Thread: Will pre-shave oil strip a badger brush of it's oils?

I was traveling recently and my pre-shave oil leaved a bit in my shave kit, and got into the bristles of my badger hair brush. Since then the bruch seems dry and won't hold water as well. Could it be an effect similar to when a duck gets oil on its' feathers?

Anyone else have a similar experience, and if so is there a cure other than ordering another brush from Don?

Thanks in advace for the help,

Cutter

There is no oil on a badger brush. Maybe the animal had it but the processing stripped all that away. It's more likely the oil from your pre-shave was left on the brush and that oil is repelling the water.

Many of the brush manufacturers recommend against using pre shave oils.

I would imagine a good washing with soap and water should flush out any remaining oil.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There is no oil on a badger brush. Maybe the animal had it but the processing stripped all that away. It's more likely the oil from your pre-shave was left on the brush and that oil is repelling the water.

Many of the brush manufacturers recommend against using pre shave oils.

I would imagine a good washing with soap and water should flush out any remaining oil.

+1.... Em's Place How to Clean a Shaving Brush using Vinegar and Borax, Bristle Cleaning has a good instruction video for cleaning a brush

Thanks for the help. I bought some Borax the other night, and will be cleaning my brush.

Cutter

regular dish soap (not dishwasher detergent, though) should break up oil out of a brush.

Dawn can take carnauba wax off a car body, it should be able to break up the surface tension of castor oil.

Originally Posted by bmgreene

regular dish soap (not dishwasher detergent, though) should break up oil out of a brush.

Dawn can take carnauba wax off a car body, it should be able to break up the surface tension of castor oil.

+1 on the Dawn
On one of the other sites there is a post about "getting the funk" out of a new brush; by using Dawn to wash the brush starting with a soak for a few hours in a Dawn/water solution, then build lather on the brush using your current shave soap, completely coating the brush hairs, and then let it sit, fully coated overnight.

I often clean it after use it,they can be sharp and bright

They mentioned in the video about how to clean your brush that it needs to be taken care of just like your own hair. So would it stand to reason that you could use shampoo on your brush?

Originally Posted by holeHeartless

They mentioned in the video about how to clean your brush that it needs to be taken care of just like your own hair. So would it stand to reason that you could use shampoo on your brush?

Quite a few people use shampoo for cleaning their brushes.
Me, I don't bother with that. The shaving soaps keeps them clean enough, I just rinse it thoroughly in my scuttle under running water and have never experienced any ill effects.
I must say though, I never use any pre-shave oils or that kinda thing.