How to Say “Brush Your Hair” in Spanish

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cepíllate el pelo
/θepiʝate el pelo/from spelling rules
To say "brush your hair" in Spanish, use cepíllate el pelo.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to untangle or smooth the hair on their head using a brush. While cepillarse el pelo specifically implies the use of a brush, the related term peinarse is a more general way to say to comb, style or tidy one's hair.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase cepíllate el pelo is composed of the verb cepillar (to brush), the reflexive pronoun te (yourself) and the noun phrase el pelo (the hair).

Which one should you use?

Cepilla tu pelo and Peina tu cabello are informal ways to suggest brushing or styling, whereas Cepille su pelo is a formal alternative. Note that peinarse covers a broader range of hair grooming than specifically brushing.

How does it change in a sentence?

The form cepíllate el pelo is the informal imperative (tú command) used when speaking to a friend, child or peer.

How do you pronounce it?

/θepiʝate el pelo/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly use the possessive adjective tu (your) instead of the definite article el (the) when referring to body parts in Spanish. Avoid saying cepíllate tu pelo and use cepíllate el pelo instead.

Did you know?

  • The word pelo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pile', which refers to the fine, short hair or fibers found on certain animals or fabrics.
  • In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you tell someone to peinarse, you are not just telling them to brush, but potentially suggesting they fix their entire appearance or 'get ready'.
  • If you use the word cepillo in a different context, it can also mean 'a brush' used for cleaning surfaces or even a 'broom' in certain regional variations.

Examples in context

  • Cepíllate el pelo antes de salir.
    Brush your hair before leaving.
  • Cepíllate el pelo para evitar nudos.
    Brush your hair to avoid knots.

Example conversation

Lucía is helping Daniel get ready for a party.

  1. Lucía

    Daniel, cepíllate el pelo un poco.
    Daniel, brush your hair a little.
  2. Daniel

    Está bien, lo haré ahora.
    Okay, I will do it now.
  3. Lucía

    Te verás mucho mejor así.
    You will look much better that way.
  4. Daniel

    Gracias por el consejo, Lucía.
    Thanks for the advice, Lucía.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Florence Miranda
Florence MirandaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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