Key Takeaways
- Wet the bristles of the brush with lukewarm water, taking care not to wet the ferrule.
- Lather with some brush cleaner or baby shampoo and swirl around in your palm or on a silicone mat.
- Rinse off and repeat until there is no pigment/makeup residue on the bristles.
- Gently squeeze the excess water with a towel and reshape the brushes before laying them flat on a clean, dry cloth to dry fully.
A professional makeup artist is not just known for their talent and skill. Hygiene and kit organization are equally important for your success and for the safety of talent on set.
This means keeping makeup brushes clean by washing them every 7-10 days, or washing after every use, if you are working with different clients or talent each time.
How you store your makeup brushes is equally important for a smooth workflow during high-intensity shoots.
This is your go-to guide to cleaning makeup brushes and maintaining an organized kit.
How to Properly Wash Your Makeup Brushes in 5 Steps
- Step 1
Wet the brush bristles with lukewarm water under a tap or by dipping the brush into a cup. Make sure the water level doesn’t go up past the bristles and avoid wetting the ferrule, since this can damage your brushes.
- Step 2
Next, lather up some brush cleaner or a few drops of baby shampoo onto a silicon brush-cleaning mat, or in your palms. You can decide how you prefer to wash your brushes, but keep swirling them for 3-5 minutes and work up a lather.
You must use a shampoo because plain soap and water could dry out your brush bristles.
- Step 3
Rinse off the tips under running water and repeat these steps until the water runs clear from the tip of the brush.
- Step 4
Gently squeeze out excess water and pat the brushes onto a clean, dry paper towel or microfiber cloth.
- Step 5
Finally, leave the brushes to dry flat on a towel. Make sure the tips of the brushes are hanging off the edge of the counter.
How to Store Your Brushes: 2 Trusted Methods
Even if you already know how to wash your brushes, storing them correctly is equally important.
- A Brush Roll
Brush rolls offer compact yet separate storage for your brushes, away from dust or bacteria, making them perfect for long-haul travel.
- An Upright Lidded Container
These are ideal for quick workstation set-ups. It’s also ideal to help maintain the shape of your brushes in your kit bag while protecting them from dirt and bacteria.
What to Avoid
| ❌ Using open storage in a dusty environment. ❌ Storing brushes in a loose makeup bag. |
Knowing how to wash your brushes is a crucial skill for any professional artist, since talent and actors rely on you to keep them safe and their skin protected.