greasy with your brush."

Her eyes went wide. "I had no idea. I've literally never cleaned my brush. Like, ever."

"You're not alone. Most people don't think about it."

I showed her how to properly clean her brush that day and told her to do it once a week. Two weeks later, she texted me.

"Bri. My hair stayed clean for two full days. TWO DAYS. This has never happened. I can't believe it was my brush the whole time."

A month later: "I used to wash my hair every single day because it got so oily. Now I'm washing every other day, sometimes every two days. My hair looks better and I'm using less shampoo. I'm also getting more mileage out of my Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. Why did no one ever tell me to clean my brush?"

Three months later: "I've become the person who tells everyone to clean their brushes. My sister thought I was crazy until she tried it. Now she's converted too."

Jenna's story is exactly why I wanted to write this blog. Something so simple can make such a big difference.

Why Is Cleaning Your Hairbrushes Important?

Every time you brush your hair, your brush picks up oil from your scalp, dead skin cells, dust from the air, and residue from whatever products you use - hairspray, dry shampoo, serums, mousse, all of it. Over time, this builds up on the bristles and the base of the brush. You can't always see it, but it's there.

When you use a dirty brush on clean hair, you're transferring all of that buildup right back onto your strands. Your freshly washed hair gets coated with old oil and product residue. That's why some people feel like their hair gets greasy within hours of washing - they're recontaminating it every time they brush.

But it's not just about oil. Dirty brushes can also harbor bacteria and fungi that cause scalp irritation, dandruff, and even infections. If you've been dealing with an itchy scalp or flaking that won't go away, your brush might be part of the problem. You're essentially reinfecting your scalp every time you use it.

There's also the issue of hair damage. When bristles are clogged with buildup, they don't glide through your hair smoothly. Instead, they snag and pull, causing breakage and split ends. A clean brush with clear bristles is gentler on your hair and distributes your natural oils more evenly, which actually helps keep your hair healthier. Pairing a clean brush with a lightweight leave-in like Milk Shake Leave In Conditioner gives you the best results.

And finally, clean brushes just last longer. Product buildup can break down the materials in your brush over time, especially if you have a brush with natural bristles or a cushioned base. Regular cleaning extends the life of your tools, which saves you money in the long run.

How Often Should You Clean Your Brush?

I recommend removing the hair from your brush daily, or at least every few days. That takes about ten seconds - just pull the hair out and throw it away. This prevents the big tangles of hair that make deep cleaning harder.

For a full deep clean, once a week is ideal. If you use a lot of styling products, you might need to do it more often. If you rarely use products and have dry hair, you might be able to stretch it to every two weeks. But weekly is a good habit for most people.

If you can see visible buildup on your brush - that gray, dusty coating on the bristles or the base - you've waited too long. That's months of accumulation, and it's been affecting your hair the whole time.

How to Clean Your Hairbrush

There are a few different methods depending on what type of brush you have and how dirty it is.

The Basic Method (Works for Most Brushes)

1. Start by removing all the hair from the brush. Use your fingers, a comb, or a pen to lift the hair out of the bristles. Get as much out as you can.

2. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of gentle shampoo or dish soap. Submerge the brush in the water, bristles down. Let it soak for about five minutes to loosen the buildup.

3. Use an old toothbrush to scrub between the bristles and along the base of the brush. This is where most of the gunk hides. Scrub until you can see the original color of the brush base again.

4. Rinse the brush thoroughly under warm running water. Make sure all the soap is gone.

5. Shake off the excess water and lay the brush bristle-side down on a clean towel to air dry. Don't use it until it's completely dry, or you'll transfer moisture into your hair.

For Brushes with Cushioned or Padded Bases

If your brush has a soft, cushioned base with a hole at the bottom, don't submerge it completely. Water can get trapped inside and cause mold or damage the cushion. Instead, dip just the bristles into the soapy water, scrub with a toothbrush, and rinse carefully without soaking the base.

For Natural Bristle Brushes

Boar bristle brushes and other natural bristle brushes need gentler care. Don't soak them for too long, and don't use hot water, which can damage the bristles. A quick dip in lukewarm soapy water, a gentle scrub, and a thorough rinse is enough. Lay flat to dry completely.

The Vinegar Method (For Heavy Buildup)

If your brush has serious buildup that won't come off with soap and water, try adding a tablespoon of white vinegar or baking soda to your soaking water. Both help break down product residue and oil. Vinegar also has antibacterial properties, which is helpful if you're dealing with scalp issues.

Soak for ten minutes, scrub thoroughly, rinse well, and dry completely.

What About Combs?

Combs need cleaning too, and they're even easier. Most plastic and metal combs can be fully submerged in soapy water without any issues. Soak for a few minutes, scrub with a toothbrush to get between the teeth, rinse, and air dry. That's it.

If you use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush like the Aluram Detangle Brush for wet hair, clean it weekly. Conditioner and detangling products build up fast on those teeth.

Signs Your Brush Needs Cleaning

• Visible hair tangled in the bristles.
• Gray or white buildup on the bristles or base.
• A dusty or waxy coating you can feel when you touch the bristles.
• Your brush smells musty or off.
• Your hair feels greasy or weighed down shortly after brushing.
• Your scalp has been more irritated than usual.

If any of these sound familiar, your brush is overdue for a deep clean.