For Happier Hair: Clean Your Hairbrush
Does your hair snarl or get tangled or snap when you are brushing? It may not be a hair problem, but a hairbrush problem.
When was the last time you cleaned your hairbrush? If it has been awhile, it is due. Oil and other residue and debris from your hair and scalp can collect on the bristles and at the base of the bristles of your hairbrush. That accumulated junk maybe clogging the brush action causing strands of hair to tangle together.
Simple Things
Simple things make a difference –
• Cleaning a hairbrush for smoother brushing.
• Washing the dishes for a wearied mom.
• A friendly smile for the clerk at the grocery store.
• A kiss for a spouse, because they’re there.
• A “love you” to a child, off to school.
• Water and soaping to hygiene hands.
• Breathing deeply and relaxing in a moment.
So many simple things make a difference,
when we take the time.
©2024 Carl Scott Harker, author of The Happy Cat
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How do you know if your brush is dirty? First, do the bristles feel oily, then they probably are. You can also run a comb through the thick bristles of the brush towards the base and see what appears on the comb. Don’t be surprised if the is some “brush lint!”
Cleaning your brush is easy. I use a boar bristle hairbrush* and this is what I recommend.
1. Comb the bristles with you standard comb to remove accumulated “brush lint.”
2. Soak the the hairbrush fibers in a soapy bowl of water for a few minutes. Then rinse the bristles in warm to hot water. Note that you can get away with not giving your hair brush a soapy soak, if you are in a. hurry and just do the hot water rinse.
3. Flick the remaining water from fibers, by flicking your wrist down towards the sink. To completely dry the brush, then use paper towels and wipe through the bristles down, between bundles of fibers down to the base until the paper towel comes up dry.
You are no ready for a smoother, more tangle free hair brushing!
FYI: Hairbrushes have been in use since the days of the ancient Egyptians. Brushes have been made from wood and bone, as well as bamboo. They have been adorned with tortoise shell, gold or silver and jewels, and mother of pearl. Today many brushes are made of plastic with synthetic bristles and come in a variety of styling forms. Still, I love my basic bamboo handle, boar bristle brush!
*Boar bristle brushes are made with natural bristles that help distribute natural oils throughout the hair, making them ideal for fine or straight hair. They are gentle on the scalp and can help reduce frizz (especially when clean!).
