I was looking through the forum and found several old posts where users have complained that creams like Nivea, which contains the ingredient dimethicone, have 'clogged' up their nice brushes. How many of you refuse to use your brushes with creams such as Nivea? I am personally a fan of the product, but am wondering what the consensus is here (if there is such a thing as consensus on B&B) when it comes to using it with nicer, not cheap, brushes. I believe Rudy V is in the habit of purchasing Nivea cream when in Europe, and he did not mention a fear of dimethicone contaminating his badger brushes. Thanks.
Dimethicone in Creams with High End Brushes?
- Thread starter Swistak
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- #2
*Correction: I am referring to *shaving creams containing the ingredient dimethicone. Some people dislike it as they worry that it will 'coat' the hairs of their nicer brushes. Most don't mind if using a cheap boar or any synthetic, but I have heard that owners of higher end badger brushes worry about the potential for dimethicone 'build-up' on the hair or in the knot, which is potentially annoying to clean out. Oddly enough, most people don't seem to worry about shampooing and conditioning their brushes, even though most conditioners contain silicones and dimethicones! I don't intend to trigger anyone's OCD, but I wanted to bring attention to a minor concern that I have noticed on our English-speaking forums. It also seems to be a concern with the European enthusiasts, who, with their even greater access to the German Nivea creams, seem not to recommend it on their forums when it comes to owners of premium brushes.
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lasta
Blade Biter
It's only a problem if you are in California.
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- #4
I tend to think the same way!
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- #5
You get it in Nivea 2-in-1 Aftershave — it's another name for the group of chain compounds called polydimethylsiloxanes, that mimic alkanes.
Polydimethylsiloxane - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydimethylsiloxane
It doesn't sound like a good soap ingredient to me, but works well in post-shave products.
Polydimethylsiloxane - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydimethylsiloxane
It doesn't sound like a good soap ingredient to me, but works well in post-shave products.
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Chandu
I Waxed The Badger.
Ok. but how do they KNOW it's the dimethicone and not some other product. Another issue I would take with "nice brushes" is that in 2024 that means chemically burned tips "gelled" "bleached" whatever. I don't consider them to be natural hair after that abuse. Maybe that makes them more prone to react with some substances, I don't know.
On the other hand, I only tried one Nivea shave product that lathered and I simply didn't like it. Fake smell like all all other "modern" products and didn't seem that great.
lasta
Blade Biter
I get you, and I completely agree.
Badger and boar hairs in our brushes are no longer attached to a living animal and used for purposes unknown to mother nature.
I don't consider them natural products either.
Great question, I have been wondering myself whether the Nivea dimethicone scare has any solid foundation.
Nivea shaving creams have been around for ages and except for a few cautionary tales, mainly on this site, I found no anecdotal evidence for Nivea shaving cream having ever clogged a brush.
(Which makes it sound like the story about breaking in boar brushes by storing them overnight in a fridge, which is actually based on a misunderstanding of the original Italian language video, that then took a life of its own.)
In many countries (e.g. Canada and Europe), Nivea shaving cream remains the staple shaving cream found in supermarket and drugstore shelves, which makes me doubt the veracity of the claim.
I generally like Nivea products, grew up at a time when every caring mother seemed to use the ubiquitous Nivea creme in the blue tin on her child, but just could not muster the energy to ask Nivea directly.
You see, like many of us, I have so many shaving soaps and creams lying around that it (sadly) does not seem to make a difference.
B.
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Well, I finally did it and contacted Nivea in Germany.
Let’s see how they respond…
I hope they‘re better than Tabac (Mäurer & Wirtz), who never bothered to respond to my e-mail, thereby loosing a once loyal customer.
B.
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- #11
That is interesting. What did you happen to ask them?
Dimethicone has been included since the 1990s, there's nothing to worry about clogging your expensive brushes. Might cause a white film on DE door.
Please refer to post #1 and #9 in this thread.
I think dimethicone is found in many shampoos, hair conditioners, etc. If you washed your hair with one of these, your hair might appear softer and shinier, but it would not "clog up" your hair. It's also found in body lotions, moisturizers, diaper rash creams, etc. It doesn't form an impenetrable barrier. However, if you were wanting an "all natural" product without synthetic ingredients you would want to avoid it.
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This is precisely my train of thought and the reason that I sent an e-mail to Nivea.
None of the claims about the supposed clogging provided any real evidence and always sounded more like speculation to me.
If anyone has any evidence, I would like to hear it.
Failing that, I’ll accept what Nivea, as manufacturer, might have to say.
B.
Last night, I received the reply from Nivea, the essence of which, translated from German, I have quoted below.
You tell us that your shaving forum {sic} claims that dimethicone clings to the hair and bristles of shaving brushes. You asked us for reports and experiences to refute this.
We would be happy to answer your question. While do not have any study results on this - we can give you the following:
Dimethicone is a silicone commonly used in cosmetics and grooming products, including shaving creams. It has several properties that can be beneficial for both the shaving brush and razor blades:
Lubricity: Dimethicone provides a smooth and gliding texture that makes it easier for the blade to glide over the skin. This can help reduce skin irritation and razor burn.
Moisturizing: Dimethicone also has moisturizing properties that can help protect and nourish the skin during shaving. This can be especially beneficial for sensitive skin.
Protective film: It forms a thin protective film on the skin that protects the skin from friction and irritation. This can also help protect the blades from corrosion by creating a barrier against moisture and other environmental influences.
Ease of cleaning: Dimethicone can make cleaning the shaving brush easier because it helps evenly distribute the shaving cream and minimize residue.
Overall, Dimethicone helps improve the shaving experience by increasing lubrication, protecting the skin, and assisting in the maintenance of shaving tools.
We hope this information is helpful.
While Nivea stated that they did not conduct a detailed study into the clogging of brush fibres; the use of dimethicone in shampoos, together with the enduring use of Nivea shaving cream without actual evidence of clogging, suggests to me that the risk of clogging, as mentioned occasionally in shaving forums, is likely to be overstated and that I should use the product without worrying too much about the longevity of my shaving brushes.
This is my conclusion, yours might well be different…
B.
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