How to Properly Clean a Tangle Teezer

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Deep-clean & remove build-up with this simple guide

Co-authored by Angela Justice

Last Updated: February 2, 2024 References

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Removing Hair and Build-Up

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Washing and Drying the Brush

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Expert Q&A

A Tangle Teezer is a hairbrush designed to easily tame thick, curly hair. Over time, your brush may get stray hairs and debris buildup in between the bristles. Every week or so, remove the hair with your fingers and scrub the bristles with a toothbrush. This way, your brush stays in great shape.

Things You Should Know

Wet your brush and use your fingers to remove hair around the bristles.
Then, add a few drops of shampoo onto the bristles. Place the brush upside down in a bowl of warm water and let it soak for 1 minute.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub the brush and bristles to remove buildup. Rinse the brush with water and lay it on a clean towel to air dry.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Hair and Build-Up

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1
Hold the Tangle Teezer under warm running water.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Angela Justice
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.} To get your brush wet, first, let the water run over it for 30 seconds or so. This makes it easier to pull the hair off of the bristles.^{[2]
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- Alternatively, fill a bowl halfway with warm water to use instead of the running water. Simply use this as a washing basin for a more environmentally-friendly choice.
2
Pull off any hair attached to the brush after it is wet. Using your fingers, lift up the hair starting from the top of the brush. Gather the hair together to remove it in 1 solid piece if you can. Hold the brush under the water as you do this to ensure you get all of the hairs.^{[3]
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- If you are having trouble, use a fine-toothed comb to help you lift the hair from the base of the brush.
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3
Apply 3-5 drops of shampoo to clean the bristles and base. Squeeze the shampoo directly onto the Tangle Teezer. You only need a few drops to scrub the brush.^{[4]
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- If you prefer, use soap instead. Both work well to clean the Tangle Teezer.
4
Soak the brush in a bowl of warm water for 1 minute to remove buildup. If your brush is very dirty, try soaking it for a bit to lift off the stubborn residue.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Angela Justice
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.} Place the brush in the warm water upside down, and add 1-2 drops of shampoo. Mix up the water with the brush, and remove the brush after it soaks for a while.^{[6]
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- This is a good idea if your scalp is very oily.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Washing and Drying the Brush

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1
Scrub the Tangle Teezer with an old toothbrush for a thorough clean. After you apply your soap or soak the brush, rub a toothbrush over the bristles. This cleans the brush and gets rid of dirt and debris. Move the toothbrush in a circular motion. After 1-2 minutes, your brush should be clean.^{[7]
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- If you don’t have a toothbrush, use a small fine-toothed comb or lash and brow comb instead.^{[8]
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- Pick a toothbrush that you can use solely to wash your Tangle Teezer.
2
Rinse off any remaining soap or residue using warm water. Once you get rid of the hairs and debris, hold your Tangle Teezer under warm running water for 30 seconds or so. This gets rid of any remaining dirt.^{[9]
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- Rinse the top, sides, and bristles.
3
Shake the Tangle Teezer back and forth to get rid of excess water. If water is trapped inside the brush, gently move it from side to side for 30 seconds or until the water is gone and your brush is mostly dry.^{[10]
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- Water can enter the inside of your Tangle Teezer from the seam on the side.
4
Dry the brush with a clean towel. When you are finished, place your Tangle Teezer on a towel for 2-5 minutes so it can dry.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Angela Justice
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.} Then, put your brush away in your cabinet or on your shelf until you are ready to use it again.^{[12]
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- If you are brushing damp hair, you can skip this. It’s okay if your brush is slightly wet when combing your hair.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you clean buildup off a hairbrush?

Angela Justice
Master Hair Stylist
Angela Justice is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of Payton Place Salon based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With over 33 years of experience, she specializes in styling and cutting hair, coloring hair, providing hair repair and strengthening services, and installing tape-in hair extensions.

Angela Justice

Master Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Mix a spoonful of baking soda into a bowl of warm water—this mixture is great at removing build-up from a brush.

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Tips

Use your brush on wet or dry hair.

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Clean your Tangle Teezer as often as you want to. If your hair isn’t very oily or if you don’t use much styling products, you may not get as much buildup on the brush.

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