How to Clean Your Beard Brush

There's nothing quite like a boar bristle beard brush. Unlike plastic combs or hairbrushes, it moves gently through your beard, untangling knots, getting the beard oil deep into the hair, and lightly exfoliating the skin beneath. 

The problem? Deep in the bristles, hair, dead skin, and other debris begin to collect. You can bang it on the table all you want — it won’t get properly clean. You don't need a new beard brush. You just need a few helpful cleaning tips.

So, how do you clean a beard brush? And how often should you give it a good clean? Find out below.

How Often to Clean a Beard Brush

The answer is it depends.

How often are you using your beard brush? If you're combing oil through a thick, long beard every day, it's going to accumulate a lot more hair and debris than if you've got a short, boxed beard you brush a few times a week.

Most people could benefit from cleaning their beard brushes around once a month. But if you want to push it to every 2-3 months, it's not the end of the world. Just don't be a twice-yearly person. Trust us, it gets a little disgusting between the bristles and can cause skin issues if you're brushing bacteria into your beard. 

It's not just about cleanliness. Cleaning the brush will extend its lifespan, saving you a bit of extra money in the long run. 

How to Clean a Beard Brush

Cleaning your beard brush doesn't have to be a laborious 1-hour process. You just need to know what you're doing. It can be quite hard to get to the base of the bristles without damaging the brush. But you can with the right tools and techniques.

What You'll Need

• Your fingers or a wide-tooth comb 
• A small bowl or sink 
• Gentle shampoo or beard wash 
• A toothbrush (optional) 
• A clean towel 

What To Do

1. Remove Trapped Hairs. Start by using your comb (or your fingers) to pull out the loose hair stuck in the bristles. The comb works best. Start at the base, working the comb up and along, pulling the hairs to the surface. Then you can remove them with your fingers. Get as much out as you can — this is half the job.
2. Loosen dirt and product buildup. Once the hair is out, rub the wide-tooth comb through the bristles a few times to break up any dried balm, oil, or dust sitting between them. You can tap the brush lightly as you're doing this to remove the excess. This will help later on.
3. Prepare a mild wash solution. Fill a bowl or sink with warm water. Add a small amount of gentle shampoo or beard wash. Don't use anything like dish soap. You want to lift the oils and grime without damaging the brush. 
4. Dip the bristles only. Hold the brush by the wooden handle and dip the bristles. Avoid dipping the entire brush as it can crack, warp, or loosen the bristles. The wooden handle isn't made for water. A quick dip is all you need — don’t soak it.
5. Scrub lightly with your fingers. Now, work on the shampoo as if it were your hair. You'll want to massage the soap water, working out the oil and dirt. If it's really caked in, use a toothbrush to clean between the rows. 
6. Rinse the bristles. Got most of it out? Rinse off the bristles under warm, clean water. You can repeat steps 5-6 again if necessary. 
7. Shake off excess water and dry. Lastly, tap away the excess water and leave the brush bristle side down on a towel. It'll take a few hours to fully dry out. 

Upgrade Your Routine with a Proper Beard Brush

Cleaning your beard brush is a lot easier if you start with a good brush. 

The Beard Sorcery Boar Hair Beard Brush is built for real beards. Firm enough to detangle, gentle enough to protect hair, it's designed to spread oils evenly throughout the most legendary beards. If your current brush is tugging, scratching, or collecting more debris than it should, it's time to level up.