How to Clean Hair Products Off a Curling Iron

Hair products, such as hair spray and gel, build up on your curling iron.

Product buildup in the hair is resolved with clarifying shampoos, but product buildup doesn't occur only in the hair. Hair products build up on curling irons, too, creating a sticky, discolored film. Left unattended, the hair products continue to build up. Removing hair products from a curling iron keeps the curling iron in good working order and prevents your hair from getting stuck to the sticky hair products on your curling iron.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• Bowl
• Cleaning cloths
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls

Instructions

1. Combine 1 tbsp. baking soda with 1 tsp. water in a bowl. Stir the paste together with your fingers until mixed well.

2. 

   An old towel is handy for cleaning a curling iron.

   Dampen a clean cloth and squeeze out the excess moisture. Dip the cloth into the baking soda paste and rub it on the curling iron to remove the hair product buildup. Baking soda is a natural, mild abrasive that helps remove product buildup without scratching the surface of your curling iron.

3. Wipe the baking soda paste off the curling iron with a damp cloth. Dry the surface with a clean cloth.

4. Pour rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and squeeze out the excess. Wipe the rubbing alcohol on the curling iron wherever hair product buildup still lingers. Continue to wipe, using a new cotton ball if needed, until all the hair product residue is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Always unplug your curling iron and allow it to cool completely before cleaning.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Cleaning a Sticky Curling Iron