Is your vanity or medicine cabinet one big hodgepodge of lipsticks, tweezers, mascaras and perfume samples? We applaud your vast array of beauty essential, but there’s a good chance you’re storing your beauty tools all wrong.
If you want your favorite tools stand the test of time, storage is critical so that they don’t break, scratch other tools or become less effective. Below, five top beauty experts let us in on the best way to store and maintain our most-beloved beauty tools.
Hair dryers/curling wands/straightening irons. As soon as you’re finished using a hot hair tool, unplug it and loosely wrap the cord around the tool once it’s cooled down, says Jeff Chastain, celebrity hairstylist and creator of
PARLOR by Jeff Chastain. “If you wrap too tight you can break down the wires where they connect to the tool,” Chastain says. “Leave a little give so it doesn’t kink, and gently wrap around the tool so you aren’t putting any corners or bends that could someday snap.” If you need to clean the metal portion of your tool, make sure it’s unplugged and then use dish soap and water on a towel to scrub off any product. Styling on the go and not sure where to place your still-too-hot-to-store tool? “Keep a heat resistant towel to wrap around your hair tool so that it doesn’t burn or melt anything it touches, including its own cord,” Chastain says.
Tweezers. Take those tweezers out of your makeup bag, a place where celebrity makeup artist
Julia Dalton-Brush says they’re liable to get banged up and become dull. “The best way to keep your tweezers is in a glass on your counter/toilet top with the edge up so they won’t be knocked around,” Dalton-Brush says. If you prefer to store them in a carrying case so you can groom on the go, Dalton-Brush recommends keeping a plastic tip on them so that they don’t hit anything while you’re moving around.
Nail clippers/scissors. Tired of digging around in your makeup bag for nail clippers and scissors? Luciana Hipolito, a bridal makeup artist and esthetician at
Blushing Brides Boston, came up with a genius and elegant way of storing these tools: attach a small wall magnet to a discreet area in your bathroom where you can easily attach nail clippers, scissors and even bobby pins. Separating these tools from others will help prevent them from losing their sharpness.
Makeup brushes. Two words: take cover. Makeup brushes should be stored in an upright covered canister, says pro makeup artist and beauty expert Jennifer Trotter of
Lip Service Makeup. She recommends
Sigma’s Brush Cup Holder, but says several brands make them. Another option? Tuck brushes into the pockets of a brush roll like Rapaport Dermatology of Beverly Hills and clinical instructor at the University of Southern California. Here’s how to prevent that from happening: “Rinse them, squeeze out excess water and let them dry completely between uses,” Shainhouse says. “Consider tossing your washcloth into the laundry after using it and either soak your loofah in some water with white vinegar or throw it into the dishwasher to sanitize it.”
For more beauty tips and news, check out
6 sites that give you cash or credit for beauty products and
8 high tech beauty products that need to be on your radar.
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