If you haven’t cleaned you makeup brushes within the past 2 weeks, or ever, then they are in desperate need of a bath. Typically, most experts suggest cleaning them weekly, but if you tend to forget then try to wash them at least every 2 weeks. It will only take a few minutes to wash them all, and if you do it at bedtime they will be nice and dry for use in the morning.

Photo Courtesy of thewomanlife.info

Get it together
Begin by gathering your makeup brushes, two clean hand towels, and whatever shampoo you have on hand. Bring everything to your sink and lay it out. Keep in mind that you will be washing your brushes, but even if they have natural bristles you will not be using conditioner, only shampoo.

Wet your Brushes
Turn your faucet on to cold, and take one brush and run it under the water. Make sure you clean the bigger brushes one at a time, but you can combine some of the smaller brushes together when washing. Wet the brush thoroughly before applying the shampoo.

Time for some shampoo
Add 1-2 drops of the shampoo directly to the brush. Depending on the size of the brush, you will want to alter the amount of shampoo you need. For larger, face brushes use at least 2 drops, and for smaller eye and lip brushes use one drop. Once the shampoo is added, gently massage it into the brush.

Once incorporated, flip the brush downward and rub the brush in the palm of your hand, using a circular motion. Wash each brush in this way for 1-2 minutes, rinsing slightly during the process until the suds and brush look clean.

Rinse Cycle
It is very important that you rinse the brush well. If you don’t rinse them well you can leave behind soap residue and traces of makeup, not to mention bacteria. Begin by rinsing the brush under cold water, while gently massaging the bristles with your fingertips. Do not pull on the hairs and make sure you rinse from base to tip. Continue rinsing with cold water until all traces of soap are gone and the water runs clean.

Get Rid of Excess H2O
Once the brush is accurately rinsed, begin removing the excess water by squeezing the brush from base to tip. After you remove the excess water, take one of the hand towels, fold it in half, and gently tap the brush onto the towel.

If the brush is still very saturated, then fold the towel over the brush and gently squeeze the water from the brush. Remember to move in the same motion as before, starting at the base and going to the tip. If you need to do this, remember to be gentle so you don’t pull the hairs out of the base of the brush.

Air Dry
After you have successfully removed the excess water from the brushes you will need to lay them out, overnight, to air dry. To do this, simply take the second hand towel, fold it in half, and line the brushes on top of it. You may then either place the towel on your counter top or place it on your window sill, with the window slightly cracked, to allow a warm breeze to dry them quicker.

Allow the brushes to sit overnight to dry. Once morning comes, your brushes should be dry and ready for use. Check each brush before you use it, and make sure they are completely dry. If the brushes are still damp, do not use them and whatever you do, do not take a hair dryer to dry them.

Do you have specific techniques to wash your makeup brushes? How often do you wash your makeup brushes? Tell us in the comments section below.