For the longest while I was using my col conk brush stand, and with the brush I currently had it worked fine. However, my new shavemac does not fit in the stand due to its size. Now what I want to know, are brush stand really a crucial part of drying a brush or are they merely meant for display? I thoroughly dry all my brushes by first squeezing the water out, giving it a few good shakes, and then further drying it with a towel. By the time I am done the brush is only slightly damp. So, do I need a stand or can I just dry it and let it sit bristles up?
Brush Stands: Necessity or Novelty?
- Thread starter Doric
- Start date
I got by letting my brush dry bristles up, but have been happy with an inexpensive stand that also holds my razor. Probably not necessary, but it's nice to have.
Since changing my "go to" brush I have also had to go without the stand. Physics tells use that the power of capillary action is stronger than gravity, so hanging the brush should not be necessary. And so far I have not had a problem, even though it is winter here and I've had trouble getting towels, washing etc. to dry. I guess my science teacher wasn't blowing smoke after all...
Keep it in a well ventilated area and you should be fine.
Keep it in a well ventilated area and you should be fine.
Using a drip stand helps stop water gathering in the base of the knot. A good shake would usually prevent that from happening anyway. Most manufacturers will also ask that the brush is dried upside down. I believe in the long term it probably extends the lifetime of a brush and for me it does improve drying time a little.
No need for a stand. My brushes dry thoroughly with a few shakes and standing up on the handle.
Count me as one who prefers a stand otherwise I try to brush my shaving brush against a towel until very dry to prevent any funk from growing.
This subject has been oft-debated, and the scientific answer seems to be "no - unnecessary."
Pragmatic experience confirms that. However, hanging them certainly does no harm, and may look a bit tidier in the den!
Pragmatic experience confirms that. However, hanging them certainly does no harm, and may look a bit tidier in the den!
Some up, some down and I have not noticed any difference. But, it is very dry in Nevada, which might be a factor. After a good rinsing I just shake the brush then grab the brush with a hand towel and give a good squeeze.
I believe in hanging them upside down. I couldn't find a stand that fit on the internet, so at first I bent coat hangers to handle them. Afterward, I was made aware of stands custom made for the size of your brush with coconut shells and now I use these (see Reviews section)/
I'll stir the fire...do what you think 'looks' best...I have a couple of stands with brushes for display purposes...the brushes that do all the work in my rotation sit upright drying 
Not sure if it matters or not, but I always store mine upside down. I have an inexpensive C & E stand that also wouldn't fit my Shavemac, until I used a Dremel tool to enlarge the brush holding area. The stand is plastic, and still works fine for the BBB for which it was made.
The stand is a must. By letting the brush, apparently dry, sit bristles up, the micro particles of water deep inside the knot will slowly be dragged through gravity into the knot's base. In the long run, it will rot the knot's base, or slip inside between the knot's base and the top of the handle and begin cracking it.
Personally I use 2 stands. The stand on top of my counter is the last brush I've used. If I want to use another brush, I put this one in another stand inside the counter to keep it upside down a little longer. The brush that might be in this secondary stand will go in my medicine cabinet without the stand, because it's been hanging upside down long enough (a couple of days) to prevent rotting.
Magister dixit. (The Master spoke.)
I also use a brush stand, since it seems to extend the lifetime of the brush.
I have used both methods and have not lost a brush yet. I have noticed that the brushes stored in a rack tend to have less bloom than those left standing on their base. Thank gravity for keeping your bristles together 
I give mine a shake, run it across my towel a few times to unstick the hairs, and let it air dry on my dresser on its stand. Been doing this for years. I have a brush - wood handled, nonetheless - that looks as good as the day I bought it (well close, anyway). I almost bought into the hype a while back but have since thought there were better things to spend my money on.
Don't think that's ever been proven. Even if it did, by that time, you'd have bought 3 more brushes anyway. Does gravity work faster than capillary evaporation? Who's going to do the controlled lab trial to tell, and how will it equally relate to Bob's Bathroom in Bermuda, and Sven's Sauna in Sweden?
It's preference is all.
Despite living in a hot climate, in winter my Rooney is so dense it won't fully dry overnight, up or down, even after a good few shakes and a towelling. So I use my back up boar til it does.
Last edited:
Without long term analysis under controlled conditions, I cannot say definitively that a brush will last longer if put on a stand. However, I do find they dry noticeable faster if put upside down on a stand, which doesn't have to be an expensive purchase. Some brush manufacturers recommend a stand and there isn't a reason not to use one other than cost. If your brush is only slightly damp by the time its put away, that is more than sufficient. Generally, I prefer not to towel wipe my brush dry as I believe this is added wear and tear.
Last edited:
Well, there you go. Why should someone risk to have that moisture sit in the base of the knot?
