Pages

  • About
  • The Edit
  • The Review
  • The Video
  • Contact/PR

Brush Drying Apparatus



Most people do a brush-cleaning post.  All I have to say about brush cleaning is to get the product out -- preferably not with something that could disinfect your toilet. Also, while you rinse, aim your brush head down so the water won't get into the ferrule, i.e. the metal clampy bit that holds it all together.

What I do want to talk about is drying your brushes.  For me, this is one of the most important steps in brush care -- even if you manage to royally screw up some of the bristles, washing them will give you a chance to try and reshape everything.  Enter my brush-drying system.  For a glance at my brush storage, click here.

I was inspired by this DIY from Delicate Hummingbird's brush-washing post, but before I could wreak havoc in Home Depot's tension rod aisle (is there such a thing?), Tod pulled me back and said something very obvious.  Binder clips.  We use them for everything -- to hold lecture notes together (ah, university memories), to seal off chip bags, and as makeshift shadow puppets.

I buy the 2-inch clips and slide them to the free edge where I usually dry brushes.  Then I wrap a heavy-duty rubber band round the clip handles -- don't wrap too many times, you want a little wiggle room so your brushes will fit.  On either side of the clip, insert your brushes between the clip handle and the rubber band, then play the waiting game.  The brushes I normally hang like this are large, round, or tapered face brushes like the NARS Yachiyo, the Real Techniques Blush Brush, or my MAC 187s.  The rest I hang over a free edge.

Whenever I remember, I'll use my fingers to comb through any brushes that look like they might be drying a little splayed -- remember, they'll all look a little splayed at first, since the outside hairs will dry faster and pull away from the damp, centre ones.  Don't panic too much, since they'll all fluff out when they dry.  Sometimes I'll also take half a tissue and wrap it tightly around my eye brushes, since I like them to be especially tapered.  It also makes them dry faster.  I don't recommend using this tissue-wrapping method with large, extremely dense brushes because the middle will never take forever and a day to dry and you run the risk of mould.

This post was inspired by a conversation with Gummy; you can read it in the comments section of this post.

Please do share any and all brush care tips and favourites!  If you don't know by now that I'm a brush maniac, you will soon (hint: brush collection...?)!

54 comments :

  1. This is so a good idea. Do you find they dry faster? I have radiators in my house so I just place my brushes flat on top with a towel underneath which makes them dry quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They dry a tiny bit faster, not a ton though. I don't like laying my brushes down flat because I find that they don't dry in the shape they're supposed to -- I don't mind it for flat brushes like the 239, but for full powder brushes, it's easier to hang them over an edge. Would kill for a radiator wide enough for my brushes -- I imagine they'd dry so quickly!

      Delete
  2. Haha this is so creative and really cute :) I usually lay my brushes with the bottom against something, so they're angled downward while they're drying (if that makes sense), just so no water runs into the ferrules, but I don't think it helps with dry time at all. Maybe I'll try this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to do that with paper towel! Let me know how this works for you =)

      Delete
  3. Well, this has mind blown me! It's is such a brilliant and creative way to dry brushes :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is awesome!! I combine my laziness + lack of creativity to the fact I don't wash them nearly often enough, nor take any special care when drying them... aside from arranging them at the edge of the a table top.

    :) I see this is something to aspire to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely don't wash them often enough -- hence wayyy too many brushes!

      Delete
  5. You are a beauty Macgyver girl! So cool haha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so funny that you say that, because when I posted this on my personal Facebook page, I captioned it: "the closest I will ever come to macgyvering!"

      Delete
  6. Great tips! Will definitely be trying this out the next time I clean my brushes :) x

    www.bowtiedbeauty.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm definitely trying this next time I need to dry my brushes, hopefully they won't be so misshapen! Thanks for the idea!

    Beautybabbless.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thats a great idea, I wouldn't never think to dry them like that :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's working out pretty well! Binder clips for the win!

      Delete
  9. lol! That is so awesome! At one point a long time ago I remember masking taping my brushes to the ledge of my shelf. That did the job too :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GREAT idea! Did the masking tape ever come unstuck by accident?

      Delete
  10. I did a post on the M.A.C brush cleanser which I think worked really well, I like the way you've dried your brushes here - very unique!

    Lauren xx

    http://covershootbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've actually never tried the MAC brush cleanser! The only commercial ones I've tried are the Clinique and Cinema Secrets ones.

      Delete
  11. So smart! What a great idea! I, unfortunately, do not have your Macguyver skills and actually bought the Sigma Dry 'N Shape. A bit expensive, but it does get the job done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've actually never tried anything from Sigma. Does it fit all sizes of brush?

      Delete
    2. It does! My brush collection is pretty small so it holds all my brushes when I do a major wash, but I'll usually wash a couple foundation/powder brushes once a week. And if needed, it also acts as a brush roll when I travel.

      Delete
  12. This is such a great idea! It also reminds me that my brushes are in dire need of a deep cleaning....it's my least favorite beauty chore :-/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine too, that's why I buy so many so I don't have to wash them as often :-P

      Delete
  13. Would've never thought to do this ... cool idea! Especially for those paranoid about getting water in the ferrule :p

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so fantastic and so uber helpful!!!! Thank you again for posting!!!!! I've got the rubber bands, but I need to order some clips! btw...what brush is in the middle...it looks kinda like the Sephora mineral powder brush...??

    Love this post!!! Thank you for the shout out :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so welcome! Clothespins also work if you have a thin roof where you can hang them. It is the Sephora mineral powder brush, I love it!

      Delete
  15. This looks like a great way to dry brushes! I just lay mine flat on a paper towel. Also, I'm having a giveaway--hope you enter :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do that for my flat shader brushes, or brushes that are generally good at keeping their shape.

      Delete
  16. What a very good way to dry those brushes! As much as I'd love to dry my brushes this way, I think I won't have enough space to put it this way as I always clean my brushes at one time so there are too many brushes to be put this way. Also my family member would nag at me if they see lots of brushes hanging in the toilet LOL :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't dry all of them this way, it would take a ton of space. I also don't dry them in the bathroom, I feel like they would take forever to dry because my bathroom is super humid

      Delete
  17. This is a great idea! I normally dry mine flat on top of a radiator, too.. Some of my shorter, stubbier brushes don't hang over the edge particularly well, though, so I might have to grab some of these clips and give your method a go!

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is such a clever idea! I always just lie mine flat on a towel but they take ages to dry that way so I'll be giving this a go instead :) x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I think drying time has a lot to do with the hairs they use for brushes.

      Delete
  19. This is a great idea, how cool. I actually cleaned my brushes this morning. I have about 20 of them drying right now. So I think your tool might be a bit too small to fit all my brushes, but I still think it's awesome that you came up with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm...20 brushes would be about 10 clips, I normally have about 5 - 6, so half your brushes would fit =D!

      Delete
  20. This is such a great way to dry and reshape your brushes x

    http://whatisinherwardrobe.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Actually, I'm already a follower of yours on GFC =) thanks for visiting!

    ReplyDelete
  22. LOL wow, this is amazing! I kinda lay my brushes down after I wash them and that's about it. I know it's not good to put them in a cup because the humidity gets trapped instead, but I've never thought about THIS! It's genius!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I do that too, but some of my brushes are weirdly top-heavy (e.g. EcoTools bronzing brush) so this method works especially well for those.

      Delete
  23. Nice! I love hoarding binder clips~ recently my brother tossed a container of mini clips at me...love it xD

    I used to tie them to a coat hanger, but got annoyed. So now I take a towel, roll one side, creating a slant, and lay my brushes on them that way. Not the best, I know, but not too bad. For some other brushes I use a sushi roller and stand them upright

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A sushi roller? Do share! I can't even picture it in my head.

      Delete
  24. Have you tried Benjabelle brush tree? Check it out ladies!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you for sharing this interesting and informative article, painting with airless spray gun will be faster and more interesting!


    ReplyDelete

Design by | SweetElectric