Can You Wash A Shaving Brush?

Shaving brushes are a surefire way to elevate your shave to a cut above! They’ve been an essential component of shaving kits for hundreds of years. When you use a shaving brush, you’re using a piece of grooming history. Keeping your shaving brush in good order will help it last for as long as possible.

Here, you’ll answer the question; can you wash a shaving brush?

Shaving brushes are naturally subjected to dirt, grime, soap and other contaminants. After all, they’re designed to help prime and wash your beard and face. Like any brush, you’ve got to keep them clean to get the most out of them.

How to Wash A Shaving Brush

Shaving brushes come in two flavours: natural and synthetic.

Animal hair shaving brushes are considered traditional and have been around for a long time. Badgers are most frequently used as it’s said to be stiff and durable whilst also holding a good amount of water. The downside to animal hair shaving brushes is the cruelty associated with harvesting the hair.

An ethical alternative is the non-animal-hair brush, featuring synthetic bristles that are often made from plastic. These swap out badger hairs for synthetic hairs of equal or superior performance.

Animal hair brushes will need more intensive cleaning. The hairs can go mouldy, rot or warp if not cleaned correctly. Synthetic brushes do tend to be more durable. Either way, though, you’ll need to wash your shaving brush occasionally to keep it in good order.

Cleaning a Shaving Brush

Simply wash the brush under fast-flowing warm water, making sure to squeeze out soap and shaving creams. Don’t pull too hard when cleaning or you’ll pull out the bristles.

For a more intensive clean, try a solution of vinegar and water. Mix half or one part vinegar to one part water. Don’t leave the brush in there for too long but do let it soak for a few minutes before washing off with fast-flowing warm water.

Washing with antibacterial soaps and handwashes are fine also, but use them sparingly and always make sure to wash them off properly. As a rule of thumb, don’t use anything you wouldn’t use on your own hair or skin.

Drying the Brush

Drying the brush properly is essential to prevent any bacterial or fungal growth. A moist brush left in a moist bathroom will start to smell musty and nasty pretty quickly!

Firstly, pat dry your brush with a clean cloth or tissue. Once it’s fairly dry to the touch, keep it upright, preferably in a warm, dry, and drafty location.

What to Avoid

• Boiling or very hot water could warp brush hairs, only ever use water that is comfortably warm on your skin
• Strong detergents could rot animals hairs or weaken the glue of your brush
• Pulling the bristles too much when drying the brush
• Storing the brush anywhere too dark, cold or moist