Clean a Mascara Brush

Is your mascara brush so full of clumps and dried product that you can barely comb it through your lashes? A clumpy brush will result in clumpy lashes, which is not a cute look. Or maybe you think it's a shame to throw out that little wand once you've used up all your mascara and you'd like to clean it off and put it to use elsewhere. Whatever the reason, this article will teach you to clean and de-clump your mascara brush.

Steps

Cleaning Your Brush to Apply Mascara

1. Wipe the clumps off your mascara wand with a paper towel. You may not need too much elbow grease to clean your brush if you do a little maintenance. Inspect your brush once a week to check for dried mascara clumps.
   • Gently grip the bristles in the fold of a paper towel and wiggle it back and forth. This loosens the clumps and also spreads the bristles apart.
2. Soak your mascara wand in hot water to loosen dried product. Put very hot (but not boiling--it may melt the plastic) water in a cup and allow your wand to soak for about five minutes. The brush should begin releasing clumps of mascara and the water will turn cloudy and gray or black.
   • Pour out the dirty water and reuse the cup to continue cleaning your brush.
3. Soak the brush in a cup of isopropyl alcohol to sanitize and remove any remaining mascara. Pour isopropyl (or rubbing) alcohol into the cup and allow your mascara wand to soak. You should see more product dislodging from the brush. Soak for about one minute.
   • If the brush still doesn't look clean, soak your brush for another minute and see if any more product is released.
4. Use a cotton swab to clean the area that threads into the tube. The little plastic handle on the end of your wand may have gunk built up from the sides of your mascara tube. Insert the end of a cotton swab and run it over the threaded part of the handle that screws into the mascara tube and seals it.
   • Removing the build-up from this part of the wand may help you get a better seal when you twist it closed on your mascara tube and may keep your mascara from drying out, giving it a longer life.
5. Dry the bristles completely before inserting the brush back into the tube. Any lingering water or alcohol might dry out your mascara, so you want to make sure it's thoroughly dried. Use a paper towel to gently pat the bristles dry.
   • If your hands are clean, you can run your thumb over the bristles to feel if they are still wet. You may see little droplets of water fly off the brush if it is not completely dry, and you should continue to dab the brush with a paper towel.

Cleaning Your Brush for Repurposing

1. Fill a cup with warm (not boiling) water and allow your mascara wand to soak for 10-15 minutes. The water will become cloudy and there may be flakes of mascara floating around as the clumps are released from the brush.
2. Squirt a little shampoo into the palm of your hand and scrub the bristles of the mascara wand. You don't need to be too rough, so gently work the brush against your palm, twisting, turning, and rubbing the bristles.
   • Rinse the brush under warm water and continue scrubbing. Repeat this until the water runs clean and you don't see any more mascara rubbing into your palm.
3. Pat the wand dry with a clean paper towel. Be gentle so you don't bend or break any of the bristles. You can also set the brush on a paper towel and simply allow it to air dry.
   • If more product comes off the brush as you dry it, you may want to shampoo it again. You can also use an old toothbrush to try and comb or brush out any persistent clumps.
4. Store the clean, dry brush in a resealable plastic bag. This will keep it free from bacteria in case you decide to use it on your lashes, hair or brows.
5. Putting Your Brush to Work
   • Use the clean brush to remove clumps in your lashes when your mascara brush leaves clumps in your lashes. The bristles will not only free the clumps from your lashes, but will also separate your lashes and give them extra definition. Make sure the mascara is still wet on your lashes, or the brush will be unable to pull out the clumps.
   • Use your mascara wand to groom your eyebrows. Simply brushing your eyebrows can help them look tidy, clean, and on point. A clean mascara brush is perfect for getting that polished look. Brushing your brows can also assist you when tweezing. Brush your eyebrows up so you can access the roots of the out of place hairs and better identify the hairs that fall outside your arch.
   • Keep your brow powder in place by brushing it in with a mascara brush. Try applying your brow powder by running the mascara brush over the product and then combing it through your brows. The mascara brush gets the powder into your brows and between the hairs so it will last throughout the day.
   • Unclog your sink with the mascara wand. If the gunk that is backing up your sink isn't too far down, try sticking the brush into the drain and twisting it around, running it around the edges. It may pick up whatever is clogging your sink, and will be especially efficient at nabbing any hairballs that might be causing the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Cup
• Hot water
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Shampoo
• Cotton Swab

Related Articles

• Lengthen Eyelashes With Any Mascara
• Add Volume to Lashes
• Prevent Mascara from Ruining Your Eyeshadow
• Rescue a Dry Mascara Wand

Sources and Citations

See also

• Clean Eyelash Extensions
• Get Longer Lashes
• Use a Lash Curler
• Make Your Mascara Look Great
• Apply False Eyelashes
• Apply Mascara
• Have Beautiful Eyelashes and Eyebrows Using Castor Oil
• Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer Without the Expensive Mascaras
• Curl Your Eyelashes Without an Eyelash Curler
• Make Your Eyelashes Naturally Longer

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