How To Clean A Boar Hair Brush: A Step-By-Step Guide

A dirty boar hair brush does you more harm than good. If you want to know how to clean a boar hair brush and maintain it properly, check out our article!

One of the secrets to lustrous, healthy hair is investing in a pure boar bristle brush. It evenly distributes scalp oils from roots all the way to the ends of hair strands.

Yet, like many things in life, boar hair brushes require good taking care and maintenance. This article shows you how to clean a boar hair brush correctly and when to toss it.

Why Should You Clean Your Boar Hair Brush? 

Boar bristle brushes trap all kinds of residue, both from your head and the outside environment. 

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, normal people can shred around 50-100 hair strands per day, many of which are likely to get stuck in the bristles of your brush.

Hair-styling products like gels or hairspray will transfer from your hair to the bristles every time you brush your hair. Not to mention that dust particles, bacteria, yeast, or other grime in the atmosphere will make their way into the brush over time. 

That’s why you should clean your bristle brush regularly. We bet you don’t want to brush these hair and grime buildup back on top of your clean hair. These dirty clings-on carry bacteria that can cause scalp irritation and swelling. 

For those having dandruff, which results from the reaction of the skin and yeast, using a dirty hair brush will introduce more yeast to the scalp and worsen the conditions. To simply put, a dirty boar hair brush means dirty hair and scalp, so cleaning is, hands down, non-negotiable.

How To Clean A Boar Hair Brush

Prepare The Essential Things

Before cleaning the boar bristle brush, need to prepare:

• A rat-tail comb/ A wide-tooth comb
• A small tooth brush
• Dry cotton towel
• Liquid soap or shampoo, preferably sulfate-free or natural cleanser. It can be shampoo you use to wash your hair or a shower gel as long as it is gentle.
• Warm and cold water
• Container that can fit the hair brush
• A scissor (optional)

Steps To Clean A Boar Hair Brush

Step 1: Removes Hair and Things Stuck on The Comb 

You should remove all the hair, gunk, and other visible buildup stuck in the brush before washing it.

It’s possible to get to it using your hands and fingers, but if there’s hair or debris that you can’t reach, use the toothed comb to rake out the bits of gunk and hair. 

Gently walk your brush from the roots of the bristles towards the ends. Be cautious, though, as you can pull the bristles out with force.

If the hair is too tangled to remove, use a scissor and cut them off. Add some shampoo as a lubricant and use the comb to take them out.

Step 2: Mix Cleaning Mixture

Pour warm water into the container and then add some drops of shampoo to it.

Prepare water based on the bristles’ material and the handle. For a handle made of wood and soft cushion, you only need enough water to soak the bristles, not the entire brush.

Remember that the water should be warm since it can clean oils off the hair brush better than cold water. Lather up the shampoo to clean away any dust, residue, or product buildup. 

If you don’t want to submerge your brush into water, you could use a spray bottle for the job.

First, pour some water into the bottle and add some drops of shampoo. Give it a shake and then spray the cleaner to your brush. Finally, scrub the dirt buildup off using the toothbrush.

Step 3: Dip The Brush 

For a boar hair brush with a plastic handle, simply soak the entire brush into the soapy solution and give it a thorough clean.

If your brush has a wooden handle or fabric pad, however, you should avoid submerging it. In such a case, fill the container with only enough water for the bristle parts. 

Put the brush face down into the soap rinse to make sure only the bristles are submerged in the water, not the pad and handle. You don’t want to introduce any water into the wooden part as it will cause mold and damage the brush.

Trapped water and pad create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, which will spread all over your head the next time you use the brush. Soaking the brush completely also causes an unpleasant smell when it’s still wet.

Swirl it around several times and then soak the bristles in for around 10 minutes. Wait for the soapy water to do its magic.

Let the boar hair brush in the water for a while. Then, lift it off and gently rub the tooth brush against boar hair to get rid of dust and mineral buildup just like washing your hair. Soak it again in the solution for the remaining time.

Step 4: Wash The Brush 

Clean the soapy container and fill it with cold to lukewarm water. Put the brush inside and swirl it around for a few times.

Next, use cool to lukewarm water to dip the brush and swirl it around a few times.

Doing so will further take off any dirt or grime that has been loosened by soapy water. Again, only let the bristles get into the water if your brush has a cushion pad or wooden handle. 

If your boar bristle brush is plastic, you can feel free to fully submerge it or rinse it under running water.

You may want to add a few drops of essential oils to the cold water for the second rinse. It gives your hair brush a pleasant scent.

Step 5: Dry The Brush

Run hands or the comb through the boar bristles again to check if there’s any remaining hair or dirt on the brush. Shake out excess water, and then wipe the brush with a dry cotton towel. 

It is important to face your brush bristle-side down while letting it dry out completely before putting it back into the drawer. 

Natural boar bristles tend to soak up water; thus, it might take longer to dry than synthetic bristles. Your boar hair brush should look as good as new once it’s dry. 

If there’s any strange smell emitting from the boar brush, there’s no need to fuss over it as it will vanish when the brush is completely dry. 

Tips On Cleaning & Maintaining A Boar Hair Brush

In addition to periodic cleaning, you also need to properly maintain your boar hair brush to ensure it’s always in good condition. Below are a few important things you should keep in mind:

• Once you finish styling your hair, you should take your time to get rid of hair strands stuck on the brush. You won’t have to deal with too much hair and gunk buildup the next time you clean it.
• If you often use gel, cream, or hairspray, your brush might get dirty faster and calls for more frequent cleaning. 
• Avoid directly applying or spraying styling products to the hair brush
• Do not clean your brush with harsh detergents, barbicide, or ammonia, as these chemicals will damage it. 
• Avoid exposing your brush to direct heat, such as sunlight and hair dryer, which can easily damage the natural boar hair. 

How Often Should You Clean A Boar Bristle Brush?

There’s no hard and fast rule regarding how often you should clean your boar bristle brush.

If you use your brush regularly, it’s best to give it a thorough clean once or twice a week. For those with long hair, we recommend cleaning more frequently.

Once you see residue form on the boar bristles, it’s time to give it a rinse. 

In addition to cleaning the brush weekly, it is advisable to be observant and remove any hairs regularly for easier cleaning. 

When Should We Replace A New One?

The general rule of thumb is to replace your boar bristle brush every 6 months.

However, it still depends on your hair type, the hair care products you use, the quality of the brush itself, and how frequently you use it. Due to various factors affecting how long a boar bristle brush can last, you should keep an eye on any signs of a damaged brush. 

The clear signs are that the bristles start to curl or go missing.

Missing bristles make it trickier for you to get the style you want, so you might notice that you will need more heat or spend more time brushing again and again. So, if over 10 percent of bristles come off the hair brush, we suggest you get a replacement.

Bent bristles of a boar hair brush can wreak havoc on your hair strands by catching and ripping them. Thus, when your brush starts to catch your hair, you should toss it.

There are many dirty clings-on in the bristles, making it impossible to clean it as you can before. You’d better off stop cleaning and give up on the dirty brush, either. If the brush has cracked or too squishy cushion pads, you should keep using it, too.  

Last Words

It’s important to know how to clean a boar hair brush so you can get the most out of it. What is building up in the brush is loose hair, but it consists of a caked-on product, dust, bacteria, and yeast. 

A dirty brush does more harm than good: it makes your hair look greasy and weighed down, not to mention the potential skin irritation and itchiness. So, make it your habit to take off the hair from the brush after each use and clean it throughout at least once a week. 

Also, consider replacing a new boar hair brush every 6 months, or when you notice any signs mentioned above. A clean and undamaged boar brush will keep your hair healthy and shiny.