Vie-Long 13061 Zorito horse hair brush first shave

[DougieB]

Got one yesterday and shampoo-ed it twice this morning before shaving. This is a great looking handle for a brush. The brush smells of medicated shampoo and moth balls. That is not an animal smell it makes. I think it's gonna take about 5 more shampoo's before it settles in. The brush seems to be a good performer.

[Krona Kruiser]

I'm waiting on the mini 13120 myself. Let us know how it works out.

[the4thAmigo]

I recently got a 13723. I also dealt with a very strong chemical smell when I first got it, but it seems to have faded away completely. Does anyone know what causes it?

[GregDR]

Some of the Vie-Long horse hair brushes are bleached to make them more resemble a badger hair brush. That could possibly be the cause of the chemical smell?

For instance there's the 13061(bleached hair) and the 13061M(natural brown unbleached hair)

Pic of the 13061 (bleached):


Pic of the 13061M (natural unbleached):

[bowlturner]

Got one yesterday and shampoo-ed it twice this morning before shaving. This is a great looking handle for a brush. The brush smells of medicated shampoo and moth balls. That is not an animal smell it makes. I think it's gonna take about 5 more shampoo's before it settles in. The brush seems to be a good performer.

The 13061 is an excellent brush. I love the backbone of the brush and the handle is a good size, so it feels good working up a lather with a soap, or cream. The tips will get softer with use.

[Lovefingers]

Would you describe it as closer to the badger end of the spectrum or the boar? Or is it hard to compare to either?

[turtle]

Mine performs like my super silvertip custom. Luxurious but soft with enough backbone to slap you around.

[edgerunner]

I'd say it's closer to badger than boar hair. It doesn't retain water as badger knots do but they perform really well.

[Rylos]

I traded my 13061 away. It was too prickly for me & gave me brush burn. Loved everything else about it though, my face just didn't return the sentiment.

[DougieB]

I'll withhold performance review for a week or so. First use was face lathering which I am developing mixed feelings about. I like the concept but ... I dunno if I like the reality?!?

Like the handle a lot on this. Looks great and no mold lines... huge plus for me. First handle I have seen with no hint of a mold line!

When I grew up I had a friend who lived in a house caddy corner to ours. This brush smells EXACTLY like their house. Some kind of cleaner / disinfectant / mothball... his mom used. I mean EXACTLY like this. Everyone had to remove their shoes at the door before they were allowed in. Never ever saw anything mis placed in the house... Impeccably clean and organized. Smelled EXACTLY like this brush.

[mftoms59]

Got one yesterday and shampoo-ed it twice this morning before shaving. This is a great looking handle for a brush. The brush smells of medicated shampoo and moth balls. That is not an animal smell it makes. I think it's gonna take about 5 more shampoo's before it settles in. The brush seems to be a good performer.

Any new Brush I get will receive a very Cold Water & Whiteor Apple-Cider Vinegar, 2oz water per 1 teaspoon vinegar, soak for ~10-15 minutes. The Cold Water/Vinegar helps to set any dye that may be used, helps eliminate odor and any Chemical residue that may be used in processing the knot. The solution can also be used to remove minearl deposits & Soap/Cream scum buildup. During the initial soak, I'll gently plunge and twirl the brush ~4-5 times to slightly open the breech/knot, after rinsing it clean, lather with your strongest smelling Soap or Cream.

I'm waiting on the mini 13120 myself. Let us know how it works out.

This is a great little Brush built for travel, it easily holds enough lather for a multiple pass shave (~3), I found the high loft a little floppy, this can be corrected with a Rubber O-Ring or two, effectively raising the Base of the knot. If you find the Horse Hair too scritchy, use less pressure, with regular use the scritch will relax a bit and the tips will get softer.

Would you describe it as closer to the badger end of the spectrum or the boar? Or is it hard to compare to either?

The horse Hair would fall somewhere in the middle, it lathers as easily as Badger, has the stiffness which is closer to a Boar and does require a bit of patience as the scritch/prickliness may be too much for some members. It definitely provides a different lathering experience, and once broken in performs and feels as soft as any Mid-Grade Badger. I have two Pure Horse Vie-Longs, one has been in regular use for ~1 1/2 years and the tip softness is close to my TGN Best Badger, set @45/20 it's strictly a Face Lathering brush I use mostly with Triple-Milled or Harder soaps, needless to say, soft soaps & creams are like dessert to this brush.

[Den]

I'm waiting on a Vie-Long 04312 Pro brush which is 25% mane hair/75% tail hair and I requested the loft be set to 48mm instead of the original 60mm. I hope it isn't beyond scritchy.

I also have the 04102 model on the way which is 60% boar/40% horse. I left the loft at the default 62mm for that one.

I can't wait to get and try these. If I like them it'll only lead to more purchase from Vie-Long.

[Tim_McD]

The 13061 is a great brush. It does noticeably soften with use; whereas it was at least as scritchy as my AOS starter brush in pure badger at the beginning, it has softened to somewhere between the AOS pure and my Simpson Colonel in Best.

Soaps and creams are handled with ease

[DougieB]

The smell is mostly gone.