Snarl in my horsehair brush - is this common?

[OccamsBadger]

In addition to my badger and boar brushes, I have one Vie-Long horse hair brush - a butterscotch beehive from Bullgoose. For the last month, I'd been noticing a "hole" in the center of the knot and it was getting bigger. I went investigating today and found a big snarl of tangled hair in the center. I used a wide-toothed comb to gently get the snarl out and it's back to perfect. Only lost a few hairs in the process. While I have it fixed, I was wondering if this is common. Some questions:
1) Has anyone else here had this happen to them?
2) Is it just horsehair brushes? I've never had this happen to a boar or a badger.
3) Was using a comb the best way to fix this? I would love to hear other ideas.
4) Can I damage my brush by combing it? I wouldn't think so but I've learned a lot of things I'd never thought of on this board.
5) Any ideas how to prevent this from happening again? I'm thinking I used too much pressure swirling the brush on hard soaps. I've committed to using less and just soaping up the tips in the future. Any other thought?

Thanks, fellas. I look forward to your input.

 

[_JP_]

Badgers snarl.
Horses whinny.

I've never heard of your problem. I have combed most of my brushes with no problems. I don't see pressing down on the brush to be the cause. Perhaps it was hidden since new?

 

[Mark1966]

Yep, this is a common issue with horsehair brushes - there is a thread or two here on this issue somewhere.

It comes from using a swirling action either face lathering or using a lot of pressure in a bowl.

Going gently fixes it I think

 

[Lamar]

You're not along. Happened every time I used my former Vie-Long 13061 (given to brother for gift).

 

[malocchio]

I get that effect on one of my brushes,a VL 23mm horse...it comes from using too much pressure,which the tough horsehairs do not need to achieve a big mound of lather.It's harmless,and the hole usually disappears after a Mar-V-Cide bath that softens the hairs a bit.Ship-Shape powder may also be good as a remedy.

 

[Gone Gray]

I've had it happen to two of mine. I teased out the tangles and I worried that it would be a constant problem especially because horsehair brushes are my favorite, but it has never happened again. I am more careful about mashing down.

 

[SloBurn]

My VL Zurito started developing in it so I started combing it in the evenings after it has dried.
Even though it has stopped making cowlicks I still comb for good measure since it is just a three second task.

 

[Daiku]

I just got a Vie Long, and I had no idea this could happen. Thanks for the snarl-preventing wisdom, B&B!

 

[OccamsBadger]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! B&B is a great resource.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I just got a Vie Long, and I had no idea this could happen. Thanks for the snarl-preventing wisdom, B&B!

Daiku:

...I got a Vie-long too, but I haven't noticed this happening (yet?), to my Gonzalo (04102), Mixed Horse and Boar Brush too.

“Happiness is the [shaving] brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart”. Mort Walker

 

[celestino]

Yes, i have noticed this also, but only in my horse-hair brushes.

 

[joser]

I have this problem with my VL Pony too.

My VL Zurito started developing in it so I started combing it in the evenings after it has dried.
Even though it has stopped making cowlicks I still comb for good measure since it is just a three second task.

I have taken to brushing it out while it is still wet (just rinsed of lather). Which is more beneficial/less damaging: to comb it out wet or dry?

 

[oldbluelight]

Well aren't you supposed to curry your horse after you've ridden it hard enough to work it into a lather? The box my VL came in mentions light circular motions and I've been careful to follow directions. So far, so good )fingers crossed( - punctuation intended. Light rapid circles and painting motions produce mountains of lather in my bowl so I see no need for force and aggression.

 

[mekler]

I stopped using circular motions on mine because the hairs in the middle would tangle.. now I just use light back and forth motions and havent had an issue since.

 

[Sir_Eider]

Yep, I'm afraid that is a common issue in bleached horse brushes... I opened a thread about it and definitely they are not good brushes for facelathering with circular motions if you don't want problems with combed hairs...

I suppose that Vie&Long decided to launch mixed horse-badger hair brushes because of this problem long time ago, very popular here in Spain as cheap entry-level brushes.

Cheers!

 

[Daiku]

Yep, I'm afraid that is a common issue in bleached horse brushes... I opened a thread about it and definitely they are not good brushes for facelathering with circular motions if you don't want problems with combed hairs...

I suppose that Vie&Long decided to launch mixed horse-badger hair brushes because of this problem long time ago, very popular here in Spain as cheap entry-level brushes.

Cheers!

Interesting. My 12601 is not bleached, so maybe it's less prone to snarling (I hope).

Muchas gracias, amigo!

 

[SloBurn]

It seems to me that the 50/50 mane/tail brushes are more likely to have that problem
The 35/65 name/tail brushes are stiffer and they are less likely to have that issue.
At least my VL Peleon never had the snarl. It whips up lather faster than any other brush I own.
Not bad for twenty bucks!

 

[mftoms59]

Of the ~20 + V-L Horse Hairs I've owned it only happened to one of my first, a Natural Brown, just comb it out and use less pressure. I face lather 99% of the time with Natural Brown & Banded Horse, use circular motions with very little pressure and the problem has never returned.

For those who prefer the 50/50 (Banded), it is now offered in unbanded Natural White and they look good.

 

[Oscroft]

For those who prefer the 50/50 (Banded), it is now offered in unbanded Natural White and they look good.

Oh, wow, they do look good! I've been wanting to try the 50/50 hair, but I really don't like the dyed banded look, but I really now want one of these.

 

[mftoms59]

Oh, wow, they do look good! I've been wanting to try the 50/50 hair, but I really don't like the dyed banded look, but I really now want one of these.

I sent an e-mail requesting the Natural White in the 13066 set @48mm