Prickly brushes?

[Buck101]

Hey guys! I'm entirely new to the whole vintage/luxury shaving community and thought maybe you could help me out on this one.

I just ordered an Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush (link below) and I'm a bit disappointing. I found the hairs on the brush to be very "prickly" and itchy when used on my face. By the time I use the brush to lather on my face it feels so itchy/irritated I didn't even want to shave. The only thing I can think to compare it to is if you've ever put on a scarf that was so itchy and irritating that you had to take it off after 10 seconds of trying it.

What gives?

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Edw...ng-Brush-Imitation-Tortoise-Shell_p_1743.html

It wasn't a super cheap brush. I understand that some silvertips can go for $100 - 300, but I still should be able to get a decent brush at $40 or slightly below. Don't get me wrong - it seems to be well crafted and feels great in your hands but the hairs are so irritating to me.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I'm not sure what to tell you about your current brush, as I've never had a badger. I can say that there are other brushes that do not feel "prickly." My Muhle synthetic is incredibly soft, and my B&B Essentials boar (after break-in) is not prickly either although it does feel different (more backbone/stiffer/some scrub but not scratch).

If no one has any ideas on how to make it less prickly, can you return it?

 

[brucered]

Shave brushes can't be returned, especially not once used, unless it was clearly defective (this one sounds normal)

pure badger is the lowest grade there is, and is likely just the nature of the hair.

breaking it in with more use and test lathers may soften it up, but it will probably always be prickly and just the way some lower grade badger brushes are.

there are some decent options in the sub $50 range that shouldn't be prickly or scritchy, but pure badger is not one of them and most of the price paid for the EJ was probably for the name.

 

[Buck101]

Apparently Edwin Jagger rates their hairs as Pure, Best, Super, and Silver tip. So in reality the EJ "Best" is probably what others may call pure. I feel pretty cheated right now.

 

[Frankthetank]

I also found the "best" qualities to be too prickly and scratchy for my face on several brands. If you go for Muhle or EJ silvertip fibre synthetic, they you'll have absolutely no problem with the brush being too harsh. VERY soft tips. The 23mm knot is my fave. I also found a well broken in boar brush to be very very nice, try the Semogue 620, but give it several test lathers and a few weeks worth of shaving to see it's true colors.

 

[jkh]

Apparently Edwin Jagger rates their hairs as Pure, Best, Super, and Silver tip. So in reality the EJ "Best" is probably what others may call pure. I feel pretty cheated right now.

There is not a standard hair grading system, so each makers' system is different. You could sell in the BST to recoup some of your cost and get something different. Ask for advice before your next purchase! You might also try paint brush stokes instead of circles. Also, don't face lather if it irritates your skin, try bowl lathering or palm lathering.

Edit: looks like you'll need a few more posts to qualify to sell in the BST.

 

[RobW]

It's black badger hair, which is notoriously not soft. Similar to Pure, I think...I bet it has a ton of backbone at least. At the <$40 price mark, try boar brushes. For that price, you could get two!

 

[Big Jim]

What you need is a Whipped Dog Silvertip.

I have a Best brush. It has improved with use, but it is somewhat "scritchy". Not as scritchy as the Black Badger I have (which is also improving with use).

You can stay in your price range either with a Whipped Dog Silvertip or a Chinese Finest or Silvertip from ebay.

 

[musicman1951]

One solution for your less than satisfying investment: bowl lather and then only use paint brush strokes to apply the lather. You will avoid much of the irritation.

There is a lot of variety in brushes. Believe it or not, some people like a scritchy brush.

 

[August West]

Believe it or not, some people like a scritchy brush.

I am one of those.

 

[infotech]

You could also try cleaning it using this method to soften it up. It won't feel like a silvertip, or even a standard best, but it may help. http://www.shaveinfo.com/videos/brush_cleaning.htm

 

[StanStill]

I have a black badger brush, and it had the same itchy quality when I got it... I've found that soaking in a sinkfull of warm to hot water while I shower really helps a lot. When I get out, it's just the right amount of scritch, but no scratch.

 

[oscar11]

IME, that's just the way black badger is. I'm not a fan of it either.

 

[Danuhoh]

I own a EJ BB and have used it for many years. I do not find it scritchy/prickly at all.......very soft actually.

If you have only used it once I would definitely give it more time. Additionally, I know some mention that they use Shampoo conditioner on a brush to "soften" it. Maybe others can chime in on whether this works or not.

Edit: I see by the link that yours is "black badger", which I believe is a lower grade than mine.

 

[ChiefBroom]

I have a black badger brush, and it had the same itchy quality when I got it... I've found that soaking in a sinkfull of warm to hot water while I shower really helps a lot. When I get out, it's just the right amount of scritch, but no scratch.

Here we go again. Scritch, as best defined, is a combination of mild scratch and itch.

Itch is itch.

Scratch is scratch.

Scratch + itch is scritch.

 

[August West]

Pickly brushes?

Spoiler

 

[ChiefBroom]

Pickly brushes?

Spoiler

View attachment 385118

+1

 

[igasho]

By the time I use the brush to lather on my face it feels so itchy/irritated I didn't even want to shave. The only thing I can think to compare it to is if you've ever put on a scarf that was so itchy and irritating that you had to take it off after 10 seconds of trying it.

I know the feeling you are describing exactly. I got a Simpson Special 1 Pure Badger Shaving Brush becuase I was curious about simpson handle material and the bristles almost feel like they are made of steel wool style material and its extremely irritating to use it and my face HATES it. Very very prickly and lots of scritch. I think if you are willing to spend a little more time breaking the brush in you may get the ends to split a bit more which will soften them up however I doubt the backbone of the bristles would ever go away. If you watch the B/S/T closely you will be able to pick up a much softer and "better" brush pretty quickly. I have a no name silvertip small handled brush that I was able to pick up for about $20 +S&H off the B/S/T and it has a bit more backbone than my Rooney 3/1 and is a little more "scritchy" however its no where near as stiff or irritating as the Simpson. I definately think the best option would be to pick up a used brush thats already broken in and will give you a good taste of the difference between brush types.

 

[StanStill]

Touché Chief,

I meant that it tickles the whiskers just enough to wake them up and lather them, but doesn't irritate the face. I kinda thought an exerienced shaver would sort of infer what was meant based on the context of the question.

 

[Cagliostro]

Never had one of these, cheapest brush I have is my Tweezerman and it is soft so...unsure what to say on this besides maybe breaking it in through bowl or hand lathering on off day's? Perhaps using a conditioner on it now and again. If that dosn't do it, well suppose it is time for a trade off or a new brush all together.