How to Clean Hair Combs

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 References

Vinegar

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Shampoo

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Baking Soda

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Expert Q&A

As your hair combs fill up with old hair, dust, and hair product residue, they become less effective and can add dirt and germs to your freshly washed hair. ^{[1]
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Research source} Regularly cleaning your hair combs will help your hair looks its best.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Vinegar

1
Add vinegar to warm water. As another alternative to help clean your hair combs, you can add vinegar instead of shampoo. Pour a half cup of vinegar into a half cup of warm water and mix. ^{[2]
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2
Soak your hair combs for 15-20 minutes. Vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant and will allow your hair combs to become free of dust, dirt, and germs. Soak your hair combs in the vinegar/water mixture and allow the dirt and hair product build up to loosen.

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3
Rinse your hair combs thoroughly. After soaking, rinse with warm water. You want to make sure the vinegar mixture is completely removed from your hair combs surface and bristles.
4
Dry your hair combs on a towel. Pat your hair combs dry with a towel. You will immediately notice how clean and fresh they appear. Allow them to dry overnight for the best results.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Shampoo

1
Remove the hair from your hair combs. You want to make sure to remove all the hair that has built up in your hair combs during their use. This can harbor germs and dirt that can spread to your clean hair during styling. Your hair combs can also have a buildup of hair product that needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure your hair looks its best. To remove the excess hair from your hair combs, try:
- Using a pen or pencil to lift the hair off the hair comb bristles. ^{[3]
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- Using a comb to get in between your hair comb’s bristles. ^{[4]
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- Cutting the hair with scissors if it is tangled or hard to remove from your hair comb’s bristles. ^{[5]
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2
Fill your sink with warm water and a small amount of shampoo or conditioner. Using a clarifying shampoo will ensure that it cuts through the styling product residue that is on your hair combs. ^{[6]
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Research source} Baby shampoo is also effective at cleaning hair comb dirt. ^{[7]
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Research source} Use a dime size amount of shampoo or conditioner and mix well with warm water.
3
Soak your hair combs for approximately 15-30 minutes. You want to allow your hair combs to soak to soften the bristles. This will also loosen the dirt, hair, and hair products that may be stuck on the hair comb, itself.
4
Scrub with a toothbrush to remove any dirt. If it seems that your hair combs need additional cleaning, use a toothbrush to scrub the bristles and surface of the hair comb. This will allow dirt and hair products to be removed easier and will ensure you have a clean hair comb when you are finished. ^{[8]
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5
Rinse brushes with warm water to remove the shampoo. Thoroughly rinse the shampoo or conditioner from the hair comb’s bristles. This will help remove any excess dirt and hair from the hair comb. You want to make sure to rinse well, so there is no shampoo or conditioner residue left on the bristles. This could make your hair greasy when used later.
6
Towel dry your hair combs. Once rinsed, dry your hair combs on a towel. This will remove any excess water and keep your bristles fresh. If you have a natural bristle hair comb, leave it bristle side down on a towel to air dry overnight. ^{[9]
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7
Drain the water left in the sink and dispose of any hair. You can drain the water that is left in the sink. It may be necessary to rinse and clean your sink with a cloth to remove any lingering dirt from your hair combs. Any hair that has been left in the sink should be disposed of. Be sure not to let large hair clumps to go down the drain as this could clog your sink.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Baking Soda

1
Add baking soda to warm water. Baking soda mixed with warm water is another good way to clean your hair combs from dirt and hair product residue. Pour 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a small amount of water and mix thoroughly. ^{[10]
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2
Soak your hair combs for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the baking soda to activate and clean your hair combs of hair and styling product buildup. Make sure your hair combs are free of dirt and hair before you remove them from the water mixture.
3
Dry your hair combs on a towel. Use a towel to pat your hair combs dry. This will remove any moisture on the handle and bristles. You can also let it sit overnight to make sure it is thoroughly dry.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you sanitize a comb at home?

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Answer

Try using deionized water — it is a thing of beauty and can clean most everything. Mix 1 quart of water with 1 of castile soap in a spray bottle. Shake well and voilà!
Question

How often should I clean my comb?

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Community Answer

It depends what you use in your hair. If you regularly use styling creams, gels, or hairspray, a good rule is to clean your comb once a week. Otherwise, if you don't use much product in your hair, try to make a habit of cleaning your comb every 2 to 3 weeks.