We’re all about making life easier. So here, in our regular feature 10 Tips, we’ll equip you with tricks that’ll make any task -- from buying art to picking the right shade of lipstick -- seem simpler.
They get coated with sticky substances, sometimes burn us, trap a lot of hair, but always end up saving us when bad hair days strike. They're our hair tools, and they deserve a little TLC (just like your locks).
Because they're so frequently used, tools regularly collect dirt, oil and skin particles -- guck that can all be deposited back onto your mane if you don't care for your curlers and straighteners properly.
So we talked to owner and stylist Greg May of Greg May Hair Architects in Toronto about how to tend some of your most common hair tools and accessories.
"For the everyday person, it should come down to common sense. If you neglect cleaning your tools, you are at risk of not getting good results from your hot tools, a bad smell and smoke burn off as well," he says.
Tired of hairspray coated brushes or dull scissors? Here are Greg's tips to clean 10 common hair tools.
How To Clean Your Hair Tools
Hair Straightener(01 of10)
Open Image Modal"Clean your smoothing iron or curling iron (tongs) when it is unplugged and cool. Use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cloth and wipe down until thoroughly clean," May says. (credit:Alamy)
Curler(02 of10)
Open Image Modal"Another alternative is to use rubbing alcohol. Make sure to follow up with a wet cloth to remove all alcohol residue." (credit:Alamy)
Hairbrush(03 of10)
Open Image Modal"I like to use my peppermint cream shampoo or you can use tea tree shampoo for its natural disinfecting properties. Pick all hair out. There are special tools you can buy at the cosmetics store that look like a brush with a point on the end. These work great for getting debris out. Soak the brush in water or clarifying shampoo. Alternately, you could use a liquid detergent or soap." (credit:Alamy)
Comb(04 of10)
Open Image Modal"Some old-school barbers use barbicide, which disinfects very well. I prefer to use the above shampoo technique because leaving tools in a solution too long can be hard on them." (credit:Alamy)
Rollers(05 of10)
Open Image Modal"Similar to a brush, pick hair out then place in solution mixture of water and shampoo. Your alternate to shampoo can be vinegar. Once again, I prefer the soapy method." (credit:Alamy)
Hair Accessories(06 of10)
Open Image Modal"Use clean fingers or a cloth to wipe down the bobby pin. Make sure there is no oil or product build-up on them." (credit:Alamy)
Blow Dryer(07 of10)
Open Image Modal"Always use damp cloth with water to clean outside of the dryer where there could be a build-up of hairspray. Clean the vent in back when there are any traces of lint. If you don't, you will suffocate your dryer and it will burn out." (credit:Alamy)
Scissors(08 of10)
Open Image Modal"Put a very little drop of oil on either blade and pivot point where the screw is. Open it and close it a few times. Wipe your pair clean with a cloth." (credit:Alamy)
Electric Razor(09 of10)
Open Image Modal"Razors often come with a special cleaning brush. If you lose this brush you can use an old toothbrush," he says. (credit:Alamy)
Dye(10 of10)
Open Image Modal"Most hair dye companies make colour remover for skin. To remove colour from clothes, spray area with a hairspray or take it to the cleaners." (credit:Alamy)