Can badger hair cause itching?

I didn't quite reveal all my cards in my first post because I wasn't sure what to make of it. Well here it is: I stopped using the badger brush a week+ ago and also stopped using a 3rd pass on the neck. I've been doing a 3rd pass for a year+ now and have not had issues. Anyway, the itching stopped after a few days, the few ingrown hairs reduced a little but not 100%. I used the badger brush yesterday and go the itchies again. As I type this now my neck still itches. I am betting it is the brush and not anything else.

I love this brush and want to make it work. Is there a safe way to clean it (rubbing alcohol, borax, oxyclean, etc.) or should i cut my losses and replace the knot with a synthetic?

gregcss,

Do you scrub the brush against your face - that is cause it to splay out?

You might try using it like a paint brush by stroking with is sides only, no tips.

Mickey

gregcss,

Do you scrub the brush against your face - that is cause it to splay out?

You might try using it like a paint brush by stroking with is sides only, no tips.

Mickey

Yes I do. After washing the brush for a week or two and I try the brush again I'll try attempt this method. Thanks!

I had issues with irritation on my neck when using a simpsons pj2 brush that was in best badger. I ended up selling the brush shortly thereafter.

For heaven's sake, when was the last time you saw a badger scratching?

Had a good shave last few days however, a couple hours after yesterday's shave I get the same itchiness on the neck and jaw line as before. This continued all day today through now and still going strong. I used a synthetic brush that I frequently use, Brutalt TSN LE Soap, and Stirling black pepper lime aftershave splash. Of those 3 I would guess it's the soap since I haven't had issues with the other two before. The soap does have Limonene as an ingredient and listed as an allergen on the tin. Also has Norway Spruce (Picea Abies) as the fragrance. The only other thing is shaving against the grain on the neck. But haven't had issues, particularly itchiness, from this before. I'll put the soap away for a while and see what happens.

Meanwhile I shipped the badger brush going in for a knot switch to synthetic, maybe I put this on hold since I enjoyed the badger knot. But then I'd have to bother the vendor to hold on to it and/or ship it back with making changes. I jumped the gun on this one.

As a retired allergist, I can tell you that it is indeed quite possible to develop an allergy to the badger hair. However, the 'penetration' of such an allergy can vary considerably. Some people who develop an animal hair allergy continue to react to all hairs of that species. But other people react only to individual breeds or even individual animals, but not others. Before giving up entirely on badger hair, you might want to try one or two other borrowed badger brushes to see if you react to them.

Interesting reading. I personally never had a problem with badger brushes, thank God :-)

.....thank God :-)

Amen.

I recently got that itchy jawline and neck to the point that I had to go my doctor for help. I asked her what from my daily routine could be causing it and she said it was most probably EO and FO in my soaps. I asked about badger and she said that,  while it was possible, it is highly unlikely . She prescribed some hormonal ointment, a week long treatment with Claritin, and made me stop using any scented soaps for two weeks. And it worked!

I did some further experimentation afterwards and it is confirmed now that many of my most favorite soaps with strong smells cause the itchiness and will most probably have to go