How to wash makeup brushes

Content

Method 2 of 3: Cleansing Oil-Based Makeup Brushes
Method 3 of 3: Taking care of your brushes and keeping them clean
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Check out the recommended brushing frequency. Keeping your brushes clean on a regular basis will save you a lot of time and effort in washing them. Brushes that are in active contact with a large amount of cosmetics (for example, for foundation and powder) should be washed more often than those brushes that are used less actively. The following is a recommended cleaning schedule for different types of brushes:

brushes for foundation and powder - once a week;
eye makeup and concealer brushes - every two weeks;
the rest of the brushes - once a month.

SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

Laura martin

Laura Martin is a licensed beautician based in Georgia. Has been working as a hairdresser since 2007 and has been teaching cosmetology since 2013.

Laura martin
Licensed cosmetologist

The type of cosmetics used also affects how often you wash your brushes. Licensed cosmetologist Laura Martin advises: "If you are using a liquid or creamy foundation, the brush you apply with should be washed daily."

2 Rinse the bristles of the brush with room temperature water. Make sure that no water seeps under the metal band of the brush, which secures the bristles to the handle. This can destroy the adhesive that holds the bristles together. Continue to hold the brush under running water until most of the residual makeup has been washed off. Make sure that the tip of the brush is pointing downward in the direction of the water flow at all times. Remember that water that gets inside the metal band can damage the brush.

Do not use hot water as it can damage the bristles of the brush.
Spread the bristles of the brush as you rinse so that the water is sure to penetrate to the bristles located in the very center.

3 Fill a small bowl or cup with a little water to wash the brush with the dipping method. You will need ¼ cup (about 60 ml) of room temperature water. Do not use hot water as it can damage the bristles of the brush.

If the brush is very dirty, you can later apply the soap directly to it instead of preparing the soapy solution according to the following steps.

4 Add soap to the water. If you are in the bathroom and have baby shampoo on hand, add 1 teaspoon of shampoo to the water and stir gently.

If you don't have a child's shampoo on hand, you can use liquid castile (olive) soap.

5 Dip the brush in soapy water and rinse. Rinse only the bottom half of the bristles in the solution to prevent soapy water from seeping up to the handle.

If you are not using a bowl of solution, you can rub the soap into the bristles with your fingers.

6 Remove the brush from the solution (if used). Use your fingers to gently rub the soapy water into the bristles of the brush to remove any makeup or other contaminants.

7 Rinse the brush with room temperature water. Continue to knead the bristles of the brush under running water until the water dripping from it is clear. Try not to get the brush handle wet.

You may need to repeat the wash and rinse process several times to completely cleanse your brush. If very cloudy water drips off the brush when rinsing, wash it again.
The brush cannot be considered clean until the water flowing from it becomes completely transparent.

8 Blot off excess water from the brush. Use a towel to gently wipe off excess moisture from the stubble. Place a towel around the wet bristles and squeeze gently with your fingers.

9 Correct the shape of the bristles. If the bristles are slightly deformed, you need to correct their shape. Straighten and straighten the bristles with your fingers, giving it its original appearance.

10 Leave the brush to dry. Do not place it on a towel, as this can cause mold. Instead, place the brush on a horizontal work surface and let the bristles hang over the edge.

11 Fluff up the stubble. When the brush is completely dry, fluff the bristles a little. It is now ready for use again.

Method 2 of 3: Cleansing Oil-Based Makeup Brushes

1 Examine the brush. If you have used a brush for applying oily makeup, then the soapy solution will not be enough to clean the brush. First, you will need to use a little oil to dissolve the residual makeup marks (especially if they have been present on the brush for a long time).
2 Place some oil on a paper towel. Fold a paper towel in several layers and drip oil onto it. You can use refined olive or almond oil. Dip the bristles of the brush in oil and spread. Do not soak your brush in oil. Use gentle back and forth strokes on the towel to remove any oil-dissolved dirt from the brush.
3 Dampen the bristles of the brush with room temperature water. Make sure that the tip of the brush is facing downward in the direction of the water flow. Avoid getting the bristles wet next to the metal band that secures them to the handle. From this, the metal can rust, and the glue inside the bandage can dissolve. Keep the bristles under running water until you have removed most of the makeup residue from the brush.
- Do not use hot water as it can damage the bristles.
4 Squeeze some baby shampoo into your palm. If you don't have baby shampoo on hand, you can use liquid castile soap instead.
- Do not put soap far away, as you may still need it. Often, the brush needs to be washed several times in a row.
5 Use a brush to spread the soap over the palm of your hand. Dip the bristles in the shampoo in the palm of your hand. Begin to smudge it gently in a circular motion. The bristles should be in constant contact with your skin. You will soon notice how the shampoo is getting dirty. This is due to the fact that old cosmetics are starting to move away from the brush bristles.
6 Rinse the brush with lukewarm water. When rinsing with your fingers, gently knead the bristles to rinse them out of the shampoo. Again, be careful not to wet the area where the bristles are attached to the brush handle. Continue rinsing the brush until the water running off the brush is clear.
- If the brush is very dirty, it may need to be washed several times. If you notice that the water dripping from the brush is cloudy, rub the soap into it a second time and rinse again. Continue soaping and rinsing the brush until the water running off the brush is clear.
7 Blot excess water from the bristles and reshape (if necessary). Once the water is clear, stop rinsing the brush and gently wrap a towel around its bristles. Squeeze excess water through the towel with your fingers. Remove the brush from the towel and straighten its bristles if necessary. To do this, squeeze, pull it off, or fan it out. Try to recreate the original shape of the brush as accurately as possible.
8 Lay the brush to dry on a horizontal surface. Do not leave the brush to dry on a towel, as this can mold it. Simply place it on a horizontal work surface or table with the bristles hanging over the edge.
9 Fluff up the bristles of the brush. If you washed a fluffy brush, this procedure could cause some of the bristles to stick together and stay that way even after drying. In this case, take the brush in your hands and shake it sharply.

Method 3 of 3: Taking care of your brushes and keeping them clean

1 Do not place the brushes upright to dry. This will cause water to seep into the inside of the metal band and cause rust and mildew to form. Also for this reason, the adhesive that holds the bristles together may dissolve.
- Only completely dry brushes can be stored in an upright position (bristles up).
2 Do not use a hairdryer or hair straightener to dry the brush. The high temperature of the hair dryer and the iron has a destructive effect on the bristle of the brush, even if it is natural (including sable or camel wool). The bristles used to make makeup brushes are much softer than your own hair.
3 Dry your brushes in a well-ventilated area. Drying your brushes in a confined space, such as a bathroom, may not circulate enough air and cause mold to form. For this reason, the brushes will start to give off a musty odor. This is very unpleasant!
4 Store your brushes properly. Store dry brushes upright in a glass (bristles up) or lay them horizontally. Do not store the brushes vertically with the bristles down, otherwise they will deform.
- If you carry brushes with you in your bag, place them horizontally in a brush case or case.
5 Consider disinfecting your brushes. Before leaving the washed brushes to dry, and even in between washes, disinfect them with an aqueous vinegar solution. Don't worry, the strong vinegar smell will disappear as soon as the brushes are dry. Fill a small bowl with two parts water and one part vinegar. Rinse the brush in the solution, but be careful not to wet the bristles at the top where they attach to the brush handle. Then rinse the brush with clean water and leave to dry.

Tips

Baby and other cotton-based wet wipes are great for cleaning brushes and cosmetic bags.
Make-up remover wipes are also ideal for cleaning brushes.
If possible, try to hang the brushes vertically with the bristles down to dry. To do this, you can fix them on a hanger with clips or use a clothespin.
Avoid using detergents that leave behind a strong odor, residue or damage to your brush (such as dish detergent, laundry soap, unrefined almond oil, olive oil, table vinegar, and exfoliating cosmetics).
You can invest in a dedicated brush cleaner if you need a simple solution. Despite the high cost, such a device will allow you to quickly and easily cope with cleaning your brushes.

Warnings

Let your brushes dry completely before using them again, especially for applying dry makeup. Even if brushes are only slightly damp, they can ruin dry makeup.
Do not heat brushes to speed up drying. Let them dry on their own.
Do not soak brushes in water. This will dissolve the glue that holds the brush bristles to the handle.