Clean hair tools matter!

Hi guys, it’s been FOREVER! I know, forgive me. Today we are cleaning house, sort of. So, question,

‘How often do you clean your hair accessories and tools?’

Every wash day? Not often enough? Never?… any of the responses you chose would be no surprise to me. I recently posed the same question to my followers on Instagram and believe me, I was a bit shocked by the number of people who said ‘Never‘. I could understand that quite a few would say ‘not often enough’ because, to be honest, we don’t always remember to make sure our brushes and scrunchies are extra clean with each use. But, when people asked why should they even bother to clean them any at all, now that’s where I was like ” woah there, c’mon now”.

In hindsight however, the real question is, why should we (men and women) clean our hair accessories and tools?

Germs. Firstly, nobody likes germs (well they shouldn’t) and for good reason. Germs are everywhere and are transferred so easily. The dust picked up in the wind, off tables and other surfaces all end up somewhere.
That may be your hands, brush, headwrap, comb, shear or flat iron. You then transfer these to your scalp and skin and they wreak havoc. As simple as it may seem, these germs can also affect other systems in your body, causing common colds, rashes, pimples etc.Ever wondered why your hair or face itches so much? It may be those germs that are thriving because you forgot to clean your accessories.
Hair loss. Really? Yes really, fungi and other dirty microbes can hitch a ride on dirty tools and find themselves on your scalp. These can cause fungal infections resulting in hairloss. Ringworms or tinea capitis are caused by parisitic fungi or dermatophytes which affect the outer layer of the skin(the part we see). Fungi causes the scalp to itch, flake and then the hair breaks leaving bald, patchy spots. For some people there will only be one or two spots for others, the spots may be all over.
Dead hair/hair products. Now I’m sure we all see our dead hair in the brushes and combs we use. Whether it came from your beard or your head, it needs to go. So too does the gel stuck to your hair tie. Moisturizers and oils buildup with each use on our combs and headwraps, these can block your follicles and cause inflamation. If that doesn’t happen, all that guck on your most resourceful hair tie is just gross and the person behind you, thinks so too.

These three reasons go hand-in-hand so it’s not just about giving yourselves more work. Cleaning your accessories and tools is just as much a part of hair care as is styling. Below are some easy tips you can use when cleaning, you are probably doing some of these already;

Use a Shampoo. Chemicals in laundry detergent and dishwashing liquids may be too harsh for your scalp and may result in irritation or even hair loss. So it is recommended that you use the same shampoo you use on your hair to clean your accessories and tools. Simply place your scrunchies, hair ties, brushes and combs into a container with water, (warm if you choose), add some shampoo and wash away all that dirt.
Do this Every Wash Day. Men– every shave or ‘lineup’. For flat irons, shears and other electric tools: unplug them, allow to cool down and use a cloth that has been immersed into water with shampoo to wipe them down, removing all product buildup and germs which may be present.

Wraps and scarves may be washed with laundry detergent but ensure that all the soap is removed to prevent it getting onto the scalp.

4. Just Wipe. I know cleaning your tools sounds like a whole other task but it’s far from it. Simply wiping your combs down with a clean, wet towel, before/after each use is good enough until the weekend or a day you put aside for cleaning.

Ok! With that being said, Go Forth and Keep your Accessories Clean.

#cleanhairmatters

Thank you so much for still reading my blogs, see you on the next. More content coming soon.

Love your crown and your mane, walk good♥️.