Boar lather question

[Brandon P K]

I'm just curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience, here.

I know many recommend a boar brush to soak for quite a while prior to the shave, which I used to do (mine is a Semogue 620). But, over time I started to find that my brush seemed too floppy/moppy with this method, and my lather also seemed to leave a bit to be desired. However, if I simply wet the brush with hot water, drip a bit of water over the puck, shake all excess water out of the brush, then load (not for very long, as I'm just shaving the neck these days - got that wild bushman beard going), I get more scrub out of the brush, and a wonderful amount of lather with little effort (I face lather, btw). In fact, I now wonder how people don't get good lather out of MWF, since this method always works for me, and equally well for Cella...

 

[Mick]

I've never had an issue getting a decent full lather out of the fat (or any product). It's all in getting down what works then sticking with it to the letter.

 

[Graybeard57]

I've learned that different brushes and soaps have different water requirements. A wise gentleman here, I forget whom, wrote that lather is simply soap, air, and water. It's not rocket science, or at least does not need to be. I figure each soap will make a good lather if I do it right, so it's up to me to learn the best method. Some are easier than others, but they all work.

 

[taco8slo]

I thought the main reason for soaking boar hairs longer is that, when they aren't saturated well, the hairs are more vulnerable to breaking...

 

[Brandon P K]

I don't know. I just feel like I'm doing the opposite of Marco's method. Whatever works, I guess.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I'm pretty sure the reason to soak a boar brush prior to use is to get the bristles pliable, more than anything. If they are too dry, they can have more tendency to be brittle and to break.

edit... got here a minute too late on this one.. lol

 

[Elder Scrolls]

+ 1 to soaking boars to prevent breaking

 

[craig87c]

I've found boars need less soaking after they've been broken in. I usually only run warm water over the lower(tip) end of a broken-in boar.

 

[NCJack]

I've found boars need less soaking after they've been broken in. I usually only run warm water over the lower(tip) end of a broken-in boar.

Agree. I notice that when I put my Semogues in water, you can actually see it going up the hollow bristles, and it seems to take no time at all. FWIW, I only just discovered Semogue, so none of mine have been used more than about a dozen times

 

[Sunflake]

Just soak the brush no more than half way up the length of the bristles. If soaked all the way to the handle it will get floppy and loose it's backbone, and if its a wooden it can crack more easily with water all the way to the handle.

 

[celestino]

i stopped soaking all my brushes quite some time ago as i found i got just as good of a lather doing what you do, but with cold water.