It often gets forgotten about but cleaning your beard brush properly and regularly is pretty important to make sure your beard stays healthy.
If you don’t clean your beard brush, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and general dirt which then you then start to distribute the next time you brush your beard.
Not only is it important for hygiene reasons, but a clean beard brush will also help your brush last longer and continue to work effectively.
Here’s How You Can Clean Your Beard Brush:
1) Remove all the hair from the brush. The best way to do this is to use a comb to gently remove any knots and then any little bits you can even put it next to a vacuum cleaner, to get all the dirt out.
You might see the brush lose a few hairs, especially if it is a boar bristle brush (our personal recommendation) but this is pretty normal.
2) Rinse the brush under some warm water, making sure you get in all the bristles and work any dirt out. You can even use a mild that is natural soap if you want to be extra thorough to help rid of any excess dirt.
3) Shake off any excess water and then leave the brush to air dry at room temperature. It’s important not to put it in direct sunlight or anywhere too hot as this could damage the bristles.
And that’s it! Pretty simple right? Just make sure you do this at least once a fortnight and your brush will stay in top condition and help you keep your beard healthy and looking great!
You can pretty much do it as part of your general ‘getting ready routine’ every now and again, it really won’t take more than a few minutes to remove the excess and then leave it for the day to dry out properly.
How Often Should You Clean the Beard Brush?
Ideally, you should aim to clean the beard brush at least once a fortnight or at least once a month. This will help to get rid of any dirt or bacteria that might have built up on the bristles and also stop the brush from becoming damaged.
You may find that your brush is starting to smell bad, then it’s probably a sign that you should give it a clean. So a ‘sniff test is a good sign. Really it just depends on how often you are using the beard brush.
If like me you tend to only use it to distribute beard balm, which I save for the weekends then you’re not going to need to clean it as often as someone who uses it every day to style their beard.
But if you are using it daily, then once a week is probably a good idea, just give it a rinse under some water with maybe a tiny bit of soap to make sure all the dirt and products are removed from the bristles.
Looking After Your Beard Brush
They are all different so some come with a bit more maintenance than others. For instance, wood beard brushes often come with a natural oil coating which you need to periodically re-apply. Others advise keeping out of direct sunlight.
Check the manufacturer’s guidelines that come with your beard brush but as a rule of thumb treat it well, don’t leave it in water for too long, and make sure it is completely dry before storing it away.
With all types of brush, natural or synthetic, make sure you give it a good shake after each use to remove any loose hairs and dirt. And that’s about it!
Caring for your beard brush is really not that difficult, just be sure to do it regularly and as part of your routine. Your beard will thank you for it! You might even do it as you wash your beard, bringing it into the shower with you (I do that quite regularly).
Different Types of Beard Brushes
There are quite a few different types of beard brushes on the market and it can be confusing trying to figure out which one is best for you. In this section, we’ll go over the main types of beard brushes so you can make an informed decision about which one to buy.
- Boar Bristle Beard Brush
Definitely the most popular type of beard brush, the boar bristle brush is made from natural boar hair. The main benefit of using a boar bristle brush is that it helps to distribute the natural oils from your skin and beard evenly through your beard (this is because generally not all the bristles are uneven). This gives your beard a healthy shine and also helps to soften rough hairs.
The other advantage of using a boar bristle brush is that it can help to train your beard to grow in a certain direction and can also help to reduce frizz. Plus, there are claims that it can help stimulate beard growth as you are causing blood to rush to your face, again though I wouldn’t rely on this as a meaningful way to grow your beard other than your diet, lifestyle, and genetics.
- Horse Hair Beard Brush
Horsehair beard brushes are very similar to boar bristle brushes in terms of their construction and benefits. The main difference is that horsehair is a lot stiffer than boar bristles, so it can take a bit of getting used to if you are not used to using one.
That being said, they are still very effective at distributing oils and can help to reduce frizz and tame flyaway hairs. If you have a particularly unruly beard, then a horsehair brush might be a good option for you as the stiffer bristles can help to train your beard to grow in a certain direction.
- Synthetic Bristle Beard Brush
A vegan option, synthetic bristle beard brushes are made from nylon or other synthetic materials. The advantage of using a synthetic beard brush is that they are often a lot cheaper than natural options and can be just as effective
The main thing to look for with synthetic bristles is that they are not too stiff as this can damage your beard. Synthetic brushes are also often easier to clean than natural bristles as they don’t retain as much oil (both the natural oils that your body produces as well as any beard oil you might be using).
