Okay so… have you ever looked at your hairbrush and wondered what the heck it is? That weird, grayish, cotton candy looking mess hanging off the bristles. I mean, it’s not cotton candy, obviously! But you know what I mean. It’s like this dull, fuzzy, kind of gross mess that just hangs on to the bristles like it’s rent. And if you’re like me, the first time you notice it, it’s almost like it ruins your day for a hot second. You start thinking, wait, how long has THAT been there? Have I been—oh god—brushing that back into my hair every day? Yup, you have.
And it’s not just hair. Ugh! I wish! That would at least be manageable. What it actually is—and brace yourself for this—is it’s basically like a catchall for your scalp. A combination of shed hair, yes, but mostly it’s a mix of scalp oil, skin flakes (dead ones of course), dust, remnants of your styling products, and possibly even stuff floating in the air of your washroom. Which sounds dramatic, but… yeah. It is dramatic. Basically, your hairbrush has become a disgusting collector of whatever your head is shedding or whatever is catching onto it when you brush your hair. And we just keep on brushing away, like that’s fine.
Also, it doesn’t magically appear! The accumulation is stealthy. It builds up on your hairbrush slowly over time… which is probably worse because you don’t realize it until it’s like…. visible visible! And if you brush your hair every day—which most people do—or put a ton of products in your hair that helps the process. Mousse, hairspray, dry shampoo… all those are materials that work like glue traps for dust. They hold onto the bristles then that grabs on to everything else. It’s a whole ecosystem.
Some people may see it build faster than others, again it really depends. If your hair is oilier? you will probably get fuzz faster. If you live in a dusty area? if your brush is sitting on the counter in the bathroom all day? you’re basically letting it air collect crud. Have you thought about the floating lint in the air from towels, tissues, dry shampoo clouds, that time you shaved your sweater? Your brush is sitting in that. That’s not great.
How Often Should you be Cleaning It? Probably more than you think
So here’s the deal. Just ripping away all of the big clumps of hair every once in a while? Doesn’t count. I mean, it’s better than nothing, but that’s not actually cleaning. Seriously, experts are saying you should be pulling off the loose hairs every time you use it (if we are being good, every use) but let’s be honest, just once a day would be considered an upgrade for a lot of people.
And then there’s washing. That’s probably once a week or every other week depending on how often you apply product. And if you’re the type who likes to load up on gel, spray, everything- you probably should do a deep clean once a month. I assure you, it’s not too much. Also, if the brush is falling apart? Missing bristles, still gross after a scrub? Toss it. Just buy a new one. They aren’t family heirlooms.
Okay But… How Do You Even Clean a Hairbrush?
First part is annoying: get all the hair out. Like, ALL of it. Your fingers can maybe get most of it, but honestly, it’s easier to use something pointy – a comb, a pencil, the end of a makeup brush or whatever is handy. Dig it all out. It’s satisfying in a “cleaning your keyboard with toothpick” kind of way.
Then the soak. Warm water + gentle shampoo (or dish soap) = a good start. Feeling ambitious? Toss in a spoonful of baking soda. Don’t ask me why, I just trust it’ll make it cleaner. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes. You can scroll through your phone during that part.
Once it’s soaked for a bit, get an old toothbrush. Not one you’re still using. And scrub in the bristles. You’ll see the gunk come off, which is both gross and kind of… satisfying. Then rinse it under running water. Lay it bristle-side down on a towel to dry. Important: don’t use it wet. Moist bristles are like an invitation for mold to party.
Now- wooden brushes, or those with natural bristles- you have to be more careful. Do not dunk those. Just stick the bristles in your soapy solution, and wipe the handle with a damp cloth. Soaking wood? That’s how you get a warped, cracked, sad little brush.
When It’s Beyond Just Dirty
Sometimes a basic cleaning just doesn’t work. If it’s still fuzzy after all of that, your brush may need something more ruthless. Mix equal parts vinegar and water (yes, your bathroom will smell like a salad for a moment) and submerge the bristles in that. Then scrub again. You can hit it with a spritz of rubbing alcohol after, just to guarantee you’ve killed whatever bacteria survived. It’s… oddly satisfying.
Not Wanting to Do All This Again?
Yeah, same. So, here’s how to avoid the fuzz apocalypse: clean your brush often-ish, don’t drown your hair in sticky products every single day, don’t leave it somewhere that’s directly in the dry shampoo blast radius or right by an open window edified with road dust. And maybe most importantly, just wash or rinse your hair often enough that you’re not depositing half your scalp into the brush.
Because honestly, if you’re going to be brushing your head every day, shouldn’t your brush not be disgusting? That’s all it comes down to. No guilt trip, no “clean beauty” lecture- just, like, please don’t smear day-old scalp soup back on your roots. Your hair will thank you. Or it won’t. But at least your brush won’t look like it growing its own sweater.
