Here’s a simple, salon-style way to clean a hair brush so it actually gets rid of oil, dust, and product buildup instead of spreading it back into your hair.

Quick Scoop

  • Remove all the trapped hair first (fingers, comb, or scissors).
  • Wash the brush in warm, soapy water (or a baking soda / vinegar or shampoo mix), adjusting for plastic vs wood vs natural bristles.
  • Scrub the base and between bristles with an old toothbrush, then rinse and air‑dry bristles‑down.
  • Clean it at least monthly (more often if you use heavy products) so you’re not brushing old oil and dirt back into your hair.

Think of it as a mini “spa day” for a tool you use almost every day.

Step‑by‑step: how to clean a hair brush

1. Remove the hair

Do this first so the cleaning mix can actually reach the base.

  • Use your fingers or a regular comb to pull out as much hair as you can.
  • For matted, stubborn clumps, slide the pointed end of a rat‑tail comb, pen, or similar tool under the hair to lift it up.
  • If the hair is really tangled, carefully snip through the bundle with scissors parallel to the bristles, then peel it off.

Little habit that helps: flick the hair out after each use so deep cleans are quicker.

2. Make your cleaning solution

Choose one of these easy options depending on what you have in your bathroom or kitchen.

  • Gentle shampoo mix :
    • Bowl or sink of warm (not hot) water + a squeeze of mild or clarifying shampoo.
* Swish until it’s lightly sudsy.
  • Baking soda boost (great for heavy product buildup):
    • Add 1–2 teaspoons of baking soda to the shampoo water.
  • Vinegar deep‑clean mix :
    • Roughly equal parts warm water, baking soda, and white vinegar (adjust for the brush size).
* Let the fizz settle before dipping your brush.

Shampoo or dish soap + warm water is enough for most everyday cleaning; baking soda and vinegar are more for “my brush is officially gross now” days.

3. Clean by brush type

Different brushes need slightly different handling so you don’t warp the base or wreck the bristles.

A. Plastic or synthetic brushes (most paddle, vent, and round brushes)

These are the least fussy.

  • Submerge the whole brush in the warm, soapy water for about 3–10 minutes, depending on how dirty it is.
  • If your brush has a cushioned or soft pad, just dip the bristles and keep the pad as dry as you can rather than soaking the entire head.
  • After soaking, use an old toothbrush to scrub:
* Between the bristles
* Around the base where lint and product collect
* Over the handle, which touches your hands and collects bacteria

You can sprinkle dry baking soda on the base and scrub with a damp toothbrush if there’s stubborn gunk.

B. Wooden brushes or brushes with wooden handles

Wood doesn’t like being soaked; it can swell, crack, or warp.

  • Do not dunk the entire brush.
  • Dip only the bristles into a shallow bowl of warm, shampoo‑water, keeping the wooden base and handle as dry as possible.
  • Let the bristles soak for around 5–10 minutes.
  • Scrub between the bristles and the base with a toothbrush dipped in the cleaning mix.
  • Wipe the wooden handle with a slightly damp cloth instead of soaking it.

Avoid alcohol‑heavy sanitizers on finished wood; they can dry and dull the surface.

C. Natural‑bristle brushes (boar, etc.)

These give a soft, shiny finish but are more delicate.

  • Don’t soak them for long periods and never use boiling or very hot water.
  • Mix a mild shampoo with warm water in a shallow bowl and only submerge the bristles, not the entire base/handle.
  • Let them soak briefly (up to about 10 minutes) to loosen oils and lint.
  • Use a soft toothbrush or cloth to gently scrub the bristle tips and base.
  • Avoid strong alcohol disinfectants or harsh chemicals; they can strip the natural oils and make bristles brittle.

If the brand recommends only surface cleaning for your specific brush, follow that over any general rule.

4. Rinse and dry properly

Rushing this part is how people end up with musty‑smelling brushes.

  • Rinse the brush under cool to warm running water until no soap or fizz remains.
  • Shake off excess water.
  • Lay the brush bristles‑down on a clean towel so water drains away from the base and handle.
  • Let it air‑dry completely before using it again—ideally overnight, especially for cushioned or dense brushes.

Avoid drying them on a radiator or with very hot air, which can warp plastic, damage natural bristles, or loosen glue.

How often to clean & why it matters

In 2026, there’s a lot more talk in beauty spaces about scalp health and “skinification” of hair, and dirty tools are a quiet villain in that story.

  • Aim to clean brushes about once a month if you use minimal, light products.
  • Clean them weekly or every two weeks if you use heavy oils, creams, hairspray, or dry shampoo often.
  • In pro or shared settings (salons, barbers, family brush), brushes should be cleaned and sanitized between users.

A dirty brush acts like a sponge: it picks up oil, dust, styling product, and dead skin, then redeposits that mix onto freshly washed hair, making it greasy faster and potentially irritating your scalp.

A quick view of different methods

[8][10][3][4] [1][10][3][4][8] [10][4][8] [3][4] [1][4][3] [4][3] [1][3][4] [3][4][1] [10][4] [8][4][10][3] [4][8][10][3] [10][4] [8][4][10] [8][10] [10][8]
Brush type Can you soak it? Best cleaner What to avoid
Plastic / synthetic bristles Yes, whole brush in warm soapy water for 3–10 minutes. Shampoo + water, optional baking soda for buildup. Very hot water that can warp plastic.
Cushioned / padded brush Only bristles; keep the pad as dry as possible. Gentle shampoo solution. Fully submerging the cushioned base.
Wooden handle/base No full soak; short bristle‑only dip. Mild shampoo, damp cloth on handle. Long soaks; harsh alcohols on wood.
Natural‑bristle (boar, etc.) Brief bristle soak only. Mild shampoo in warm water, gentle toothbrush or cloth. Boiling water, strong alcohol disinfectants, long soaking.
Heavy buildup / very dirty Yes for synthetic; limited for wood/natural. Baking soda + vinegar mix; extra toothbrush scrubbing. Ignoring hair removal and going straight to soaking.

Little extra tips & current forum‑style chatter

  • People with very coily or tightly curled hair often find more hair wrapped around spikes and need to de‑shed brushes more frequently.
  • Some users toss all‑plastic brushes into the dishwasher, but this can be too harsh for many designs and isn’t recommended for cushioned or wooden tools.
  • Many stylists now recommend storing brushes in a dry, open space (not a steamy bathroom corner) to avoid bacteria and mildew.

One useful mental trick: treat your brush like your face towel—if you’d be grossed out using it when it looks that way, it’s time to wash it. Meta description (SEO):
Learn how to clean a hair brush step by step using shampoo, baking soda, or vinegar, how often to do it, and the right way to treat plastic, wooden, and natural‑bristle brushes for healthier hair.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.