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9 genius toothbrush beauty hacks you never could have imagined

When you think of a powerhouse beauty product, the lowly toothbrush may not come to mind — but perhaps it should!
/ Source: TODAY

Think of your favorite beauty product. Was it a toothbrush?

This lowly, oral hygiene staple probably wasn't the first to come to mind — but maybe it should be.

“There are so many things you can do with a toothbrush,” says Nancy Alegreto, hairstylist at the Waldorf Astoria Spa in Boca Raton, Florida. “It’s an affordable beauty accessory that’s in every household. Once you realize all the different ways you can use it, you’ll find yourself keeping one in your purse.”

But not all toothbrushes are made alike.

“You can find tons of styles, but I recommend one with flat bristles, like the Reach Crystal Clean Full Head Firm Toothbrush,” Alegreto continues. “If the bristles are all the same size, it makes it a little easier to control for alternate beauty uses.”

TODAY's YouTube Social Star, Angela Cruz, shares nine simple beauty hacks you can do with a toothbrush to save you time, money and stress. Talk about a powerhouse product!

Hair

1. Fight flyaways.

Since a toothbrush head is smaller than a traditional hair brush, it’s even easier to be precise when spot-grooming your ‘do. Simply spritz a flexible-hold hairspray, like Living Proof’s Control Hairspray, on a dry toothbrush and lightly run it over flyaways to smooth and tame frizz.

2. Lift limp locks.

There's no need to buy a teasing comb when a toothbrush will work just as well. Raise sections of hair directly above your head, spray roots with a texturizing spray, like this one from Oribe, then gently backcomb to get a voluminous style.

RELATED: Short on time? Use these tips to shave minutes off your blowout

3. Fix a filthy filter.

De-lint the vent of your blowdryer by frequently using a toothbrush to clean out any built-up gunk. This will help it work more efficiently, shortening your blowout time.

Face

Toothbrush beauty hacks
Angela Cruz

4. Tame unruly brows.

Skip the spoolie brush and grab a toothbrush to brush your brows into place. In a pinch, you can even use a clear lip balm, like Maybelline’s Baby Lips, to lock the hairs into place.

RELATED: 17 drugstore brow buys celebrity specialists swear by

5. De-clump mascara.

If you accidentally apply too much mascara, remove the excess by swiping a clean toothbrush through your lashes from root to tip. Your clumps will be gone in a snap, but be sure to avoid infection by only using a new or sanitized toothbrush.

6. Exfoliate lips.

Why buy a lip scrub when a toothbrush is just as effective? Simply apply petroleum jelly or any lip moisturizer, like this one from Bath & Body Works, and rub a damp toothbrush gently over your lips to slough off any flakes.

Nails

Toothbrush beauty hacks
Angela Cruz

7. Cultivate well-kept cuticles.

Using a toothbrush is handy way to give your nails some home TLC. Apply a softening cream or oil, such as Jason’s Vitamin E Oil, directly onto your cuticles. Then massage the toothbrush bristles in a circular motion around your fingertips to get rid of dead skin.

8. Nail your nail art.

Think all those trendy nail art styles are out of your realm? Bring out your inner graffiti artist by painting your nails a solid color, like Red Chili Pepper by Rimmel, then dabbing a toothbrush in a contrasting color, like Blanc by Essie. Dot the toothbrush all over your mani for an abstract effect.

RELATED: Not into nail art? 11 simple designs and tricks that will change your mind

9. Keep nail beds clean.

If you don’t have time for a full manicure, here's an easy way to keep your nails clean and well-groomed. Run a wet toothbrush over a bar of soap and then scrub your nails to remove dirt within seconds.

Now that you know these quick and easy beauty hacks, think twice before you toss that spare toothbrush from the dentist!