With the change of season well upon us, and autumn vibes ‘falling’ into our wardrobe and overall style palette, now’s the perfect time to give your brushes and bristles a fabulous freshen up to get your hair hygiene in tip top shape for winter!
Consultant Trichologist, Eva Proudman FIT IAT (founder of UK Hair Consultants and a Fellow of the Institute of Trichologists) is one of the UK’s leading hair and scalp specialists and, as such, is often asked about when – and how often – to replace and refresh a brush (whatever the length, style and texture of your hair).
So here, as we start to wrap up warm for winter, Eva shares a gentle reminder about the importance of keeping a ‘clean comb’ and making sure your styling tools are always fuzz-free!
“Many patients ask me why fuzz and lint build up in their brushes. Well, put simply, this is due to the fact that the hair and scalp attract, dust, debris and dead skin cells which, when you brush your hair, come away and are deposited into the brush. Our hair contains natural oils called sebum that also deposits onto the brush, making it sticky so that debris can build up very easily.
“Styling products may may also come away onto the brush, adding further to the build-up of ‘fuzz’.”
“I’m also asked how often you should wash your brush. Basically, be sure to pull out any hairs that have come out onto the bristles as you notice them and generally, just take care to keep it clean and free from debris. Once a week, give your hairbrushes a wash using a small amount of your regular shampoo (no special products required!) to remove any build up, oils or hair product. Wet the brush in warm water and massage some shampoo through it to wash away the build up and then dry off gently with a towel. It honestly is as simple as that – but you’ll really notice the difference!”
“And, in terms of replacing your hairbrush, it really does vary according to the type of tool you’re using, but in general, as soon as you notice any loss of bristles or breakage you should replace the brush. A brush with widely spaced bristles is always kinder to the hair as it causes less damaging friction [friction can cause breakage especially in the winter months or when combing through wet hair] – so why not treat yourself in the run up to the party season. There’s no point in putting off the purchase – it just won’t ‘perform’ as well for you and, in my opinion, your hair deserves better!”