Owww...pure badger...

[verdict]

I recently purchased a Vulfix Pure Badger brush from Bullgoose shaving, and for the most part I was happy with it. It was under $20 and it was a badger.

Sounds pretty good, right?

That's what I thought, until today, after my third shave with it. My face felt worse than my first use of alum without the cold rinse. I'm sure it wasn't my razor technique as this sort of burn didn't occur with my VDH boar.

I think I'm going to have to put the brush to the side for a while as I look for a better alternative.

Are all pure badgers like this?

 

[Greybeard]

Do you mean that you're getting irritation from the badger hair scrubbing on your face or that your shave itself is giving you more burn?

Pure badger is more prickly than a broken-in boar brush. It's possible that you're getting "badger burn" from the brush.

Badger hair also holds more water than boar. It could be that your lather is thinner and not as protective due to more water in the mix. Your badger brush may also require a few more swirls on a soap puck than a boar to pick up enough product.

I've never used a Vulfix pure badger, but I have a Muhle pure badger along with several other brushes (yes, I have SBAD). I've never had a problem with it irritating my face. I have found that each of my brushes is different in water retention and the amount of product it takes to build a good lather.


- Peter

 

[valmara1971]

Sounds likely you have this problem nailed GB. There are also some very unlucky folks who are alergic to badger hair it seems hope your not that guy!

 

[cvac]

I started with a Vulfix pure and found it irritated my face. My recommendations would be to NOT face lather, and use primarily gentle, paintbrush motions to apply your lather. Should cut down on the brush burn. Also, watch your razor technique and lather. If you are still getting the hang of things, odds are you are scraping your face anyway, which is just making it even worse. Most pure grade brushes are pretty prickly...if you want a soft brush, you'll have to pay a bit more for a higher grade like silvertip...I highly doubt you are allergic to badger hair as that is very rare.

 

[nav]

I have owned just one pure badger previously...it gave me horrible badger burn and even a RASH on my neck! I hated it so much, I would never ever recommend it to anyone. If a newbie wanted a cheap brush, I would recommend a boar brush (which is actually what I now use fulltime, I find them softer than even the most silver of silvertips!)

 

[Huxley]

I would suggest too much water in the lather mix as well, i normally use a cheap ebay silvertip but when i first used my shavemac my lather was far too thin until i realised the brush being that much better was holding more water.

 

[kingfisher]

I have owned just one pure badger previously...it gave me horrible badger burn and even a RASH on my neck! I hated it so much, I would never ever recommend it to anyone. If a newbie wanted a cheap brush, I would recommend a boar brush (which is actually what I now use fulltime, I find them softer than even the most silver or silvertips!)

This. Broken in boar is soft on the face, very pleasant.

 

[verdict]

I started with a Vulfix pure and found it irritated my face. My recommendations would be to NOT face lather, and use primarily gentle, paintbrush motions to apply your lather. Should cut down on the brush burn. Also, watch your razor technique and lather. If you are still getting the hang of things, odds are you are scraping your face anyway, which is just making it even worse. Most pure grade brushes are pretty prickly...if you want a soft brush, you'll have to pay a bit more for a higher grade like silvertip...I highly doubt you are allergic to badger hair as that is very rare.

+1

I do get some razor burn with my boar but not as much as I do with my pure.

I guess I'll have to take your recommendation to avoid face lathering.

I feel sort of bad...I bought the wrong brush!

 

[Go West Young Man]

I would put odds on it not being the brush (thousands of guys face lather with that setup every day) but on the fact that you haven't learned how to properly lather with it yet. Might be worthwhile to bowl lather, at least until you get the hang of it.

 

[cvac]

Yep. You need to work on your technique. Make sure your lather is cushiony and thick enough. It's not supposed to be super airy like foam in a can. If you are using soap, go back to cream and make sure you use enough product. A pea sized amount of cream isn't nearly enough. Also watch the blade angle. When you can shave without getting razor burn, you know you've got things down.

+1

I do get some razor burn with my boar but not as much as I do with my pure.

 

[texbilly]

I would agree with various comments that if your mix is right, your proper lather will mask any relative roughness of the brush quality. However, I think we've all had that day when it's not right and the extra work on your face exposes the characteristics of the brush's knot - and we feel it! I've experienced this with both finest and pure badgers alike.

 

[verdict]

I would put odds on it not being the brush (thousands of guys face lather with that setup every day) but on the fact that you haven't learned how to properly lather with it yet. Might be worthwhile to bowl lather, at least until you get the hang of it.

Yes, my lather is not picturesque. Not blaming the brush for the lather but the prickly hairs definitely add to the burn.

I'll have to experiment with the amount of water and product a bit more with this brush.