Is your hair straightener brush looking a little worse for wear? Don’t let product buildup and debris compromise your styling tool or your hair!
Our hot hair tools all get dirty, including our hairdryers, hot irons and hair straightening brushes.
You need to keep your hair straightener brush clean as possible, for the best results, and to prevent both damage to your hair and damage to the hair straightening brush.
I’m going to give you some helpful tips on how to clean your hair straightener brush, without risking any damage, so you can keep the tool working the best it can, without causing unwanted heat damage.
Benefits Of Using A Hair Straightener Brush
I have used a hair straightener for twenty years now, after discovering the magic of ghd hair straighteners, after spending my early teens using those awful hot irons or hair crimpers that you’d fill with water to cook your hair.
When you use a hair straightener brush, they offer the detangling benefits of a hair brush, but with the smoothing effect of a traditional hair straightener, which will cut your styling time in half.
Hair straightening brushes have ceramic plates (which is what gets hot to straighten your hair), and the ceramic plates distribute the heat evenly, to reduce the risk of damage, to give you a sleek, frizz-free finish.
These straightening brushes also give you adjustable temperature settings, which cater for your specific hair type, allowing you to straighten, wave or curl your hair with the one single too.
Why Do Hot Hair Straightening Brushes Get Dirty?
Whenever you use your hair straightening brush through your hair, it will inevitably pick up product residue (from styling products or heat protection sprays), natural oils and dirt, and these build-up on the bristles, and also the hot plates too.
Unlike a conventional flat iron, a straightening brush has more contact with your hair and scalp, so it is inclined to pick up styling products you use, like gels, sprays and creams.
The heat from the hair straightening brush bakes this residue into the surface, to create stubborn buildup, which will reduce the efficacy, potentially damage the tool, and potentially damage your hair too.
Bacteria thrives in this residue. Gross fact, but, studies have shown that dirty hot hair tools can harbor thousands of bacteria per square inch, which you are then spreading to your hair and scalp.
How To Clean Your Hair Straightener Brush
If you want to clean your brush, turn it on, on the lowest heat setting you have for a couple of minutes, so it warms up the grime on the plates, to help loosen the build-up.
Turn your hair straightener brush off, and ensure you let the plates cool down until it’s warm, and no longer hot – obviously turning it off, before you touch it.
Next, gently wipe the bristles and plates with a damp paper towel, making sure it’s moist but not dripping – this helps lift away residue without risking burns or moisture damage.
Grab a soft toothbrush and gently scrub the brisles and plates, and this won’t harm the brush in any way.
How To Prevent Build-Up On Your Hair Straightening Brush
Never use your hair straightening brush on dirty or greasy hair.
Styling products you use, natural oils in your hair and dirt will accumulate on the brush and plates, and you don’t want to damage the tool or your hair.
After each use, wipe the brush’s bristles and plates with a damp cloth while they’re still warm, but not hot, to dislodge any residue before it hardens and sets.
Make it a habit to deep clean your tool every two weeks using gentle, natural agents like lemon juice or warm soapy water.
Don’t ever use chemicals or stiff brushes, as you don’t want to scratch or damage the plates, and if you can, store your hair straightener brush in a dust bag or zip-up storage bag, to prevent a build-up of dust.