Be honest with yourself for a sec… When was the last time you cleaned your hair brush? What about your blow dryer and curling or flat irons (whaat, those need cleaning too?). Yes my dear, they do. Product buildup on your hot tools can burn hair and cause split ends.
By taking care of your tools with nice, thorough, regular cleanings, not only will they last longer, they will also work better and ensure you get the styling results you want.
Cleaning Hairbrushes and Combs
Think about what gets stuck in your hair brush (other than hair, of course): dust, hair spray, oils from your scalp, other product residue, germs, other random particles flying around… Now think about what happens when you don’t clean it for weeks! Do you really want to brush all that into your freshly washed hair?
- Take any long, thin tool (rat tail comb or a pair of closed scissors), slide it under all the stuck hair in the brush, and gently tug upwards until it’s loosened out of the bristles. Of course, if there isn’t that much hair, you can easily pull out whatever is left with your hand, after each time you brush your hair.
- Now onto the washing. Fill up the sink with warm water and splash some cleansing shampoo. Either let it soak for a bit, or take an old toothbrush and gently get rid of the buildup at the base of the brush or comb.
- Either let the hair brushes air dry, or use a blow drier for a faster result. Some brushes may take longer to dry, so perhaps it’s a good idea to leave them to dry overnight.
Cleaning Curlers and Flat Irons
Don’t let the sticky product buildup on your curlers and flat irons burn your hair and cause split ends. To keep your hot tools in great condition, it’s important to clean them well in order to get rid of that residue.
- Make sure they are unplugged before starting. Moisten a cloth with water and rub over the surfaces over and over again to get rid of as much buildup as possible. If water doesn’t work, add a little rubbing alcohol (or a professional iron cleaner, if you’d like). Dry the hot tool entirely before using.
Tip #1: the product buildup comes off easier when the hot tools are warm (not hot). To achieve this, plug the tool in for a few seconds and remember to unplug before starting to clean.
Tip #2: Remember to never submerge your curlers and straighteners in water – this is both dangerous and will ruin your iron.
Cleaning Your Blow Dryer
Take your blow drier and take a look at the back where the vent is. See that? That’s lint…and dirt, and it may be covering the filter. Unless yours is brand new or recently cleaned, a clogged up blow dryer is something a lot of us are guilty of. All this built up dirt and lint blocks the ventilation a blow dryer needs to work properly and safely.
- Remove the back cover (it usually easily twists off – if not, consult your instructions manual).
- Take out the filter and clean it out with some small tools (Q-tips, toothbrush, toothpick, tweezers, etc.). Then, rinse with warm water and let it dry completely.
- While that’s drying, give your blow dryer some love and rub down the nozzle and body with a damp cloth to clean any build up of hair products.
Enjoy the maximum airflow of your next blow-out! Feels just like new.
Cleaning Hair Accessories
Remember your headbands, hair ties, scrunchies, and hair clips. They also have hair product buildup, as well as potential sweat and pollution from the outside. Once in a while, throw them all in the sink with warm water and a few drops of shampoo. Gently rub each accessory and then dry them on a towel.
How often you need to clean your hair tools and accessories depends on how often you use them, and how much product you use. Try cleaning your brushes out after every use and washing them once a month. Clean your hot tools at least once a month.
Remember, our beautiful friends…The better we care for our hair tools, the better they treat our hair.