Boar bristle beard brushes are so good at catching dirt and debris from your hair that they themselves need a good cleaning every now and then. While horn combs require less maintenance, they also need R&R to maintain their integrity.
Continue reading to learn how to keep your beard taming tools robust.
*To learn more about why boar bristle brushes and horn combs are beneficial see our blog post about them here.
Horn comb
When properly cared for, a horn comb can last many years, and even up to a lifetime. Like our hair, a horn comb is made of keratin. If left untreated, a horn comb can be prone to breakage.
So we advise rubbing a bit of natural oil on the comb once or twice a year. Lanolin, jojoba oil, coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil all work. You can even rub a thin layer of Zeus Beard Oil on the comb, as our beard oils contain grape seed oil, argan oil, and safflower seed oil. If there is excess oil on the comb, just remove it with a clean cloth or a cotton ball.
To keep your horn comb clean, simply rinse it with water and let it dry on a cloth. Be careful NOT to submerge a horn comb and let it sit in the water for too long. This will warp the shape and make the comb brittle. As a general rule, keep your horn comb away from wet surfaces.
Beard brush
Basic cleaning
You’ll want to loosen things up on your beard brush – ie., get rid of any buildup in the form of hair, dead skin, dirt, and dust. To do this, arm yourself with either a q-tip or comb and stand over a trash can. Holding the beard brush with the bristles facing downward, run your q-tip or comb through the bristle clusters. (If you have our Zeus Military Brush, use the included Metal Brush Cleaning Tool to aid with this step.)
Then, grab the hair and pull it out with your fingers.
Dry clean your brush about once a week or as often as necessary.
Deep cleaning
To remove any oily residue from your beard, beard oils, or beard balms, grip the handle of the brush and run warm water over the bristles. Be careful NOT to soak the wooden part of the brush in water.
Work bar soap or a basic shampoo into the bristles using an old toothbrush. Then submerge the brush in water while using your fingers to help remove every last bit of soap and buildup.
Rinse off with warm water, shake the brush a couple of times to get the water out, and place the brush on a towel with the bristles facing down. Let it dry overnight.
Deep clean you brush about once every couple of weeks, or as often as necessary.
