How to Clean and Care for Your Nail Brushes

Clean your nail brushes immediately after each use by wiping off excess product, then swirling them in brush cleaner or acetone until all color is gone, reshaping the bristles, and laying them flat to dry. This simple routine takes less than two minutes but will make your brushes last years instead of months, saving you money and keeping your nail art looking professional.

Let me show you exactly how I keep my brushes in perfect condition, even after doing dozens of sets of nails every week.

Why Cleaning Your Brushes Really Matters

I learned this lesson the hard way when I first started doing nails. I’d leave my brushes overnight “just once” and wake up to find them stiff and ruined. That was R150 down the drain.

Dirty brushes cause:

• Streaky, uneven application
• Color mixing where you don’t want it
• Bristles that fall out into your work
• Bacteria growth (yes, it’s gross)
• Having to buy new brushes way too often

Clean brushes give you smooth, perfect results every single time. Your clients will notice the difference, even if they don’t know why their nails look better.

What You Need for Cleaning

You don’t need fancy or expensive stuff. Here’s what works:

For regular cleaning:

• Brush cleaner (available at Clicks, Dis-Chem, or beauty supply stores)
• Acetone or nail polish remover
• Paper towels or an old cloth
• Small glass or container
• Warm water
• Mild dish soap (Sunlight liquid works great)

Cost: You can set yourself up for under R100 if you shop smart.

The Right-After-Use Clean (Do This Every Time)

This is your most important routine. Do it right after you finish with each color:

Step 1: Wipe the brush on a paper towel to remove excess product. Use a gentle squeezing motion from the base to the tip.

Step 2: Pour a small amount of brush cleaner or acetone into your container (about 1cm deep is enough).

Step 3: Swirl your brush gently in the liquid. Don’t press hard or scrub – just gentle circles.

Step 4: Wipe on a clean paper towel. You should see the color coming out.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until no more color shows on the paper towel.

Step 6: Reshape the bristles with your fingers while they’re still damp. This is super important.

Step 7: Lay the brush flat on a clean towel to dry. Never stand it upright while wet.

Time needed: About 90 seconds per brush.

The Deep Clean (Once a Week)

Even with daily cleaning, product builds up over time. Once a week, give your brushes a proper deep clean:

Step 1: Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add two drops of dish soap.

Step 2: Swirl each brush gently in the soapy water for about 30 seconds.

Step 3: Massage the bristles very gently with your fingers. You’ll feel any stuck product loosening.

Step 4: Rinse under lukewarm running water until the water runs completely clear.

Step 5: Gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel. Don’t twist or pull.

Step 6: Reshape the bristles to their original form.

Step 7: Lay flat to dry overnight.

Time needed: About 5 minutes for all your brushes.

Do this on a Sunday evening, and your brushes will be perfect for Monday’s clients.

Special Care for Different Brush Types

Not all brushes need the same treatment:

Gel Brushes

Gel is tricky because it cures under UV light. Never let gel dry on your brushes.

• Clean immediately after each nail
• Use gel cleanser, not acetone (acetone can damage some gel brush bristles)
• Keep a small bottle of cleanser and wipes at your work station
• If gel does cure on your brush, soak it in acetone for 10 minutes, then gently work it out

Acrylic Brushes

Acrylic liquid (monomer) is what you’ll use to clean these:

• Wipe excess acrylic on a paper towel first
• Swirl in monomer, not acetone
• Press gently on a paper towel to remove product
• Store in a sealed container to keep monomer smell contained
• Never let acrylic harden on the brush

Detail and Art Brushes

These delicate brushes need gentle handling:

• Use brush cleaner instead of pure acetone when possible
• Never press hard when cleaning
• Reshape carefully after every use
• Store flat or in a brush guard to protect the tips

Natural Hair vs Synthetic

Natural hair: Use gentler cleaners and lukewarm water. Hot water damages the hair and loosens the glue.

Synthetic: Can handle acetone better and dry faster. Still, don’t use hot water.

What Not to Do (Learn from My Mistakes)

I’ve ruined my fair share of brushes. Here’s what kills them:

Don’t:

• Leave them standing upright while wet (water runs into the ferrule and loosens everything)
• Use hot water (breaks down the glue)
• Let product dry on bristles (nearly impossible to fix)
• Store them in direct sunlight (fades and weakens bristles)
• Press too hard when cleaning (breaks bristles)
• Share brushes between gel and regular polish without deep cleaning
• Use the same dirty water for multiple brushes

Do:

• Clean right away, every time
• Store properly when dry
• Replace when worn out
• Keep different products separate

Drying Your Brushes Properly

This part trips up a lot of people. The way you dry your brushes affects how long they last.

The right way: Lay them completely flat on a clean, dry towel. Make sure the bristles hang slightly off the edge of your counter so air can circulate.

Why not upright? Water runs down into the metal part (called the ferrule) and loosens the glue holding everything together. Before you know it, bristles start falling out.

Why not point-down? The bristles bend and lose their shape permanently.

Drying time: Thin detail brushes: 2-3 hours Flat brushes: 4-6 hours Thick acrylic brushes: overnight

Storage That Protects Your Investment

Once your brushes are completely dry, store them properly:

Best options:

• Brush roll or case (you can buy these for R80-R150)
• Brush holder with bristles pointing up (only when fully dry)
• Drawer organizer with compartments
• Clear container where you can see them all

Keep them away from:

• Direct sunlight
• Heat sources like heaters or windowsills
• Damp areas like bathroom counters
• Loose in a bag where they get squashed

I keep mine in a simple brush roll from Takealot. Cost me R95 and has lasted three years.

Signs Your Brush Needs Replacing

Even with perfect care, brushes don’t last forever. Replace them when:

• Bristles splay out and won’t reshape
• Multiple bristles fall out regularly
• The ferrule becomes loose
• You can’t get them clean anymore
• They leave streaks no matter what you do
• Bristles feel rough or scratchy

How long should they last? With good care:

• Detail brushes: 1-2 years
• Flat brushes: 2-3 years
• Acrylic brushes: 2-4 years

Quick Clean Between Colors

When you’re doing nail art with multiple colors, you can’t deep clean between every color. Here’s the fast method:

1. Wipe on paper towel
2. Quick swirl in brush cleaner
3. Wipe again
4. Ready to use

This takes 15 seconds and keeps colors from mixing. Just remember to do a proper clean at the end of the day.

Dealing with Stubborn Product Buildup

Sometimes product really sticks. For stubborn buildup:

For regular polish:

• Soak in acetone for 5 minutes
• Gently work out the buildup with your fingers
• Wash with soap and water
• Condition with a tiny drop of olive oil

For gel:

• Soak in acetone for 10-15 minutes
• Use a clean brush to gently comb through the bristles
• Rinse and reshape

For dried acrylic: Honestly, if acrylic fully hardens on your brush, it’s usually done for. Prevention is everything with acrylic brushes.

Creating a Cleaning Station

Set up a small area at your nail desk for cleaning:

What to include:

• Small container for cleaner
• Paper towel roll
• Bottle of brush cleaner or acetone
• Clean cloth for drying
• Flat surface for brushes to dry

Having everything in one spot means you’re more likely to clean properly every time. I use a small tray from Pep Home for R35, and it keeps everything organized.

Cleaning Brushes in a Salon Setting

If you’re working in a busy salon, cleaning between clients is different:

Quick clean method:

1. Wipe thoroughly on paper towel
2. Swirl in brush cleaner
3. Wipe again
4. Spray with disinfectant
5. Let air dry for 2-3 minutes

End of day: Do the deep clean on all brushes used that day.

Keep two sets of your most-used brushes so one can dry while you use the other.

Budget-Friendly Cleaning Solutions

You don’t need expensive products:

DIY brush cleaner: Mix 70% rubbing alcohol with 30% water. Costs about R30 for a bottle that lasts months.

Soap alternative: Baby shampoo works wonderfully for gentle cleaning. One bottle lasts forever.

Container: Use small glass jars from your kitchen. Jam jars work perfectly.

Teaching Yourself Good Habits

Making brush cleaning automatic takes about two weeks:

Week 1: Set a timer after each client to remind you to clean.

Week 2: Clean without the timer, but check off a list.

Week 3+: It becomes as natural as washing your hands.

The hardest part is starting. Once it’s a habit, you won’t even think about it.

What About Brush Conditioner?

Some people swear by brush conditioner. Here’s my take:

Do you need it? Not really, but it can help.

When it helps:

• Natural hair brushes that feel dry
• Brushes you use daily
• In dry Johannesburg or Pretoria weather

How to use: Add one tiny drop to clean, damp bristles once a month. Reshape and let dry.

Cost: R40-R80 for a bottle that lasts a year.

Hair conditioner or a drop of olive oil works just as well, honestly.

Traveling with Your Brushes

Taking brushes to a client’s house or a wedding venue?

Protection tips:

• Use brush guards (R10 each at beauty supply stores)
• Pack in a hard case
• Keep them separate from polish bottles
• Bring cleaning supplies with you
• Clean before packing up to go home

Never throw them loose into your bag. One squashed detail brush and there goes R80.

Common Questions I Get Asked

Making Your Brushes Last in South African Weather

Our weather affects brush care:

In hot, dry areas (like Johannesburg):

• Brushes dry faster
• Bristles can get brittle
• Store away from windows
• Consider using conditioner monthly

In humid areas (like Durban):

• Brushes take longer to dry
• More careful about bacteria
• Clean more often
• Store in sealed containers with silica packets

During load shedding: Plan your deep cleaning for when you have power for good lighting. Don’t rush it in the dark.

Keeping Track of Your Brushes

When you have multiple brushes, organization helps:

• Label brush handles with permanent marker (R for red detail brush, etc.)
• Keep a checklist of what needs replacing
• Date new brushes with a small sticker
• Photo your collection so you know what you have

I use my phone to set monthly reminders: “Check brushes for wear” on the first of each month.

The Money You’ll Save

Good brush care saves serious money:

Without proper care:

• Replace brushes every 3-6 months
• Spend R200-R400 per year minimum

With proper care:

• Replace brushes every 2-3 years
• Spend R100-R200 per year

Over five years of doing nails, that’s a saving of R1,000 to R2,000. Enough for a nice new nail lamp or a weekend away.

Starting Today

Pick one thing to change right now:

• Clean your brushes tonight before bed
• Set up a cleaning station
• Buy brush cleaner this week
• Schedule weekly deep cleans on your phone

You don’t have to do everything perfectly from day one. Just start somewhere, and build the habit.

Your brushes are tools of your trade. Treat them well, and they’ll help you create beautiful nails for years to come. Plus, you’ll save money, work faster, and your nails will look better.

That’s a win all around.