How to Clean Your Brushes and Combs, According to Experts

In the midst of using our sulfate-free shampoos, scrubs, and masks, we tend to forget about another very important part of keeping our hair and scalp healthy: cleaning our combs and brushes. But it’s not enough to detangle and discard that old hair that has been on your tools for weeks (or longer). Oils and product residue can build up and get between the grooves, leading to unsanitary tools, which pretty much negates every other step in your haircare routine. But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Washing and maintaining your brushes and combs isn’t as mainstream as it should be. Hair contains its own bacteria, yeast, dirt, and oil, and much of this accumulates on our tools each time we use them,” says board-certified dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, MD. “Every time you brush your hair you accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, and oil onto your brush, and every time you use your  brush some of these things transfer back to your hair.”

We asked Dr. Nazarian and salon founder Gina Rivera how to properly clean your styling tools. Keep reading for a tutorial on how to clean your combs and brushes the right way; your scalp and strands will thank you.