Thread: Brush Irritation

I would say your problem is a combination of your facial cleaning routine and the added abrasion of the straight razor causing a layer of skin that is either being additionally abraded by the brush, or more likely the fresh skin is having an allergic reaction to the bristles.
Many people are stuck in the routine of a facial scrub, but with a straight they are unnecessary. The exfoliation caused by the razor is plenty for healthy skin. There is also a possibility of your cleanser causing a chemical exfoliation thus increasing the irritation.
Along the lines of abrasion there is a possibility that when you use your fingers you find yourself adding a little extra water to the lather creating an extra slick surface. Or with the difference in lather your could be shaving slightly different; either an angle or pressure change.
Just some thoughts.

-G

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

Many people are stuck in the routine of a facial scrub, but with a straight they are unnecessary. The exfoliation caused by the razor is plenty for healthy skin.
-G

Thanks for your observations, I will certainly try a shave without the scrub, but using a brush to see if the irritation is lessened or disappears altogether

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

I would say your problem is a combination of your facial cleaning routine and the added abrasion of the straight razor causing a layer of skin that is either being additionally abraded by the brush, or more likely the fresh skin is having an allergic reaction to the bristles.

-G

Just an update, I tried a shave without the scrub irritation disappeared.
I made some lather applied with the brush, no irritation, then showered and scrubbed, completed the shave irritation returned.
So brush or no brush Scrub or no scrub my choice
So your synopsis was correct Deighaingeal thanks.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread.

Glad I could be of some service.

-G

You might also try separating your shave from your facial scrubbing, by putting one at each end of the day. You might end up with the best of both worlds then.



Mick

Good on deighaingeal for digging in and asking questions, and listening to the answers.

I too have sensitive skin. I used to be very skeptical that something as soft and luxurious as a badger brush could actually have exfoliating properties, but it definitely does. I love stiff brushes, but they don't love me back. I would get occasional irritation, and was never sure why.

Then one day, had just bought a new shaving brush (a stiff Rooney), and was lathering up multiple times using two other brushes and the Rooney, to compare them. No shave mind you, just lathering and rinsing multiple times. When I was done, my cheeks looked like they were sunburned! Very embarrassing.

I grudgingly switched to softer brushes (Kents mostly), and haven't had an issue since. In the process, I've honestly come to prefer softer brushes, especially the big Kents. The one "flier" I have is a Straight Razor Designs brush in super that is quite stiff in terms of backbone, but has the softest tips of any brush I've ever tried. Never an issue.