Thread: when do you replace a brush?

Originally Posted by redtruck

I have a Van der hagen brush that came in a kit with a mug, soap and stand. what is proper care for a brush? how do you clean them?

mike

If it is the boar brush by vdh the proper process is to throw it out nd buy a tweezerman from target for $10. I tried the vdh boar brush against the tweezerman doing half a face with each and the boar was terrible.

The vdh is a fine brush once broken in a little and will give you many years of good service if you follow the care tips given in other post.

I broke it in and didn't get much success with the brush. However everything else VDH I love!

I dropped my favorite Muhle brush in the toilet in my beginning years. Skipped right out of my fingers then plooooop. 2 points nothing but net.
Needless to say that brush was no longer welcome in my household. Went on line & ordered the same model.

I'm not saying the vdh is the best brush out there but he doesn't need to go out and buy a new one was my point. My two favorite brushes are both omega brushes.

Originally Posted by Castel33

I'm not saying the vdh is the best brush out there but he doesn't need to go out and buy a new one was my point. My two favorite brushes are both omega brushes.

No, your right he doesn't I just couldn't get mine to make a good lather and was recommending a cheap alternative badger that works great imo. No problems.

Use synthetic one.
Works great, not rotting, losing hairs & etc problems so no any special maintenance, just sometime put it into vinegar to remove limescale etc.
Cost almost nothing, badgers saved

Thanks for all the tips guys. Good Stuff!

I too have struggled to believe my main brush will 'break' or require replacement any time soon. I have an EJ for travel and apart from that I have never owned another - my main on is a Kent T4.

The advice above on brush maintenance is totally recommended. I am not sure what borax is and not entirely sure that we have it here in the UK, but I wash my brush in regular hair shampoo once every few months. As always I shake out all the water that may have got in and hang it upside-down on a brush stand after it's come in to any sort of contact with water.

I still have and occasionaly use my first brush, an Ever-Ready boar that my father gave me in 1969! It is bent over and has a little thinner knot than it did new, but will still whip up a lather. I didn't learn to care for the brush well when I started but if I had I believe that it would be in better shape for sure.

My first badger brush from the mid 70's somewhere is much better cared for, but I don't use it anymore because with age it has gotten soft and doesn't perform well. I suppose that the hairs just wore down over time and lost their "spine".

Will N.