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Shedding Boar Brush

SteveChuckFrank

SteveChuckFrank

Close Enough*
I picked up a Stirling Boar a few months back and have used it a handful of times. Each time I've used it it's shed anywhere from 5-10 hairs. Last night when I was getting every thing out for this morning's shave I grabbed the boar. I brushed it once against the palm of my hand and 2 hairs fell out. I then swirled it a few times in my palm and when I was done I counted a total of 12 hairs that had fallen out. Is this normal behavior for a boar?
 
I'd return it. I would think Stirling would want to make sure you are happy. It doesn't sound normal at all. I'm assuming the hairs are full length hairs and not pieces of longer hairs that have broken off. Boar bristles tend to be stiffer than badger or synthetic prior to being soaked in water. Boars need to be soaked for anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes in water before use. When dry, it would be possible to break off hairs midway if pressed too hard. I'm guessing this is not the case and that the hairs are just falling out. In which case you have a defective brush. It happens. Return it and get another one. They make great brushes.
 
No, not normal for a boar--although I had a similar experience with my Stirling boar purchased about year and half ago or so. Used it a bunch of times, but it wouldn't stop shedding (a 2-3 hairs each time, not as extensive as yours). Drove me crazy! It just sits on the shelf now. Some folks love Stirling's boar. For the price I guess it's fair to expect some inconsistencies in the knot.
 
MntnMan62 said:
I'd return it. I would think Stirling would want to make sure you are happy. It doesn't sound normal at all. I'm assuming the hairs are full length hairs and not pieces of longer hairs that have broken off. Boar bristles tend to be stiffer than badger or synthetic prior to being soaked in water. Boars need to be soaked for anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes in water before use. When dry, it would be possible to break off hairs midway if pressed too hard. I'm guessing this is not the case and that the hairs are just falling out. In which case you have a defective brush. It happens. Return it and get another one. They make great brushes.
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Yeah they're definitely full length hairs. I was hoping it was normal and would settle down so I wouldn't have to deal with a return lol
 
Never had a shedding boar but a few shedding Badger. Return it as it isn't normal. That said I have a horse knot that was given to me that sheds a few hairs every shave. I love it so much though that I have continued to use it and hope it lasts for a few more years.
 
I have and love my Stirling Boar. It shed hairs like a malamute in the tropics for about 2 weeks worth of uses 4-8 each shave. Now that it has broken in it completely stopped shedding and is almost as soft as it can get and very very nice to use. Contact Stirling their customer service is stellar!
 
DocHoliday0831 said:
I have and love my Stirling Boar. It shed hairs like a malamute in the tropics for about 2 weeks worth of uses 4-8 each shave. Now that it has broken in it completely stopped shedding and is almost as soft as it can get and very very nice to use. Contact Stirling their customer service is stellar!
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Hmmmm...if this is the case TJ, then maybe it just isn’t broken in yet.
 
SteveChuckFrank said:
Hmmmm...if this is the case TJ, then maybe it just isn’t broken in yet.
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Possible. With a shedding Rooney I had, they asked me to comb the knot to remove loose hairs and continue to use it for a bit to see if it went away. It didn’t and they replaced it.

I would definitely let the vendor know, though.
 
Strangely enough I used the brush this morning and it only shed 1 hair. Maybe this post scared it straight! 😂😂😂 I'll still contact Stirling to see what they say though.
 
SteveChuckFrank said:
Strangely enough I used the brush this morning and it only shed 1 hair. Maybe this post scared it straight! 😂😂😂 I'll still contact Stirling to see what they say though.
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You might want to use it a few more times to see if it truly has stopped shedding. If it has, you have not reason to go through the heartache of a return and can simply enjoy your new boar brush, looking forward to when you fully break it in. And if it continues to shed the next time you use it, call or email Stirling. It will probably only take one call or email to resolve the issue.
 
MntnMan62 said:
You might want to use it a few more times to see if it truly has stopped shedding. If it has, you have not reason to go through the heartache of a return and can simply enjoy your new boar brush, looking forward to when you fully break it in. And if it continues to shed the next time you use it, call or email Stirling. It will probably only take one call or email to resolve the issue.
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That's the plan. I knew there would be a break in period with potential shedding, I just thought the amount this one was shedding was a little suspect. I expected a few hairs here and there but not 5-10 at a time lol.
 
I’ll echo what others have said. No, a boar brush should not be shedding beyond the first couple uses. But, unlike a badger or horse hair brush, if you bend the dry bristles they may break off. A boar brush must be soaked several minutes to fully hydrate the bristles so they bend rather than break. It’s the absorbing of water into the bristles that make a boar brush work so well on the more difficult soaps. The bristles will hold then slowly release extra water into the lather as it’s formed.

I have a couple Stirling Boars and they simply don’t shed. I break them in by soaking in warm/hot water then lathering a good soap. I leave the lather filled brush sitting until the lather has dried (the core of the brush is usually still wet) then I rinse well and soak/lather/rinse again. Let it dry completely then use it for a shave. After the break in and first shave I don’t usually get shedding.

If yours is shedding during use but doesn’t shed loose bristles when you pinch and pull small tufts of bristle, it may be that you aren’t soaking well enough. In any case, if it’s disappointing you I would let Rod know. Perhaps he got a batch of poorly made knots.
 
Thanks @CBLindsay. I've always soaked it for at least 8-10 minutes prior (sometimes longer) and it would still shed. Today was about a 10 minute soak and only shed 1 hair. I'll get in touch with Stirling this week and let them know.
 
CBLindsay said:
If yours is shedding during use but doesn’t shed loose bristles when you pinch and pull small tufts of bristle, it may be that you aren’t soaking well enough. In any case, if it’s disappointing you I would let Rod know. Perhaps he got a batch of poorly made knots.
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This is the kicker for me. If they're just coming out from the base willy nilly, either several at a time or in clumps, that suggests a problem with the stability of the knot. Something is clearly wrong. Though it's unlikely to be this since it's a new brush, let the brush dry thoroughly between uses so that you're not growing mold at the base. If it's a dense knot, it takes longer to dry. A full wet-dry cycle will also accelerate splitting at the tips of the bristles.
 
beginish said:
This is the kicker for me. If they're just coming out from the base willy nilly, either several at a time or in clumps, that suggests a problem with the stability of the knot. Something is clearly wrong. Though it's unlikely to be this since it's a new brush, let the brush dry thoroughly between uses so that you're not growing mold at the base. If it's a dense knot, it takes longer to dry. A full wet-dry cycle will also accelerate splitting at the tips of the bristles.
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The brush has always had at least a few days to dry out in between uses. In fact the last time I used It before today was over a week ago.
 
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