The brush that works best is the one that is clean.
Hair, dust, and residue from cream or oil accumulate between the bristles. When this layer builds up, the brush can no longer glide smoothly through strands: it skims the surface, pulls instead of separates, and the style feels heavy even if the hair is freshly washed. Cleaning the tools takes less than ten minutes and doesn’t require any special products. This is the guide we follow at home.
How often to clean each tool?
Not all tools get dirty at the same rate. The frequency depends on how much product passes through them.
| Tool | Suggested frequency |
|---|---|
| Daily use brush with creams, oils, or foams | once a week |
| Daily use brush without product | every 2 to 3 weeks |
| Wide-tooth comb | every 2 weeks |
| Tail comb or sectioning comb | once a month |
| Makeup brushes | once a week |
| Bamboo brushes or brushes with wooden handles | every 2 weeks, without soaking |
The 2-3 week guideline for when you’re not using product comes from care guides like Healthline’s. If your brush goes through your hair every day and also carries conditioner, a weekly brushing frequency is what keeps the bristles loose.
Step by step: bristle brushes with cushion
- Remove the hair first. Use your fingers or the end of a comb, from the base of the bristles upwards. When dry, it comes out in one layer.
- Warm water, never boiling. Heat deforms the bristles and softens the adhesive holding the pad together.
- A drop of mild soap (or shampoo) in the palm. Rub the bristles against the palm in circular motions, without pressing the pad in.
- Rinse with the bristles facing downwards, so that the water drains away and does not enter the base.
- Dry upside down on a towel in a well-ventilated area. Direct sunlight and a hairdryer will dry out the bristles and the wood.
A cushion brush like the bamboo brush in our store requires this treatment every two weeks: the wood appreciates not being left to soak.
Step by step: combs
- Soak the comb for 10 minutes in warm water with mild soap.
- Run an old toothbrush between your teeth. In wide-toothed combs, the residue sticks to the sides, not the bottom.
- Rinse, dry with a cloth, and let air dry before storing.
- If the comb is made of wood or bamboo, or has metal or stone details, do not soak it: damp cloth, immediate drying, and you’re done.
Step by step: makeup brushes
- Warm water and mild soap. Wet only the bristles; do not submerge the base or handle.
- Rub it in your palm until the water runs clear.
- Drain the brush with the brush tilted downwards onto a towel, and let it dry overnight.
- Store them upright, in a lidded organizer or a space holder, so that the bristles do not get squashed.
Three mistakes that shorten the life of your tools
- Wash them in the dishwasher or with boiling water. Heat is the number one enemy of bristles and wooden handles.
- Store them damp in a closed drawer or makeup bag. The stored moisture causes odor and deforms the bristles.
- Clean only the surface. The hair gets trapped at the base; if you don’t reach there, the residue stays, and the brush drags it around again.
Where to store them
An organized vanity is also part of cleaning: if brushes are crammed into a bag, the bristles bend, and they never dry properly. An acrylic organizer with a lid keeps brushes upright and visible, and a round, ten-compartment brush holder is perfect for separating them by use. Combs can be stored in the same holder or in a glass, with the teeth facing up. If you travel, a drawstring cosmetic bag that opens flat allows your tools to air out.
The ten-minute routine
Choose a specific time: we prefer Sunday night, when the bathroom is quiet.
- Remove hair from brushes and combs.
- Wash with warm water and mild soap, rinse, and dry upside down.
- Leave everything to air-dry on a towel while you remove your makeup.
- The next day, store brushes and combs in the organizer.