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How to Clean a: Beard Brush the Right Way

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How to Clean a: Beard Brush the Right Way

Tired of hair clumps in your beard brush? Learn the right way to clean your beard brush in this note today. Keep that beard looking fresh, and make your beard brush last much longer, too!

We can’t help but get a little freaked out at the amount of hair that accumulates on our husband’s beard brush.

Thankfully, thanks to our fantastic beard butter recipe, his beard looks great!

But let’s be honest. Hair getting tangled in brushes definitely comes with the territory.

Hair brushes are the exact same.

They need cleaning often to maintain their effectiveness and so they don’t pass on dirt and grime to the skin.

But we'll bet you never knew that there is, in fact, a correct way to clean a boar bristle beard brush.

Yep, there is! And this is precisely what we’re covering in this note. Oh, and for the record, you can use this method for cleaning any boar bristle brush.

Below, you’ll find an easy ‘how to’ guide for how to wash a beard brush correctly so it looks like new, ready for use when your better half (or you – depending on who’s reading) needs it.

This note contains affiliate links, which means we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get our full disclosure HERE.

Things you’ll need to clean your brush

First things first, you’ll need a few items before you begin the brush-cleaning process.

You will need:

  • A large bowl
  • Water
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Cleaning cloth (microfiber is ideal)
  • Wood oil (optional)
  • A fine comb

How to wash a beard brush

Follow these steps for a proper deep clean of your beard brush. You’ll be amazed at how clean it looks by the end!

Step 1: Gently comb out the hair from the brush. You can use your fingers, too, if you prefer. Try and remove as much hair as possible. You can use any comb; we just use an old beard comb.

Brushing out the beard brush with a beard comb.

Step 2: Standing over a bowl or washbasin, pour soapy water over the bristles.

Pouring soapy water onto the dirty beard brush.

Step 3: Wash the bristles, taking care not to cause damage.

Washing the beard brush with soapy water.

Step 4: Rinse the bristles with clean, cool water.

Rinsing with clean water over a bowl.

Step 5: Shake the brush so any stray water comes off, then wipe dry completely with a microfiber cloth or any old, clean rags you have on hand.

Wiping the boars bristle beard brush dry with a microfiber towel.

Step 6: Air dry the brush. We recommend placing the bristles face down so they dry thoroughly.

Top tip: If your beard brush bristles are glued in, placing the brush with the bristles down to dry will prevent the glue from being damaged and possibly reducing the life of the brush.

Drying the clean beard brush with the bristles facing down on a clean cloth.

Should you oil your beard brush?

This is an interesting one, and the answer is: it’s optional!

You can, by all means, oil the wooden handle of your beard brush to keep it looking shiny and fresh. We would just use a little homemade beard oil for this.

Why not try this DIY beeswax polish – it works great on all types of wood.

Just be careful not to overdo it on the bristles but focus more on the wooden handle.

How often should we clean our beard brush?

You should remove any visible hair strands from your beard brush every time you use it.

But we know that’s not always practical, so we recommend a once-a-week beard brush clean using the above method if your brush gets used daily.

If it’s used less frequently, you could consider cleaning it once a month, and it’ll still work great.

And, of course, some of us remember to clean our beard brushes once on a blue moon. If that’s you, no problem! Just use the washing method with soapy water as and when you remember.

Inspecting the clean beard brush after washing it to check for loose bristles.

Further tips for how to clean beard brush

  • Never soak your beard brush for long periods in water. Think of it more as a rinsing-type action with the soapy water stage.
  • Try to avoid the wooden handle getting really wet, as this may cause damage. Wipe off any excess water from the handle before laying it out to dry.
  • You can use wood oil to protect the wooden handle (if you wish to). This is more so if your brush doesn’t already have a protective finish.
  • Dry the brush with the bristles facing down. You can place a cotton or microfiber cloth underneath the bristles to help absorb excess water while it dries.
  • Once the bristles start falling out, it’ll be time to replace your beard brush.
  • Take extra care when washing the bristles. Never ‘push’ against them, as this will undoubtedly cause damage.
  • Try and clean the bristles at the same angle that the bristles stand naturally, again to avoid damage.
Holding up a viking beard brush after it has been cleaned.

FAQs

Should you clean your beard brush?

Yes, you should!

Cleaning your beard brush keeps it clean and working at its best and helps it last longer, too.

It takes hardly any extra time to clean, and the results are well worth it! We have been using this method for years and are still using the same brush.

Can we use a beard brush in the shower?

No, you really shouldn’t use a beard brush in the shower. For one, over time, the water can damage the brush.

Plus, a beard brush is really designed for dry or damp beards to shape and style. So, have your shower, towel dry your beard (and body!), and then use the brush to style your beard.

See our homemade beard wax recipe if you’re looking for a natural beard styling product to finish off with.

How do you clean a round beard brush?

The cleaning method is the same regardless of your beard brush shape or style. Just be sure to follow the guidance in the method here in this note for the best beard brush results!

All the necessary supplies lined out to clean a dirty beard brush.

Will the wood get damaged if we get water on it?

We always recommend keeping wood away from water as much as possible, as water stains look unsightly and can damage the wood.

A little water won’t do any harm, though; just be eager to wipe it dry soon after.

This will ensure your wooden handle stays unharmed.

Key takeaways

It really is an easy thing to do – cleaning a beard brush. And though it seems trivial, a clean beard brush works better, is more beneficial for your skin, and lasts longer, too!

We hope you found this note helpful! Using a clean brush on a clean beard is simply the right thing to do. Who wants to brush out a clean beard with a dirty brush?

If you tried this method for cleaning your beard brush, let me know how it worked by leaving a review below! And as always, if you are looking for more great beard care products, see one of these next!

5 from 2 votes

How To Clean A Beard Brush

By the studio Ascher Prep: 5 minutes minsActive: 5 minutes minsTotal: 10 minutes mins Drying the clean beard brush with the bristles facing down on a clean cloth. SaveSaved Pin Print Learn the proper technique for cleaning a beard brush to maintain its effectiveness and hygiene. Keep your beard looking great with this step-by-step cleaning method.

Equipment

  • A large bowl
  • Cleaning cloth
  • A fine comb
  • Water
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Wood oil (optional)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Gently comb out the hair from the brush. You can use your fingers, too, if you prefer. Try and remove as much hair as possible.
  • Standing over a bowl or washbasin, pour soapy water over the bristles.
  • Wash the bristles, taking care not to cause damage.
  • Rinse the bristles with clean, cool water.
  • Shake the brush so any stray water comes off.
  • Air dry the brush. (we recommend placing the bristles face down so they dry thoroughly.)

Notes

We recommend cleaning your beard brush weekly for the best results. If your brush has a wooden handle, you can lightly oil it to protect the finish. Do not tug on the bristles when combing out the brush to prevent damaging the beard brush bristles. Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse! This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

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