How to Dry Makeup Brushes

Last Updated: June 1, 2020 References

It is important to properly dry your makeup brushes after you wash them. Otherwise, you could damage the bristles or allow bacteria to grow, negating the cleaning you just completed. With proper care, you can extend the life of your brushes so you can get the most use out of them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Drying with a Towel

1
Set your brushes on a towel after you've washed them. You can use either a clean, dry bath towel, or a dry paper towel to start the drying process. A larger bath towel may work best, because it will absorb a lot of water and will be big enough to hold all of your brushes.
- Set the towel on a flat surface, with the brushes an inch or two apart on top of it. Lay the brushes flat, because if you place them upright, the water won't be able to evaporate completely, which could lead to bacteria growth.^{[1]
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  Frankie Sanderson
  Makeup Artist & Stylist
  Expert Interview. April 14, 2020.}
- Leave about half of the towel empty.^{[2]
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2
Fold half of the towel over the brushes. You'll want to get some of the water out of your brushes before you set them up to dry. You can do this by folding the empty half of the towel over the brushes so they are completely surrounded by it.^{[3]
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3
Press gently on the towel. Using your hand, press gently on top of the towel. Do this for five or six seconds with each brush, so that the towel absorbs some of the water from the bristles.
4
Place the brushes on the counter edge. You want to make sure that the bristles of the brushes stick over the edge of the counter or shelf. That way, air circulates around the bristles and they do not rest on a damp surface. It will help the bristles to dry faster and keep them from acquiring bacteria.
- Leave the brush handles on top of the towel, with just the bristles sticking out over the edge of the counter.
- While they dry, it's a good idea to turn on a fan, especially if they're in the bathroom. The fan will circulate the air, dispersing the moisture.
- It will usually take 3-4 hours for the brushes to dry completely.
- You'll want to check the bristles by touching them with you hand before you use them, to make sure they are dry.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Hanging Brushes to Dry

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Attach brushes to a clothes hanger. Using either rubber bands or hair ties, attach the handles of your brushes to the bottom of a clothes hanger. Make sure the bristles are facing down when you attach them. This will allow the bristles to maintain their shape, and allow air to circulate around the bristles.
- You can place the hanger anywhere, but make sure the bristles are free and not resting against anything.^{[5]
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- Your brushes will dry fastest if you hang them over a fan in a well-ventilated room.
2
Buy a holder for your brushes. There are holders available for purchase that allow you to hang your brushes to dry. These holders allow you to insert each brush into its own hole upside down. Air can then circulate around the bristles. Because they're upside down, water won't seep down into them.
- These holders may be sold in different sizes for different sized brushes.^{[6]
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Place a towel under your brushes. With the brushes hanging from the clothes hanger, or the holder, water may drip from the bristles. Place a clean, dry bath towel or paper towel under the brushes to absorb any water.
- Leave the brushes hanging with the bristles facing down for four or five hours.
- Thicker brushes may need a bit more time.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you dry your makeup brushes and care for them after you wash them?

Frankie Sanderson
Makeup Artist & Stylist
Franklin (Frankie) Sanderson is a Makeup Artist and Stylist and the Founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington DC that specializes in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image consulting services. He specializes in hair extensions, chemical services such as highlighting, Balayage, Japanese straightening, keratin treatments, and designer cuts. He has a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and has trained at the L'Oreal Soho Academy, TIGI, Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and Wella. His clients include Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, and Alicia Keys.

Frankie Sanderson

Makeup Artist & Stylist

Expert Answer

After you clean your brushes, rinse them out with warm water, then lay them out flat to dry. Do not leave the brushes upright, as this will cause dry rot inside the wooden handle.
Question

How do I wash them?

Community Answer

To easily wash makeup brushes, get soap and water, wash all the makeup out and put the brushes upside-down to dry.

Warnings

Do not dry your brushes with the bristles facing up. If you do this, the water will run down onto the handle and could damage the glue that holds the bristles to the handle. You can avoid this by drying brushes with the bristles facing down, or by drying the brushes on their side with the bristles protruding over a counter edge.

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