Technique

What’s the best way to clean my acrylic brush?

October 1, 2008

If a tech is working with a natural hair brush, it’s best to use some clean monomer in a ceramic dish and soak the brush while the tech finishes filing the customer. If the brush has hardened product that can’t be removed, it should soak over night.

I like using monomer better because specialized brush cleaners often use acetone as the main ingredient, and if you use it on a natural hair brush it can dehydrate the hair and make it fan out. But in extreme cases where monomer won’t remove the acrylic, brush cleaners or acetone should be used.

If the brush does lose its shape, put liquid soap on it to reshape it and then let it sit for 48 hours. After that, rinse the brush and soak it in monomer again for at least two hours. The soap kind of works like a conditioner for the bristles; it helps bring the bristles back to their original shape. — Heidi Bender of Artistry Nails in Phoenix is an educator for Young Nails.

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