How to Clean a ghd Glide Hot Brush
The ghd Glide combines heated short and long bristles in a fixed electrical brush head, so shed hair and styling film can become trapped where a flat-iron wipe cannot reach. ghd's official instruction is concise but specific: once the Glide is cool and disconnected from mains power, remove excess hair with your hands or a comb, then clean between the bristles with a damp towel or wipe. That sequence matters because wetting a packed clump first turns dry residue into a harder-to-remove mat. The brush must never be immersed, rinsed or cleaned while warm, and the fixed bristles should not be bent with a metal pick. This guide covers the original Glide and current Glide+ family while requiring the exact manual for regional voltage and construction differences. It also separates removable buildup from a cracked bristle, loose heated element or damaged cord.
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Primary reference: ghd official Glide cleaning instructions. Always check the manual for your exact model.
Quick reference
- Power state
- Off, unplugged and completely cool.
- Hair removal
- Lift with hands or a smooth comb before adding moisture.
- Surface clean
- Use a damp towel or wipe between the bristles.
- Avoid
- Rinsing, immersion, solvents, metal picks and cleaning while warm.
- Power on when
- The entire brush field, handle and cord entry are dry and intact.
What you will need
- The manual for the exact ghd Glide or Glide+ model
- A wide-tooth or tail comb with smooth edges
- Clean fingers for lifting loose hair
- A soft towel or wipe dampened with clean water
- A dry lint-free cloth
- A wooden or plastic blunt tool only if the manual permits it
- A heat-safe ventilated drying surface
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Switch off, unplug and cool completely
Turn the Glide off, remove the plug by holding the plug body and place the tool on a heat-resistant dry surface. Wait until the base, bristles and surrounding plate are fully at room temperature. Automatic sleep mode is not a substitute for physically disconnecting power.
Step 2: Examine the bristle field before cleaning
Under bright light, identify bands of hair, lint and product film. Check the cord entry, handle and every tall and short bristle for cracks or movement. Do not continue with damp cleaning if the housing is split, a heated part is loose or the cord is damaged.
Step 3: Lift loose hair with fingers
ghd recommends pulling excess hair free with your hands or a comb. Start at the outer edge and lift small sections upward rather than tightening them around the bristle bases. Work across the cooled brush in rows and discard the hair as it comes free.
Step 4: Use a smooth comb for wrapped strands
Slide the end of a smooth comb beneath a hair loop and raise it gently. Do not saw against bristles, use scissors near the heated base or push a metal pin between electrical components. If a loop resists, loosen it from another angle instead of levering against one bristle.
Step 5: Wipe between bristles with controlled moisture
Dampen a soft towel or use a non-dripping water-based wipe, then work it between the cooled bristles as ghd directs. Wrap a small section of cloth around a fingertip for control. Avoid saturating the brush bed, handle seams, switch or cord entry.
Step 6: Address styling-product film in passes
Make several gentle damp passes rather than adding stronger cleaner. Turn to a clean part of the cloth when it becomes tacky. Do not use acetone, alcohol, aerosol cleaner, oil, polish or an abrasive pad; residue from those products can be reheated the next time the tool is used.
Step 7: Dry the handle and bristle field
Wipe accessible surfaces with a dry lint-free cloth, then leave the Glide bristles-up in moving room air. Do not reconnect it to test whether heat will speed drying. Avoid a sink edge, humid bathroom, closed drawer, hair dryer and direct radiator heat.
Step 8: Inspect before storage or power
Confirm that no hair bridges the bristles, no sticky film remains and the switch, cord entry and brush bed are dry. Coil the cord loosely without wrapping it tightly around the hot brush. If the tool smells electrically burned, flashes, has a loose bristle or shows housing damage, stop using it and contact ghd support.
Specific cleaning questions
Open a question for a concise answer about stains, odors, safety, frequency, and troubleshooting.