Thread: Allergy to Badger Hair?

Hey guys so has anyone ever had a problem with badger hair or face lathering? I have a Rooney 3/1 in super silvertip that I have used for about a year or so now and never had a problem but more recently I have switched from bowl to face lathering and have noticed my face starting to get very red and burning while I lather. I am trying to pinpoint it to being an issue with either the brush, face lathering, or the soap I am using as it is a newer soap for me.

I find face lathering a bit more exfoliating since it is on my face longer. Maybe try a soap you have used before with no irritation and try to narrow things down a bit as to what it could be.

Yep, try a different soap since that's the easiest to rule out. if that isn't it try a cheap boar brush or synthetic and see what happens. What kind of badger are you using? Pure can be very scratchy and did you really clean it out when you got it?

It is a Rooney 3/1 in super silvertip I have had it for over a year and have never had an issue with the brush before and I clean it about every 6 months. I just was not sure if the difference in bowl lathering vs face lathering could be a potential culprit. Since I started face lathering with this soap, I feel like it will most likely be an allergy to the lanolin that is in the soap.

I'd suspect the soap. Just change one thing at a time to get the real culprit. In my experience the only difference between face and bowl lathering ends at the bowl or puck. Once on the face it is the same animal. IMHO.

With age, Immune systems change,things that I never had any issues with 20 yrs ago,I have issues with today.
It sucks,but such is life.
Could be the brush,could be your soap,as jim says, eliminate one thing at a time.

Just to add if anyone has ever had an issue with face lathering causing redness or stinging that would be helpful to know as I have been face lathering and have never done this method before.

Since you've been using this brush for about a year and you're just now noticing an issue, it's not likely the brush. When troubleshooting problems like this, suspect your last change first. As other has stated, start with your soap. New soap, many ingredients in the soap, best probability that's your problem.

If it isn't the soap, you might want to try using painting strokes for face lathering. It tends to be gentler on skin.