Your favorite straightening or teasing comb could have build-up from months of use, harboring germs and bacteria (and preventing tools from functioning properly). Here’s what you can do about it.
You might be diligent about cleansing your face before you sleep – double cleansing and scrubbing till you have a clean canvas. If you’re a rule follower, you’re probably also washing your makeup brushes, soaking them till they’re traceless. But hair tools and brushes, which might be used every day or often in the week, might be left by the wayside in your deep cleaning routine. Just like leftover makeup can clog your pores and result in inflammation and acne, styling products on your tools and combs can affect the health of your hair, and may even lead to scalp infections. If you are a professional, it’s even more important that you clean your tools regularly. “Hygiene is vital and non-negotiable for any artist trying to make a name for themselves in the industry. Using dirty and damaged products and equipment make the worst impression on any client”, says hair and makeup artist and trainer, Simone Chakravarty. Ahead she sheds light on how to clean every single tool and brush you use for your strands.
Hairbrushes
“Be it for your regular brushes, paddle and bristle brushes, it’s not just the bristle the need cleaning. Use an alcoholic wet wipe and clean the handle and back the back of the brush too”, says Chakravarty. For the bristles, you can remove any collected hair (cut it with scissors if need be), and wash the bristles in shampoo and warm water, a solution that also works for rollers and hairpins. “I also use a brush cleaner, which is essentially a smaller comb that allows me to clean the bristles on my more regular brushes”, adds the expert. Let the brushes air dry, or use a blow-dryer to hasten the process.
Combs
It is hard not to notice the strands that get caught in your comb’s or brush’s teeth. It’s not always clean hair, so getting rid of the broken pieces every time you use the comb is ideal. If you’ve combed through hair with oil or hairspray, there might be gunk on the comb that may linger. Soaking the comb in a mild shampoo, or a mixture of water and vinegar can also help break up the build-up.
Hair Straighteners And Curlers
You might miss it, but flat irons and curling wands are often ridden with product build-up from heat protectors, serums and conditioners. And since many are oil and cream-based, getting rid of them isn’t exactly easy job. Plus, the heat causes all the product to transfer from the strands to the tools, which can affect their performance as well. “They key to maintain your tools is to clean them after every use, both the cable and the tools itself. For equipment such as tongs and flat irons, use an alcoholic wet wipe and clean the cable and the tool”, says Chakravarty. You could also wipe the tool while it’s still a little warm, which makes it easier to get rid of the product. Be careful not to burn yourself though, and don’t forget to get inside the clamp of your curling iron. “On the hot plates, use a cotton pad warm water to clean the panel or the iron”, the expert adds.
Blow-Dryers
Even the blow-dryer that you don’t actually use on your hair needs to be cleaned often enough. The air-vent grill (usually at the back or side) should be removed, and then the filter should be thoroughly cleaned. This might have lint, dust and hair stuck in it. Just wipe it down with a cloth after you’re done.
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