You’ve been cleaning your hairbrush all wrong – clever hack using toothbrush and shampoo makes it like new

NEXT time you have a bad hair day, don’t begin searching for a new salon or expensive new product – the culprit may be your hairbrush.

If your hair has been more tangled than normal or seems to be getting greasy fast, you may be cleaning your hairbrush the wrong way.

The team behind Tangle Teezer shared tips that are specific to its line of brushes, but could also work for any hard-bristled detangling brush.

Not only is the method super simple, but it doesn’t require you to buy any special tools, instead you just make use of products already in your bathroom.

MIX YOUR SECRET FORMULA

Start off by pulling any matted hair from the brush and tossing it in the trash.

Because your brush likely has buildup from hair products and your natural body oils, you need to clean it with something specially formulated to cut through both.

Yep – grab a bottle of shampoo.

A clarifying formula is great for an even deeper clean, but whatever you have on hand will be fine.

In a bowl, mix up a solution of warm water and a little bit of shampoo.

BRUSH YOUR ‘TEETH’

Then, using an old, clean toothbrush, brush the “teeth” of the hairbrush just like you would your own.

The best method is to dip the toothbrush in the solution, then scrub along the base, bristles, and handle of the brush.

RINSE AND REPEAT

After you give the brush a good scrub, repeat the process with the toothbrush and plain water to rinse it.

Make sure that all the shampoo solution has been removed, and wipe the back of the brush and the handle clean, too.

DRY AWAY

Then allow the brush to dry, bristle up, or use the “cool” setting on your hairdryer to blow all the excess water away.

Introducing water to your brush opens the door to mold and mildew, so you’ll need to use it sparingly.

It’s one thing to use a brush on wet hair, but soaking your brush in an attempt to get it clean might make matters worse, especially if you don’t dry it adequately.

There’s one caveat to the advice.

If you use a natural boar-bristle brush, or a brush with a rubber cushion, and you’ll need to be extra sure that your brush dries completely before use.