How to Clean a Hairbrush: A Step-By-Step Guide

Your hairbrush is one of the hardest-working tools in your haircare routine, helping to detangle, smooth and style your hair every day. Over time, however, loose hairs, styling products and everyday build-up can accumulate on the bristles, affecting your brush's performance. In this blog, Laura Elliott, Head of Education at Neäl & Wølf, shares everything you need to know about how to clean your hairbrush.

What You’ll Need

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Your hairbrush

• A bowl or sink

• Warm water

• A small amount of gentle shampoo

• A surface to stand the brush upright

• A towel

Step 1: Remove any loose hair

Before washing your hairbrush, remove any trapped hair from between the bristles - taking a few moments to do this before washing makes the cleaning process much more effective. For larger brushes like the HERØ Paddle Brush and HERØ Flexi Detangling Brush, simply lift away loose hairs by hand.

If you're cleaning one of the HERØ Ceramic Round Brushes (25mm, 34mm or 44mm), use the pin stored in the base of the handle to gently remove trapped hair from the bristles.

Step 2: Prepare your cleaning solution

Fill a bowl or sink with warm water and add a small amount of shampoo. We’d recommend using our DAILY Cleansing Shampoo, as the gentle cleansing formula helps lift away product residue and everyday build-up while also being suitable for regular cleaning.

Step 3: Soak Your Brush

Place the brush into the cleaning solution and leave it to soak for at least 10 minutes. Make sure that it is fully submerged, as this process allows the shampoo solution to loosen any remaining residue before you rinse.

Step 4: Rinse thoroughly

Once soaked, rinse your hairbrush thoroughly with clean water until all traces of shampoo have been removed. A thorough rinse helps ensure your brush is clean and ready for drying.

Step 5: Dry your hairbrush properly

Stand your brush upright, with the handle facing upwards, leaning it against a surface so any excess water can drain away instead of collecting inside the brush. Allow it to dry completely before using or storing it. Taking the time to dry your brush correctly helps keep it performing at its best for longer.

When should you clean your hairbrush?

Regular maintenance is the easiest way to keep your hairbrush in great condition. You should remove loose hairs from the bristles whenever you notice them building up. This only takes a few moments and helps your brush glide smoothly through the hair.

For a deeper clean, wash your brush regularly using warm water and shampoo. Routine cleaning helps maintain your brush's performance, removes product build-up and can help prolong its lifespan.

How often should you replace your hairbrush?

A high-quality hairbrush is designed to last for years when properly cared for, so replacing it shouldn't be part of your regular routine.

Instead, focus on keeping your brush clean by regularly removing trapped hair and washing it with warm water and shampoo. Routine maintenance helps preserve your brush's performance and keeps it looking its best.

However, even the best hairbrush won't last forever. It may be time to replace your brush if you notice:

• Bent, broken or missing bristles that no longer glide smoothly through the hair.

• A cracked or damaged handle that makes the brush uncomfortable to use.

• The cushion has lifted, split or no longer securely holds the bristles in place.

• Your brush no longer performs as well as it once did, even after a thorough clean.

The HERØ Hairbrush collection is crafted for long-lasting, professional performance, so with regular cleaning and proper care, your brush can remain a reliable part of your haircare routine for years to come.

Discover the HERØ Hairbrush collection

Now that you know how to care for your hairbrush, it's just as important to choose one that's suited to your hair type and styling routine.

Our HERØ Hairbrush collection has been designed to deliver professional performance at home, whether you're detangling after washing, smoothing everyday styles or creating salon-worthy blow-dries. Each brush has been carefully crafted with a specific purpose in mind, helping you achieve beautiful results while caring for your hair.

HERØ Paddle Brush

The HERØ Paddle Brush is your everyday styling essential. Suitable for all hair types, it's designed to gently detangle, smooth and style both wet and dry hair. Ionic nylon bristles help minimise static and flyaways, leaving hair looking sleek, soft and polished.

HERØ Flexi Detangling Brush

If knots are your biggest challenge, the HERØ Flexi Detangling Brush is the perfect solution. Its flexible design glides through wet or dry hair with less pulling, helping to minimise breakage while leaving hair feeling smoother and easier to manage. It's particularly well suited to fine, delicate and curly hair.

HERØ Ceramic Round Brushes

Available in 25mm, 34mm and 44mm sizes, the HERØ Ceramic Round Brushes are designed to help you create professional-quality blow-dries with ease. Each ceramic barrel distributes heat evenly to smooth the hair cuticle while adding shape, movement and shine.

• 25mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush – Ideal for shorter hair, fringes, defined curls and targeted root lift.

• 34mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush – A versatile all-round brush for creating soft curls, natural volume and smooth everyday blow-dries.

• 44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush – Perfect for medium to long hair, creating maximum volume, loose movement and sleek, bouncy finishes.

Still not sure how to go about cleaning your hairbrush? Watch this step by step video below from our Educator Chloe Whittle...

Video Credit: Instagram @chloewhittle_salon_promotions

Whichever HERØ brush you choose, regular cleaning and proper care will help it continue delivering gorgeous results for years to come. And whether you're detangling after washing, creating a sleek everyday style or perfecting a salon-worthy blow-dry, a clean brush is the perfect starting point. View our full range of brushes: HERØ Hairbrush Collection