The Beginner's Guide to Cleaning a Shaving Brush

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 27, 2021 References Tested

Brushes for wet shaving work great for making a thick lather of cream, but they get filled with dried gunk and residue the more you use them. If you want to keep your shaving brush in good condition so it lasts the longest, there are a few easy things you can do to clean it. We know you’re probably wondering how to maintain your brush, so keep reading to find the answers to your most common questions!

Question 1

Question 1 of 7:
What can I use to clean my shaving brush?

1
Clarifying shampoo works to get rid of build-up on the brush’s base. Look for a shampoo that has the word “clarifying” on the packaging since it works better to strip off residue. Wet the brush with lukewarm water and squeeze a coin-sized amount of the shampoo onto the bristles. Gently rub the shampoo in with your hands until you’ve completely lathered the brush. Then rinse all of the shampoo out from the bristles until the water runs clear.^{[1]
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- Clarifying shampoo works on both natural and synthetic brushes.
- Be careful not to press or pull the bristles with a lot of force since you could make them fall out.
2
Gentle dish soap with water is a good choice if you don’t have shampoo. Fill a glass or bowl with warm water from your sink and squirt 2–3 drops of your dish soap into it. Set the brush in the container so the bristles are submerged and let it soak for 10–15 minutes. Then, spin the brush to make the soap suds up. After that, just rinse the soap out with clean warm water.^{[2]
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- Avoid using any water that’s hotter than 120 °F (49 °C) since it could loosen the bristles and damage the brush.^{[3]
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3
Warm water and white vinegar break apart hard water scale. Combine 1 part white distilled vinegar with 9 parts warm water in a glass or bowl and mix it together thoroughly. Place the bristles in the vinegar solution so the water level reaches where they connect to the handle. Let your brush soak for about 10 minutes before rinsing the solution out with warm water.^{[4]
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- If you still see stuck-on residue, gently scrub it off with a soft toothbrush following the direction of the bristles.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 7:
How do I make my shaving brush softer?

1
Lather hair conditioner onto your brush after washing it. You can use any standard conditioner regardless of whether your brush is natural or synthetic. Wet the brush under warm water and work a coin-sized amount of the conditioner into the bristles with your hands.^{[5]
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Research source} Leave the conditioner in the bristles for about 5 minutes before rinsing it out with warm water.^{[6]
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Question 3

Question 3 of 7:
How do I dry a shaving brush?

1
Squeeze the brush with a towel. Only dry your brush off after rinsing it out until the water runs clear. Hold the brush over your sink and gently wring out the bristles with your hand to get rid of a majority of the water. Then wrap a clean, dry towel around the bristles and give it a few more squeezes until it feels dry.^{[7]
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2
Always hang the brush with the bristles face down until it’s completely dry. Even if you’ve wrung out the bristles, they’re still holding a little bit of water. Put the brush onto a stand so the bristles are pointing down but not touching the surface below them. Place the brush in a well-ventilated area, like near an open window, so the brush has a chance to dry out.^{[8]
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- Avoid storing your brush in a container or cabinet while it’s still wet, or else you could loosen the glue holding the bristles to the handle.
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Question 4

Question 4 of 7:
What do I do if the bristles are tangled?

1
Gently comb the bristles to remove snags and knots. Use a wide-toothed comb so the bristles don’t get caught between the teeth and pull out. Work the comb through the ends of the bristles slowly to straighten them out. If you hit a snag or tangle, don’t force the comb through it. Instead, gently run the comb along the bristles to work the tangle apart.^{[9]
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Question 5

Question 5 of 7:
Should I rinse a shaving brush after using it?

1
Yes, rinse out all of the soap to prevent residue and build-up. Don’t leave the leftover lather on the bristles since it will cause the bristles to stiffen up and will be more difficult to use later on. Instead, run the bristles under lukewarm water from your faucet and gently squeeze them with your hands to rinse them out. Continue rinsing the brush until the water runs clear.^{[10]
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Question 6

Question 6 of 7:
How often should I clean my shaving brush?

1
Do a deep clean at least once a month. Rinsing your brush after each shave is usually enough to keep it clean day-to-day. Whenever you notice the bristles aren’t as pliable as they used to be or when the brush looks visibly dirty, then take a few minutes to wash it with your shampoo or dish soap.^{[11]
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- Leaving your brush dirty can lead to broken or shed bristles.

Question 7

Question 7 of 7:
How often should I replace my shaving brush?

1
Shaving brushes last around 10 years if you take care of them. Your brush’s lifespan depends on how often you use it and how well you maintain it. As long as you rinse and dry your brush every day, and clean it when it’s noticeably dirty, you’ll be able to use it for years to come.^{[12]
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- Keep multiple shaving brushes to cycle through so you can maintain their lifespans for longer.
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Warnings

Avoid using boiling hot water to clean your brush since you could loosen the adhesive holding the bristles to the handle.^{[13]
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Don’t push the bristles down because you’ll ruin the shape of the brush.^{[14]
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