Is your hairbrush a nasty nest of bacteria that makes your roots greasy?

If you’re used to freeing your brush from the rag that collects there, congratulations: this preventive gesture helps keep this accessory healthy. On the other hand, it may be that this habit is not enough to guarantee the total sanitization of your accessory.

Updated article, originally published March 9, 2021

The hairbrush is an accessory that has been following us for several years and whose use is almost daily. This is why it is important for the health of the hair that it is perfectly clean when it comes into contact with the scalp. Do you think removing the hair that collects there is enough? Sadly not… And it was through a TikTok video posted by a certain Jessica Haizman that we got to see how a hairbrush could be a veritable nest of bacteria.

In the sequence, the tiktokeuse followed by more than a million people arrives to deposit her brush in water, baking soda and a few drops of shampoo after having previously got rid of the hair that has collected in it.

What was his surprise when the clear clear water has started to turn brown/gray – after few minutes!

To give context, the TikTokeuse takes the floor and assures:

“That’s why it’s important to wash your hairbrush regularly. FYI, I don’t have any dyes and use very few products.”

@jessicahaizman

I am alone? Did you know that was a thing? #deepclean #deepcleaning #cleaning #cleantok #hairbrush #nasty #disgusting #gross #cleanwithme #fyp #trend

♬ Rasputin (single version) – Boney M.

Why are hairbrushes so dirty?

According to the American hairdresser Dawn Clemens, interviewed by the webzine Byrdie : “Your hairbrush contains bacteria and dust that build up daily”.

A problematic addition as sebum, micro-particles of pollution and even dead cells create a cocktail of germs thus becoming an environment conducive to hair problems. Because staying on the brush you use every day for several weeks, this explosive mixture can cause scalp irritation, clog hair follicles and even cause rashes, according to the hairdresser.

Result? The roots become greasy faster and the hair starts to break. Because just like the skin, the pores of the scalp also need to be clean in order to breathe!

But that is not all! Yeasts like Malassezia (which lives naturally in our bodies) can proliferate due to an inflammatory reaction and cause seborrheic dermatitis. The latter is manifested by redness, itching and above all the appearance of scaly, yellow, greasy and scaly patches. we’d be fine…

Is your hairbrush a nasty nest of bacteria that makes your roots greasy? — @MikhailNilov

How often should you clean your hairbrush?

On average, according to Jean Louis David, it is recommended to wash the brush every week to rid him completely of all his impurities. While it’s true that this gesture represents a further constraint in our lives marked by various responsibilities, it remains essential for the well-being of your scalp!

If you can’t keep up with this pace, don’t panic. cleaning once a month is already better than nothingalthough this rate remains below the recommendations issued by professionals.

When should you change your hairbrush?

When the hairbrush becomes too dirty and difficult to clean, unfortunately it’s a sign that it’s time to change it! But at what pace? Dawn Clemens is very clear on the subject:

“If your brush is so dirty that you can’t get hair and lint inside, it’s time to replace it. I suggest you do every six to twelve months, especially if it’s a plastic or rubber hairbrush. Likewise, if you have a boar bristle brush, it should be replaced every six months. »

This is a novelty that will completely change the way we style our hair, and ours too!