When was the last time your teen got a new kids hairbrush, or cleaned out the hair and gunk from their existing one? Can’t remember? They’re not alone. With so many things on your teen’s mental to-do list, hairbrush hygiene may not be the top priority. Better late than never, right? Turns out changing brushes can help your teen’s scalp more than you think! The secret to keeping hair clean and oil-free is brushing with a new or cleansed hairbrush.
Cleansing Your Teen’s Hairbrushes
A buildup of hair and grime on your teen’s hairbrush can transfer dirt, oil, and product buildup back onto the hair and scalp, weighing the hair down and making it look greasy. On top of that, dirty brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria, dust, dust mites, and yeast, which can lead to dandruff, itching, irritation, swelling, and clogged hair follicles. So if your teen already has dandruff, a dirty brush will transfer yeast back onto their scalp making the dandruff worse. Your child could also suffer from frizzy hair and tangled hair.
How Often Should You Change Your Teens Hairbrush?
Encouraging your teen to clean out the hairs from their brush after each styling session is helpful in preventing dirty brushes. But if that’s not realistic, which is understandable with kids, a deep cleaning once a week will do just fine. Start by removing dead hairs from the brush or comb. Your teen can use a toothbrush to gently brush away any dirt, dust or product remaining between the bristles. Then fill a sink with hot water and a tablespoon of clarifying shampoo for kids and baking soda. Submerge brushes and combs in the soapy water solution for 30 minutes. Give the brushes and combs a good rinsing, then shake off the excess water and allow the bristles to dry overnight before using again.
Not sure if your teen’s brush is past the point of no return? Take a look at the bristles to determine whether or not it’s time for a replacement. Generally, it’s time to replace your teen’s brush if the bristles begin to look melted and separated. Some other warning signs include at least 10% of bristles missing, or the bed of the brush is starting to crack, it’s time to buy your teen a new brush. And for combs, a melted chalk look is a telltale sign it’s time to toss it.
Need some extra help detangling in the shower? TBH Kids released its brand new kids detangling brush to effortlessly and gently glide through knots and tangles for easy manageability.
