How to effectively clean a comb

Keeping your scalp and hair healthy requires a clean comb. Bacteria can grow on your comb as a result of product buildup, oil, and dirt accumulation over time. Maintaining the best possible appearance of your hair is another benefit of routine cleaning in addition to hygiene.

Although cleaning your comb might seem easy, doing it correctly can have a significant impact. Understanding the proper cleaning methods will guarantee that your comb, whether it is made of plastic, wood, or metal, remains in excellent condition. We’ll walk you through quick and simple ways to clean your comb in this post so you can use it every time and have a brand-new experience.

Why and how often to clean combs

Sebum residue accumulates on the teeth after each comb use. Consequently, dust and other dirt particles are drawn to the resulting greasy film, which fosters the growth of bacteria.

Apart from the fact that using a clean tool is much more enjoyable than using a dirty one, thorough comb cleaning

• Helps hair stay clean longer. If there is a greasy film on the teeth, your hair gets dirty every time you comb it. If you wash the device in a timely manner, you can keep your curls clean a little longer;
• Extends the service life of the product. Constant contamination spoils the outer coating of the comb, and it quickly becomes unusable;
• Removes particles of styling products. They, just like sebum, attract particles of dust and dirt, then transferring them to your hair.

Washing the comb once a week is sufficient to keep it clean; if you frequently use mousses, gels, and foams for styling, you should wash it two or three times a week. Certain procedures require washing right away, such as combing hair that has had oil applied to it.

Don’t forget to regularly replace the comb in addition to washing everything methodically. Ideally, once every six to twelve months. Replacement will eventually be required because, no matter how often you wash it, you will not be able to completely eradicate all bacteria from the accessory. Additionally, the tool generally wears out; burrs and cracks show, the coating fades, and the teeth break. The type of comb, the material it is made of, and the type of dirt all affect the cleaning plan itself.

How to clean a comb from different types of dirt

From hair

It is advised to remove hair after every brushing, but it is not always simple to do so because the hairs become tangled in between the teeth and are difficult to grasp.

Use the following to make hair removal easier:

• A flat comb with frequent teeth – run it along the working part of the comb in different directions, and it will collect all the hairs;
• With a toothpick or a canape skewer – the thin shelf easily maneuvers between even frequent teeth and helps remove hard-to-reach hair. This method is especially good for massage brushes with thick natural or synthetic bristles;
• With a toothbrush. If there is enough space between the teeth, remove the hair with a toothbrush – frequent bristles capture fragments of hair shafts well.

The first step in cleaning the comb should be cleaning the hair if you intend to do a thorough cleaning.

From pellets

Hair, dust, and sebum particles tangle around teeth, forming "pills" on the comb. Getting rid of them with your fingers can be quite challenging, particularly if the brush is a massage brush that has balls on the teeth.

How to remove pellets from the comb:

• With a toothpick. Pry the pellet with the sharp end of the toothpick so that it breaks;
• With manicure scissors. In this case, the pellets can be cut, but most often it is enough to pry with a sharp end to break the integrity of the pellets.

If the pellets that have formed around the teeth aren’t easily removed with running water, you can use a toothbrush to clean the comb.

From dust and dirt

Even without the use of detergents or disinfectants, dust and dirt are easily removed with running water if they are not combined with sebum and styling product residues. Immersion in a soap solution or alcohol-based cleaning, followed by a quick rinse under running water, are the best options.

This will clear the air of dust and dissolve any remaining tough dirt, styling product, or invisible fat particles.

From grease and plaque

When fat and dust settle on the surface, a white coating is frequently formed. Because it cannot dissolve sebum, washing it off with regular water will be impossible.

How to remove plaque and oil from a comb:

• With shampoo, liquid soap. Shampoo and liquid soap contain surfactants that successfully cope with fat removal. If the material of the tool allows, soak it in a soap solution for 30-60 minutes, and then carry out mechanical cleaning with your hands, a sponge or a toothbrush. This option is not suitable for wooden models;
• Alcohol solution. 70% alcohol copes well with removing greasy plaque. A plastic comb can be soaked, and a wooden or metal one can be wiped. It is not recommended to immerse metal tools in regular alcohol, as it can cause premature rust.

Girls frequently mistake white plaque for a top layer of the coating that is peeling and cracked; this occasionally occurs with cheap plastic combs. Such a "plaque" will not be cleaned, so your best bet is to discard the product.

A comb needs to be thoroughly cleaned by removing hair and debris, soaking it in warm, soapy water, and then gently cleaning it with an old toothbrush to get rid of any buildup. Before using it again, give it a thorough rinse and let it air dry completely. This easy regimen prolongs the life of your comb and keeps it hygienic and clean.

Cleaning combs made of different materials

Every comb available for purchase today is separated into:

• Wooden;
• Metal;
• Plastic;
• Tourmaline, bone.

Every material has unique cleaning properties, so you must approach the method selection process with consideration for the material’s properties.

Wooden

Wooden combs can be difficult to clean because they need to be carefully maintained and are very fickle when it comes to moisture. It is not advised to soak the tool because moisture will cause the wood to become wet and may result in tiny splinters and cracks.

The following is how to clean a wooden comb:

1. First, rinse the tool under running water. Do not do this longer than 1-2 minutes. At this stage, surface water-soluble contaminants will be washed off – particles of hair, dust, dandruff;
2. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol or a disinfectant solution and carefully wipe each tooth;
3. Take a new cotton pad and repeat the procedure a second time.

Metal

Products made of metal can easily tolerate temperature changes and solution immersion. They are resistant to all forms of processing.

Cleaning a metal comb:

1. Remove all hairs remaining between the teeth, rinse the tool under warm running water to remove surface dirt;
2. 1.5 h. l. any washing powder dilute in a glass of warm water, mix thoroughly and immerse a metal comb in the resulting solution for 30-60 minutes;
3. After the time has elapsed, remove the instrument and rinse it thoroughly with running water to wash off the remaining soapy water;
4. Dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Since metal tools are prone to rust, it is not recommended to leave them to dry on their own.

Baking soda, like powder, dissolves sebum granules that have settled on the surface, so it’s also useful for cleaning metal combs.

How to use soda to clean a comb:

1. Clean the tool from external contaminants with clean water;
2. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to collect a little soda and start cleaning the entire working surface and teeth. If the brush is too hard, small scratches may remain on the surface, where particles of grease and dust will subsequently clog;
3. After complete cleaning, wash off the soda and dry the comb with a paper towel.

Plastic

Similar to metal combs, plastic combs can withstand moisture and thus be soaked in detergents and disinfectants. However, the most common way to clean plastic items is to use one of the following products:

• Ammonia. Wipe all parts of the tool with a cotton pad soaked in ammonia. This option will help when you need to quickly clean a massage brush;
• Shampoo or baby soap. You can make a concentrated soap solution – 1-2 tablespoons per glass of water and soak the device in it for 30-40 minutes, or mechanically clean it with a sponge or toothbrush using shampoo or soap;
• Shampoo with vinegar. Make a solution of a liter of water, two tablespoons of shampoo and 3 tbsp. l. 9% vinegar. Immerse the comb in the solution for 10-15 minutes, and then mechanically clean it in the same solution with a toothbrush.

From tourmaline, bones and horn

A mineral stone called tourmaline is sold far less frequently than items made of metal, plastic, or wood, as well as bones and horns.

If you own one of these products, you can clean the comb by:

• Soda – mechanical cleaning with a toothbrush or soaking in a soda solution;
• Alcohol – wiping with a cotton swab;
• Vinegar – soaking in a solution of 2 tbsp. l. 9% vinegar per liter of water;
• Soap solution – soaking for 30-60 min.

Cleaning combs of different shapes

Massage

The challenge in cleaning a massage comb is not so much in the cleaning process per se, but rather in the product’s subsequent drying. The truth is that the massage brush’s design permits moisture to enter tight spaces, like beneath the rubber base where the teeth are inserted. Mold may grow in the massager if it hasn’t been dried out sufficiently, and moisture in general encourages the growth of bacteria.

Cleaning a massage comb:

1. Carefully remove all hair using your hands, a toothpick, a skewer;
2. Wipe all parts with alcohol – each tooth, the lining itself, the body;
3. Change the cotton pad and repeat the previous step.

Should you choose to soak the combs any longer, consider the material of the teeth and body when doing so, and make sure they are thoroughly dried afterwards. You can use a hair dryer for your own peace of mind; make sure to blow warm or cold air into the tool thoroughly, especially in areas where water can build up.

Comb

Cleaning-wise, combs and simple combs of any kind—with or without a handle—are arguably the easiest. The comb can be wiped, cleaned, or soaked, depending on the material.

How to give a comb a cleaning:

• Wiping. With a cotton pad and ammonia, 70% alcohol. It is important to wipe each tooth, the handle, if there is one, and the butt – there are also particles of fat, dust and dirt accumulate there;
• Cleaning. Soda and a toothbrush;
• Soaking. In a solution of shampoo and ammonia, powder, liquid soap, laundry soap, vinegar – depending on the type of material.

Brushing

However, cleaning a round shape with a comb is a true nerve-wracking exercise. When hair falls out during styling, it is coiled around the entire area and is very difficult to remove quickly, especially with your fingers.

Brushing comb cleaning instructions:

1. To remove hair – use tweezers. It is convenient to pick up hair and pull it out;
2. Rinse the tool thoroughly under running water;
3. Soak in soapy or other solution. Wiping the brush is a practically useless exercise, since the design provides for many small bristles that are physically impossible to wipe properly, so only soaking.

What is suitable for soaking in combing brushes:

• In a solution of washing powder – 1.5 hours. l. on a glass of water;
• In a solution of shampoo and with the addition of ammonia – a liter of water, 3 tbsp. l. shampoo, 5 drops of alcohol;
• In vinegar – per liter of water 2 tbsp. vinegar 9%.

Make sure to dry the tool completely after cleaning; if the round comb’s inside is closed, this can be done like a massage with a hair dryer.

Cleaning and disinfection of professional combs

Professional combs used in beauty and hair salons need to be able to resist being submerged in a disinfectant solution. Both plastic and metal products work well for these uses, but it’s best to avoid using wooden tools.

How to clean combs used in hairdressing:

1. Rinse the tools under running water after a single use;
2. Place the combs in a disinfectant solution that is used for fungal diseases;
3. Leave for the time specified in the instructions;
4. Remove from the solution and dry.

Depending on the drug being used, the exposure duration and solution concentration vary. For alaminol, for instance, a 5% solution diluted with immersion for 60 minutes is used.

Questions

How should a comb with natural bristles be cleaned?

Natural bristle brushes are a practical but meticulous accessory. It needs to be carefully cleaned to prevent tearing out the bristles, and this must be done on a regular basis. It’s best to use a shampoo and ammonia mixture for washing; use three tablespoons of shampoo and five drops of ammonia per liter of water. After 10 minutes of immersion in this solution, the bristle portion of the comb is rinsed with a sponge or a piece of microfiber.

How can I use shaving foam to clean a comb? I saw this technique somewhere.

In this instance, a thick layer of shaving foam or gel is applied to the comb’s surface and left for fifteen minutes. This method’s drawback is that it can only be applied to basic, non-massage combs; otherwise, the combs may break at the attachment point of the teeth or their base.

How is a tangle teezer comb cleaned?

Any comb, including janekes and tangle teezers, should be cleaned based on the material and design elements. For instance, wiping the massager and soaking the tangle teezer brush in a solution of soap or vinegar work well.

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Steps	Description
Remove Hair	Use a comb or your fingers to pull out any hair trapped in the bristles.
Soak in Warm Water	Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of shampoo or mild soap, then soak the comb for 10-15 minutes.
Scrub the Bristles	Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub between the bristles, removing any dirt or residue.
Rinse and Dry	Rinse the comb thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a towel or let it air dry.

Cleaning your comb on a regular basis is a straightforward but crucial chore that can significantly enhance the condition and look of your hair. Cleaning the comb after use keeps it clean and stops accumulated debris, oils, and hair product residue from getting back into your clean, freshly washed hair.

Shampoo, baking soda, and vinegar are common household items that can be used to clean your comb and prolong its life. Once a week, spend a few minutes cleaning your comb to keep your grooming supplies in good shape and continue to work well for you.

By adding this simple step to your routine, you’ll be able to maintain better general hygiene, which will benefit your scalp and hair. One easy way to keep your hair looking its best is to use a clean comb.

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