This Is How Often You Need To Clean Your Hair Brush

When was the last time you cleaned your hair brush? If you're like many of us, you may never have thought about it. But most everything that comes into contact with your body needs to be cleaned on a regular schedule, and that includes your hair brush (via Byrdie). Just think about what gets in there when you're detangling, especially if you're using hair products. If you're not yet convinced, here's why it's important.

Your hair brush is hurting your hair if it's dirty. According to Huffington Post, your brush may be a hotbed of bacteria that's breeding in the leftover hair, oils, and product. Byrdie agrees, adding that this bacteria can go on to cause irritation, clogged hair follicles, dandruff, and swelling. These results may be even more likely if you're using a lot of oil-based hair products. If you don't clean your brush regularly, you're putting all that gunk back into your hair every time you use it. 

You're ready to clean your brush, but how should you go about it? Well, to start, you'll need to decide just how often to clean your hair brush. While PopSugar recommends cleaning your brush weekly, Healthline recommends every two to three weeks, as long as you don't use much product.

Begin by removing all the hair trapped in your brush, using a wide-toothed comb or another object to help if necessary. Do this over a trash can, so all the hair and gunk is disposed of. Fill your sink with warm water and add a few drops of shampoo. Submerge your brush and move it around for a few minutes. Run the comb through your brush again to get rid of anything the washing loosened up. For added cleaning, you can use a toothbrush to scrub in between the bristles. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, and then tap off any excess liquid. Towel dry the handle and lay the brush bristle-side down so it can air dry completely. After cleaning, check your brush for any damage to the bristles that can wreak havoc on your hair. It's time to replace your hair brush if any of the bristles are broken.