Thread: Horsehair anyone ?

I bought the Turkish horsehair brush. I'm very pleased with the way it performs, but there's still a faint odour to the brush which I don't like at all. Anyone else has that experience (with the same brand or others) ?

Originally Posted by decraew

I bought the Turkish horsehair brush. I'm very pleased with the way it performs, but there's still a faint odour to the brush which I don't like at all. Anyone else has that experience (with the same brand or others) ?

The Bestshave #6 does smell a little when new. It just needs some multiple cleanings with shampoo or dish soap, a bit of hair conditioner, some test lathering, and I've heard if you let it air out outside that helps. The scent will eventually go away. Most of the new brushes I've used whether badger, boar or horse do have an initial funk about them.

+1 to that. Having two new bestshave brushes, they both have a bit of a scent...even the more broken in of the two has a faint aroma. I'm going to try breaking in the newer one on some Williams Mug Soap A) It's super cheap ($.90) B) It has a stronger (than my usual soap) Citronella scent which I prefer, and C) It did a good job of removing the funk from my VDH Boar brush (though the VDH did not have the same degree of odor).

FWIW and YMMV though I'd be willing to post an update on how things go, say in a week? The more broken in brush only has the faintest of odor I only notice rarely, but it lather's a million times better than my VDH Boar. It's fantastic.

Just got a new # 7 today in the mail. I've soaked it in H2o and I have to say that the horsey funk actually smells more like a disinfectant than dirty animal smell (like you experience with some badgers and boars) When I soak a new badger or boar my dog get all excited from the smell. He is not intrigued by this brush in the slightest? It kind of smells like a super strong high potent Arko? It doesn't smell earthy like even the vie long horsehair does when it's new. The smell will go away with use, I have a #6 I've been using for quite a few months and it has no scent at all

+1 to that. I agree. It doesn't smell "bad" like animal musk or something. It's just a funky smell, not really offensive, but not pleasant either.

I've relegated my Boar brush to the same locale as my DE's. I'll be using my #7 exclusively until I feel the #6 is properly broken in...then we'll see.

Peace,

I don't recall mine needing to be broken in. It's not one of my favorite brushes (to floppy maybe I should have set the knot lower) so mine doesn't get much face time. Very soft, brush though.

I just looked throughout the thread to see if I had weighed in on it and I hadn't.

The horsehair brush I had was just too floppy for me and I have tried a couple of different times to like it. It's very attractive in a nice handle.

I remember Larry Andro saying that these brushes are made entirely of hair that naturally sheds from the horse's tail, so that makes it animal friendly.

When I first got it, it stunk, but soaking it in OxyClean completely got rid of the smell.

Originally Posted by decraew

I bought the Turkish horsehair brush. I'm very pleased with the way it performs, but there's still a faint odour to the brush which I don't like at all. Anyone else has that experience (with the same brand or others) ?

It took me a good three cleanings and about five shaves to get rid of the funk. That's really the only negative thing, and I didn't mind. Great performance, like a softer badger that actually holds water.

I just ordered a horsehair brush from turkey that cose me $2.55 Canadian. Reviews on it have been excellent.
www.bestshave.net
i tried my luck with the coupon code i put in 'freeship' and my $2.55 brush is getting shipped for free, lol.
Will report back when I have it!