Your brushes are one of your most important tools as a face painter. Looking after them properly will keep them performing at their best and save you money in the long run. Here's how to clean and store your brushes like a professional.
Clean After Every Event Never leave paint to dry on your brushes. After every event, rinse your brushes thoroughly in clean, lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Avoid hot water as it can loosen the glue in the ferrule and cause bristles to shed.
Use a Gentle Soap For a deeper clean, use a gentle brush soap or baby shampoo. Work the soap into the bristles with your fingers, rinse thoroughly and reshape the brush head before leaving to dry. Never scrub brushes on a rough surface as this will damage the bristles.
Dry Flat or Bristles Down Always dry your brushes flat or with the bristles pointing downward. Never store them upright while wet as water can seep into the ferrule and loosen the glue over time. A brush roll or flat surface works perfectly.
Reshape After Washing After rinsing, gently reshape the bristles with your fingers to restore the brush's original shape. This is especially important for flat and angled brushes used in one stroke technique. A misshapen brush will affect the quality of your strokes.
Store Properly Between Events Once fully dry, store your brushes in a kit bag or brush roll to protect the bristles. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. Never store brushes loose in a bag where the bristles can be bent or damaged.
Replace When Needed Even with the best care, brushes do wear out over time. If bristles are splaying, shedding or no longer holding their shape, it's time to replace them. Quality brushes are an investment — treat them well and they'll last for years.
Shop Sally-Ann Lynch's professional 9 brush set and kit bags — everything you need to work and store like a pro.