How do you wash your boar bristle brush?

[mizsunshyne]

There's fuzzies in mine. How do you clean yours?

[Carolyn]

Some MP BBB's come with a little cleaning brush of their own. Otherwise you can use a fine tooth comb or an old toothbrush. I get a lot of lint in mine and have to pull stuff out of it all the time.

[Catladyintown]

Here is the link to Mason Pearson maintenance page for BB Brushes..
http://www.masonpearson.com/main.html

[charalito]

Using a wide tooth plastic comb first I take the hair that struck to the bbb, then I wet the brush, put some shampoo on it and scrub lightly with the comb. Rinse and put to air dry. Both brush and comb get cleaned :)

[countryhopper]

Good to know; I have to clean mine soon, too!

[going gray]

Using a wide tooth plastic comb first I take the hair that struck to the bbb, then I wet the brush, put some shampoo on it and scrub lightly with the comb. Rinse and put to air dry. Both brush and comb get cleaned :)

I have a Mason Pearson brush & clean mine exactly the same way.

[lpsqt60]

I have a mason pearson and it came with the cleaning brush so I just wet the BBB and use a clarifying shampoo, just a little bit, and I use the cleaning brush to scrub out the clumps of product that my BBB obtains over time. I just shake my BBB until mostly dry and let it air dry the rest of the way.

[ScarlettAdelle]

For my personal one, I use a wide toothed comb and then follow with a fine toothed comb, and then fill the sink with warm water with clarifying shampoo mixed in (much like a bubble bath) and I swish it back and forth & gently move the bristles with my fingers until it feels clean to the touch, then I run it under warm water until the shampoo is out. Oddly enough, I do also lightly condition the bristles, since they are hair as well and need to be cared for as such.

[dianehair]

Using the same shampoo that I use on my hair, I put a small amount on my brush, a little water just to wet and then lather it. Using my fingers I rake through the brush giving it a good wash. I then get my comb and comb through the bristles, getting out all stray hairs.

Rinse well under the tap and then leave on a sunny windowsill to air dry with the bristles down so the water doesn't pool into the wood brush head.

I do this every 2 weeks. Simple.

[madeline_]

I rinse mine with a baking soda dilution and let it dry. Very easy. I use it for all my combs too.

[CourtneyBee]

I just washed mine with a little shampoo and it smells like a wet dog. Is this normal??

[Artsy]

I just washed mine with a little shampoo and it smells like a wet dog. Is this normal??

My dog smelled different when wet, but it does smell funny:D like a boar, I assume.
I shampoo mine once in few month, condition very lightly. I do all of my natural makeup and painting brushes at once. They are just furr, like any other furr:)
________
300 (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Chrysler_300)

[SilvraShadows]

Boar bristle brushes can get horribly smelly when they are washed, some more than others.

What I do is this... first I use a stiff little brush that came with my bbb to remove loose hair. I usually do this after it's used each and every time because I hate seeing hair in a brush. Then when I wash it, I use doggie shampoo because it works! The shampoo is called Earth Bath in the Mango Tango! I had used it on my very old and stinky dog and it worked for her when others didn't, so I knew it had to work on these brushes of mine. :o I was pleasantly pleased.

I never soak my brushes, one of them has a wooded base and it would ruin it. The other is a MP with the rubber base, I don't think it's a good idea either with that one. I simply wash the bristles only, then rinse well. The brush does get wet in the rinse, but not too wet.

Dry bristle down.

[maria_asa]

I also dip the bristles in soapy water, move it around a bit, rince with clean water and leave it to dry with the bristles pointing downwards. Loose hairs are removed after every use.

This works ok but I can't seem to get rid of all the lint that's accumulating at the bottom of the bristles. Any ideas of how to remove it? I've been thinking of buying a MP cleaning brush (I have a MP brush but it didn't come with a cleaning brush) but I would love to hear from those of you who have it. Is it good and do you think it will help removing the lint?

[Artsy]

On drying brushes...
If you hold a handle of a brush between palms of your hands and rub your hands fast at each other, your brush will spin very fast and the water would be forced out. It will still be damp, but not wet and the bristles will look almost brushed. It works with all brushes, even with a squarish handle. Too bad I cant do that to my own head:D
________
Chrysler l platform history (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/Chrysler_L_platform)

[SilvraShadows]

..thinking of buying a MP cleaning brush (I have a MP brush but it didn't come with a cleaning brush) but I would love to hear from those of you who have it. Is it good and do you think it will help removing the lint?

I wonder why it didn't come with a cleaning brush... it's a stiff bristled little thing and it does help a lot. I would definitely see if you can get one.

[Teazel]

I comb mine to remove the hair and as much lint as I can, then rinse the bristles under a hot tap.

If I'm feeling enthusiastic I'll dissolve baking soda in boiling water and dip the bristles in and out of that. Rinse.

Leave to air dry, bristles down. That's it. :)

[maria_asa]

I wonder why it didn't come with a cleaning brush... it's a stiff bristled little thing and it does help a lot. I would definitely see if you can get one.

I have a pocket size brush and they don't come with the cleaning brush (don't know why, you'd think that the small brushes need as much cleaning as the bigger).

Thanks for letting me know about the cleaning brush. I saw some on ebay and I think I'll get one now.

[SilvraShadows]

Maria~ another thought would be to find an inexpensive nylon bristle brush, look for one with longer bristles... because that would work just as well. The little MP cleaning brush does have extra long bristles that are not dense, but more sparse, and this is what makes it a good cleaning brush. Before I had it I would use a wide tooth comb and a nylon brush to clean my bbb.

Just an idea for you :bluesmile

[summergame]

Boar bristle brushes can get horribly smelly when they are washed, some more than others.

What I do is this... first I use a stiff little brush that came with my bbb to remove loose hair. I usually do this after it's used each and every time because I hate seeing hair in a brush. Then when I wash it, I use doggie shampoo because it works! The shampoo is called Earth Bath in the Mango Tango! I had used it on my very old and stinky dog and it worked for her when others didn't, so I knew it had to work on these brushes of mine. :o I was pleasantly pleased.

I never soak my brushes, one of them has a wooded base and it would ruin it. The other is a MP with the rubber base, I don't think it's a good idea either with that one. I simply wash the bristles only, then rinse well. The brush does get wet in the rinse, but not too wet.

Dry bristle down.

Is it possible to make a picture of the stiff brush? I am curious about it,because when I wash my brush,some hairs are falling out :(

[LadyLongLocks]

I wash mine every 2 weeks with shampoo. I have a brush cleaning tool from sallys beauty that works good. I just started using a BBB 2 months ago. Mine are all solid wood. I think the paddle type might trap water, so I use the all wood.
If you dont want the soap to splash, dip it in the water and scrub underwater.
I guess you could do it in the shower too.
I lay it face down on a towel to dry.

[Katharina]

I wash mine with shampoo very now an then. After the BBB is dry I add some oil to its cover to make it shiny.
Unfortunately the BBB smells shudder: when wet

[GoatLady]

Here is the link to Mason Pearson maintenance page for BB Brushes..
http://www.masonpearson.com/main.html

Thank you for this link. I have been wanting to clean my (non-MP) BBB but have not felt right about soaking it in soapy water. Now I see I don't have to, and I can still have a nice clean brush. (hmmm...I know I have an old toothrush around here, somewhere). :D

[Madora]

Based on more than 40 years experience:

1) Clean your bbb thoroughly by using a fine tooth comb..or a metal hair rake (Miles Kimball company sells 'em. Look in the Health and Beauty section). Very effective!

2) Put a dab of your shampoo in a tall plastic bottle or glass
3) Add 8 to 10 oz of WARM water (not hot)
4) Stir thoroughly and pop in the brush
5) Let it soak for 7 minutes (not longer!)
6) Rinse thoroughly with COLD WATER
7) Shake well. Wipe all wooden parts with a towel
8) Run your fingers over the bristles to remove more water
9) Place the brush - bristles side DOWN - on a lint free cloth.

You place it bristle side down because you do NOT want the
water to sit in the bristle clumps. This will weaken the glue that holds the bristles, and also harm the wood..and the first thing you know, the bristle bunch falls out, and you have a lovely tiny hole.

Boar bristle brushes should be kept squeaky clean! Wash them at least every other day. Every day, if your hair is oily.

Each of my 3 Goody boar bristle brushes have lasted an average of 10 years each.

[ZeppHead]

I use shampoo and rub it against my other boar bristle brush to get it all sudsy and let them sit in warm water for a few minutes then rinse well. I usually do this to all my combs too, I use my boar bristle to scrub my wide tooth combs then let them sit.