Taking care of your makeup brushes is crucial for applying your makeup. Should your makeup brushes become hard, we’ll show you how to soften hard and scratchy makeup brushes. Maintaining your brushes clean and soft can make a huge difference to the makeup application. Keeping your makeup brushes soft also helps to keep them useful for much longer.
Invest in good quality makeup brushes
Before we even look into softening makeup brushes, let’s start by getting soft brushes to begin with. Understanding the reasons makeup brushes get hard is helpful too. Not all brushes in the market are the same. If you are new to makeup, you need to understand the importance of quality tools.
Many people, especially when starting with makeup, buy a lot of makeup brushes. Sometimes people think you need specific makeup brushes for each technique. Instead, you can buy a few good-quality makeup brushes and learn the proper methods with a few core brushes.
Getting good-quality makeup brushes is also better for your skin. On top of that, they help you get a smoother and more precise makeup application. In the long term, spending money on quality brushes upfront can save you more money later. Unfortunately, if you have purchased poor-quality makeup brushes, there is no way to soften them or make them more precise.
Why do makeup brushes get hard?
Even if you have good-quality makeup brushes, you might notice that after a couple of weeks of using them, they start getting harder. This is because the dirt and bacteria from your face stick to the brush and make it harder over time. The only way to maintain your brushes soft and in a good state is by cleaning them appropriately, and in this article, we will teach you how.
How To Soften Hard And Scratchy Makeup Brushes
1. Soften Makeup Brushes With Baby Shampoo
- Gather all your makeup brushes near the sink and rinse them well with hot water.
- Put a small amount of baby shampoo into the palm of your hand and gently rub your brushes. There is no need to put pressure when washing them since the brushes will clean from the foam the shampoo produces.
- Squeeze all the dirty foam out of the brushes and rinse them with plenty of warm water.
-It is very important to wash well all the shampoo out of the brush since if it stays there, it can develop bacteria. Gently squeeze all the extra water out of your brush and dry them with a clean cloth towel or a paper towel.
It is important to clean your makeup brushes at least once a week and have different brushes for different products, especially if they have different consistencies, liquid foundation, and powder blush. If you have skin problems or acne, you should clean your makeup brushes more frequently, after every couple of uses.
A professional makeup artist should disinfect and clean their makeup brushes thoroughly after each client.
2. Soften Makeup Brushes With Brush Cleaner
There are many options in the market when it comes to makeup brushes cleaners. These are products that will remove the dirt and greasy residues from your brushes. The majority of them are oil-free, so they prevent the greasiness from building up at your brush. Some of the makeup cleaners also contain silicone. The silicone helps to create a thin coating on the brush bristles to maintain softness.
The baby shampoo method can be quite time-consuming since you have to leave your brushes to air dry for a few hours or dry overnight completely. When it comes to store-bought brush cleaners, you can find a product that can help you clean your brushes instantly.
Spray brush cleaners are very simple to use.
- You sprinkle your brushes with the product,
- Rub them in a clean and dry towel, and your brushes are ready to use in two minutes.
This formula is super-fast way to soften hard and scratchy makeup brushes. It’s also a great when it comes to eye shadow application when you need to apply multiple colors with the same brush. Spray cleaners are also very popular among makeup artists who have to work with various models simultaneously.
FAQ:
Can I use a conditioner to soften my makeup brushes?
Yes! Many people know to use hair products in their makeup brushes, and the right conditioner can help soften your tools. However, you should be careful and not use a very oily conditioner that will leave extra greasiness to your powder products and your skin. Also, keep in mind that conditioner is not a way to clean your brushes. It is rather an additional step you could do after cleaning them with shampoo.
Do brush cleaning silicone mats work?
Absolutely! A silicone brush cleaning mat is not a necessary tool in order to clean your brushes, but it can help do it quicker and more effectively. The different patterns it has been designed to clean your brushes easily can be a lifesaver when it comes to thick foundation brushes.
Tip: Keep in mind to leave it clean after each use since taking the makeup out once it is dry can be very difficult,
Can I blow dry makeup brushes?
The answer is no! Makeup brushes shouldn’t be dried with a hairdryer. The hairdryer’s heat can melt the glue of the brush, which can separate the head from the wand, and that is not even the worst part. Heat can also cause split ends on each bristle, making it rough and hard when used on the skin. Ultimately, the intense air pressure from the hairdryer can ruin the shape of your brush, something that makes product application complicated.
