Why You Really Need to Clean Your Combs & Tools (And How to Do It)

Do you remember the last time you cleaned your combs, brushes, and hair clips? Cleaning your hair tools and accessories is often an overlooked practice, but it is actually very important that this is done on a regular basis. It prevents product buildup and bacteria growth while keep your hair clean. Every day that you go without cleaning your hair tools and accessories is another day that you are putting dirt and particles back into your hair.

Why clean your hair tools?

Your hair tools and accessories come in contact with your hair, products, and the everyday elements. Hair tools collect dirt, dead skin, and buildup on a daily basis. Hair tools tend to get ignored, because sometimes we’re so busy caring for our hair that we forget to wash our tools. Clean hair tools will ensure that you are not adding any more particles or residue back to your hair after washing.

We spoke with Kyra Allen-Brown, a licensed cosmetology educator at Chicago Curl Collective, and she said “There is a saying that you are only as good as your tools, therefore you have to take care of them.” Kyra uses 99.9% alcohol to sanitize her tools between clients. She also told us that, “At the end of the night it is definitely important to drop your tools, such as combs, into barbecide to ensure that you are cleaning your tools effectively.”

How to clean your hair tools

Here are a few tips on how you can clean your hair tools at home.

1. Remove debris – Use a toothpick or your fingers to remove as much hair as possible from your tools.
2. Soak – Soaking your tools in warm water with dish soap or a clarifying shampoo will help to soften and remove dirt, debris, and product buildup.
3. Use a toothbrush – After you finish soaking your tools, use a toothbrush to clean the remaining debris from the tools. Rinse when finished.
4. Dry your tools – Use a cloth or paper towels to dry your tools. When drying brushes make sure to lay the bristles downward on the towel to prevent the water from sitting in the bristles. This will help prevent the water from loosening the bristles and housing bacteria. You can also use a blow-dryer to expedite the process.

If you are using any wooden tools or accessories, avoid soaking your tools for long periods of time to prevent cracking.

Do you clean your hair tools and accessories on a regular basis?

Read next 5 Tools That Make Natural Hair so Much Easier and 5 Hair Tools you’re Probably Using Wrong.