Caring for Hairstyling Tools
Styling tools, such as curling irons, combs, brushes, and blowdryers are often neglected when it comes to regular cleaning and maintainence. Months of neglect can impair a styling tool's performance and lead to unsanitary conditions. Loose hairs can accumulate on brushes and combs, making them unsightly at best and unsanitary at worst. Styling product buildup can tarnish a curling iron, reducing it's effectiveness. Electric clippers and trimmers can be damaged if they are not regularly cleaned and oiled. Taking proper care of your styling tools can add years to it's working life.
COMBS AND BRUSHES: should be cleaned often. Months of daily use will cause hairs to mat at the base of the brush or the spine of the comb. Brushes and combs should be cleaned if they are shared with other members of your household. To clean a brush, take a pencil and work loose and debris that collects at the bottom of the brush, where the bristles attach to the backing. This debris consists of hair, dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and styling products. This debris can create an environment suitable for bacteria and other micro-organisms that you probably wouldn't want crawling over your scalp. Once all the large debris is removed, you can coat the brush or comb with a depilatator (such as Nair), which will dissolve any remaining hair. Submerge the brushes and combs in a bath of warm soapy water to complete the cleaning process. Brushes and combs can last several years, but will need to be replaced eventually. Combs should be thrown out when the teeth become misaligned or broken, otherwise using them may cause hair breakage. Brushes should be replaced when those tiny balls at the end of the bristles fall off. Using old combs and brushes can cause scalp irritation or even abrasion.
IRONS: Curling irons often become coated with hairspray and residue caused by other styling products, such as gels and pomades. The longer an iron goes uncleaned, the harder it will be to remove the buildup. This buildup can cause springs, clips, clamps, and other working parts of the iron to become encrusted with a layer of grime. Buildup on the barrel (the metal part of the iron that heats up)can lower the temperature of the iron, resulting in curls that are less than perfect. Some products may leave a sticky residue on the iron, which can pull hair out by the root. When cleaning an iron, always make sure it is unplugged first. The last thing you want to do is to spray cleaner in the general direction of an electrical outlet. A thin layer of buildup can be removed by most store-bought surface cleansers, such as Windex, Formula 409, and others. Avoid any abrasive cleansers (Ajax, Comet, Brillo pads)because they will damage the finish of the iron. More serious buildup can be removed by curling iron cleaner. I recommend the cleaner made by Hot Tools, the company that produces curling, crimping, and straightening irons sold in many larger salons. Hot Tools curling iron cleaner is a spray that is applied to a warm iron (unplugged of course) and allowed to sit for up to ten minutes. The iron is then wiped clean with a cloth. In severe cases, it may be necessary to scrape off the excess buildup with a razor blade or a label remover (a small metal spatula used to remove stickers and price tags) and then apply the cleaner. Industrial strength professional-quality cleaners may come in handy. Try Kreme Klean (visit www.hillyard.com for ordering information), which is great for removing stains on countertops and other surfaces. I was able to restore an iron with five years of buildup, which amounted to about one eighth of an inch of hairspray accumulation, by using this cleaner.
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