The Right Way to Clean Your Favourite Hair Styling Tools
Whether you want sleek straight hair or curls that look like they belong in a beach photoshoot, you’re going to need the right tools.
Unfortunately, your favourite heat styling tools are not immune to dirt, grime and germs. Not cleaning your tools will eventually cause them to stop working and have an effect on the health of your hair.
If you haven’t cleaned your styling tools in a while, here’s the right way to go about it.
The Basics of Keeping Your Hair Styling Tools Clean
Hairbrushes and Combs
Dust, hair, serums, sprays – these all end up getting stuck in your brush. This is not something we often think about but when this starts to build up, you’re not going to have much of a healthy brush left. What’s more, you’re using that brush on your clean hair.
Here’s how you can keep your brushes and combs clean:
- Use a thin tool such as closed scissors or the thin end of a rat tail comb to lift the hair away from the bristles.
- Fill your bathroom sink with warm water and a drop of shampoo. You can either soak your brush and comb for several minutes or use an old toothbrush to get rid of the dirt and grime.
- Once you rinse the brush and comb, air dry it or use your blow dryer.
Curling and Flat Irons
Once product starts to build up on your curling or flat iron, it can burn your hair. If you want your heat styling tools to work as they should, you need to keep them clean. Here’s how:
- Warm up the curling or flat iron slightly before you unplug it. Some slight warmth helps remove any buildup a little easier.
- Use a moist cloth to gently rub the surfaces. If a cloth and water don’t do the trick, you can also use a bit of rubbing alcohol.
- Make sure the tools are completely dry before using them. Never submerge any electric hair styling tools in water – it will ruin them.
Hair Dryer
If you take a look at the vent at the back of your hair dryer, what do you see? If you haven’t cleaned your hair dryer in a while, or not at all, know that you’re not alone. Here’s how to ensure your hair dryer is getting enough ventilation.
- Start by removing the back cover of the hair dryer – it should just twist off.
- Remove the filter and use a toothbrush or Q-tip to clean it. Rinse the filter with warm water before allowing it to dry.
- You should also rub down the nozzle and body of the hair dryer before replacing the filter.
Accessories
Lastly, don’t forget to give your hair clips and ties a good clean. Along with removing excess hair, you can also wash them in warm water and shampoo.
Bonus Tips
- If you’re dealing with some really stubborn areas of oil and dirt, make a paste with some baking soda and water. Rub the paste on the curling or flat iron, clean it gently with a toothbrush, rinse and dry.
- If your brushes are tightly packed with hair, use a pair of scissors to cut it away or you could spend hours trying to lift it out. Just make sure you aren’t cutting any bristles.
- Know when to replace your styling tools. If anything is no longer in good shape, rather replace it. The last thing you want is for a broken tool to cause serious damage to your hair.
In terms of how often you should clean your hair styling tools, keeping your brushes free of hair should be done on a weekly basis. For everything else, aim to clean at least two to three times a year.