A specialist in hair care has emphasized the importance of regularly cleaning your hairbrush, likening it to any other essential step in your hair care routine. While discovering the right products and methods for your hair can be a challenge, once you find what works for you, it can give you a sense of empowerment. Neglecting to clean your hairbrush for extended periods can hinder your progress unknowingly.
Clodagh Egan, a trained trichologist known on TikTok as @clodaghhaircare, highlighted the significance of maintaining clean hairbrushes to prevent hair loss. She warned that the accumulation of bacteria on brushes from dead skin cells and dirt can lead to irritation of the hair follicle and eventually result in hair loss.
According to the NHS, hair loss can have various causes, and losing 50 to 100 hairs daily is considered normal. While occasional hair loss is typically nothing to worry about, it can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition, with certain types of hair loss being permanent, such as male and female pattern baldness.
Clodagh emphasized the risk of using a dirty brush, even though extreme cases are rare. She noted that unclean hairbrushes can contribute to greasy hair as the grease from the hair can transfer onto the brush and back onto the hair during washing. Clodagh recommended washing hairbrushes at least once a month, possibly more frequently if you have fewer brushes.
Her cleaning method involves soaking the brushes overnight in a mixture of water and detoxing shampoo, with baking soda added for additional cleaning power. Baking soda’s high pH value makes it effective in removing organic materials, while its slight abrasiveness helps in cleaning without causing scratches. Normal shampoo is then used to complete the cleaning process.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your hairbrush remains clean and free from harmful buildup, promoting healthier hair and scalp.