How to Break in a Boar Brush
Commonly used for brushing hair, boar brushes also are used for shaving and car washing. Using boar is beneficial because the natural bristles, when used properly, are nondamaging and long-lasting. Boar bristles keep hair healthy and shiny, provide a great lather for shaving and the bristles remove dirt without scratching a car's surface. When a boar brush is purchased, some have stiff bristles and a natural animal smell, which is unpleasant, but it can be cured after a breaking-in period. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Boar bristle brush
- Container large enough to submerge bristles
- Shampoo
- Hot water
Instructions
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1
Rinse brush under a stream of hot tap water for 1 minute to rinse off the surface of the hairs.Tap the brush to remove excess water.
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2
Place brush, bristle side down, in mug or container. Fill with hot water, coating the bristles up to the ring or handle. Soak for 5 minutes.
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3
Take the brush out, add a couple of drops of shampoo or dish liquid to the container and return the brush to the container. Agitate the brush in the soapy water for one minute. Soaking the brush in plain water beforehand prevents the brush from absorbing the soap.
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4
Rinse thoroughly under tepid running water. The brush is ready to use or can be stored for later.
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5
Place the shaving brush in a mug of hot water for the first month and let it soak for 10 minutes before each shave. After a month, the tips of the brush will begin to split, leaving the brush softer and holding more lather than before.
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Tips & Warnings
A half teaspoon of borax may be used instead of shampoo or detergent.
The break-in method is fine for car wash and shave brushes but boar hair brushes should be used when both the bristles and hair is dry. Only use the above method to occasionally clean the brush, letting it air dry overnight before using on hair.
Never dip the shaving brush into anything that is not safe to put on your face, such as the disinfectants used to clean combs and brushes in salons and barber shops. Boar bristles will absorb everything, including toxic chemicals.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit shaving brush image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
