07-12-2022, 08:16 PM
Did I need another brush? Who asks silly questions like that?
I just received a new Zenith brush with a horsehair knot.
First comment: I love it. The design is beautiful, the handle is really comfortable and I love it.
I have two questions:
1. Will the tips of the horse hair bristles eventually split and become soft like boar?
They are okay now, they seem a bit scrubby, as if the hair has squared off tips.
Just curious.
2. Other than time, how do you get the funky animal smell out of a new brush?
I mean I can deal with it but wow, those Italian horses are "fragrant"
As I said, I love it, the customer service here in the US was great. No complaints.
I just received a new Zenith brush with a horsehair knot.
First comment: I love it. The design is beautiful, the handle is really comfortable and I love it.
I have two questions:
1. Will the tips of the horse hair bristles eventually split and become soft like boar?
They are okay now, they seem a bit scrubby, as if the hair has squared off tips.
Just curious.
2. Other than time, how do you get the funky animal smell out of a new brush?
I mean I can deal with it but wow, those Italian horses are "fragrant"
As I said, I love it, the customer service here in the US was great. No complaints.
![[Image: fRoLoCB.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/fRoLoCB.jpg)
07-13-2022, 03:38 PM
I have used horse one for years. I can agree with the previous statement as horsehair doesn't split butnitwill soften with time.
As for the funk of the brush, I never tried it as the ones I bought wasn't that funky scent was, but apparently a couple of run with shampoo and conditioner help a lot to get that smell to dissipate more quickly.
I even heard of some soaking the brush in a glass of water in the fridge for a couple of days... is it working? I dunno!
As for the funk of the brush, I never tried it as the ones I bought wasn't that funky scent was, but apparently a couple of run with shampoo and conditioner help a lot to get that smell to dissipate more quickly.
I even heard of some soaking the brush in a glass of water in the fridge for a couple of days... is it working? I dunno!
07-13-2022, 08:21 PM
I prepped my horsehair brush with shampoo and conditioner a couple of times before using it, and that got rid of the smell quite efficiently. I had forgotten that it stunk when it first arrived, until your post refreshed my memory! I like my Vie-Long horse hair brush a lot.
:-)
- Bax
:-)
- Bax
07-14-2022, 06:06 AM
Vie-Long is the way to go with horsehair, IMHO. I ordered one on a whim, and was pretty impressed with the quality of the brush. Center is a bit stiff (great for whipping up lather from a recalcitrant puck) and the outer layers are pretty soft (on my sensitive skin). It's become softer with use.
:-)
- Bax
:-)
- Bax
07-18-2022, 08:41 PM
I'd suggest shampooing the brush to help get rid of the odor. I carried horsehair brushes for many years and this is what I always recommended. One other thing to be cognizant of...horse hair has a tendency to tangle which can lead to a "hole" in the knot. In order to prevent this, you may wish to brush the knot out periodically.
07-20-2022, 03:25 PM
Horse hair is cut hair, it has no tips, it's all shaft, so you just have blunt tips. The tips don't split but the hair loses stiffness with use, so it will feel softer eventually. The funk can be staggering at first, but it goes away pretty quick, I've not done it myself, but others have said to lather it thoroughly and leave the lather in it overnight, then rinse it out. They can be nice brushes, but I've changed my horses to boars, they work best for me.
07-20-2022, 03:29 PM
(07-18-2022, 08:41 PM)bullgoose Wrote: I'd suggest shampooing the brush to help get rid of the odor. I carried horsehair brushes for many years and this is what I always recommended. One other thing to be cognizant of...horse hair has a tendency to tangle which can lead to a "hole" in the knot. In order to prevent this, you may wish to brush the knot out periodically.
I hear the tangle thing a lot, but never experienced it myself, mine always fanned out nicely on their own. It must have something to do with one's lathering method or something.
07-20-2022, 03:32 PM
(07-20-2022, 03:29 PM)TobyC Wrote:Yes, I think lathering method plays a large role. It is more apt to tangle if you face lather as opposed to bowl lather. In addition, bleached horse is more apt to tangle than natural brown horse.(07-18-2022, 08:41 PM)bullgoose Wrote: I'd suggest shampooing the brush to help get rid of the odor. I carried horsehair brushes for many years and this is what I always recommended. One other thing to be cognizant of...horse hair has a tendency to tangle which can lead to a "hole" in the knot. In order to prevent this, you may wish to brush the knot out periodically.
I hear the tangle thing a lot, but never experienced it myself, mine always fanned out nicely on their own. It must have something to do with one's lathering method or something.
07-20-2022, 03:39 PM
(07-20-2022, 03:32 PM)bullgoose Wrote:(07-20-2022, 03:29 PM)TobyC Wrote:Yes, I think lathering method plays a large role. It is more apt to tangle if you face lather as opposed to bowl lather. In addition, bleached horse is more apt to tangle than natural brown horse.(07-18-2022, 08:41 PM)bullgoose Wrote: I'd suggest shampooing the brush to help get rid of the odor. I carried horsehair brushes for many years and this is what I always recommended. One other thing to be cognizant of...horse hair has a tendency to tangle which can lead to a "hole" in the knot. In order to prevent this, you may wish to brush the knot out periodically.
I hear the tangle thing a lot, but never experienced it myself, mine always fanned out nicely on their own. It must have something to do with one's lathering method or something.
I avoid bleached knots of any kind, and I do face lather, but I'm horseless now except for a vintage brown and black mix, and it's pretty stiff, but you're right to warn folks of the possibility.
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