conflicting advice on brush do's / don'ts

[stubble trouble]

I have heard that pushing down vertically down on the brush (plunging) loosens the bristles. However, I've also heard this plunging facilitates the transfer of soap from the cake to the brush and is somewhat necessary. Thoughts?

 

[Dpflaum]

I used to be a plunger, but now I tend to just push down and swirl. It works at least as well and doesn't jam all the soap down in the knot.

If you think about it, telling you not to plunger it up and down kind of conflicts with what you have to do when lathering up your face.

 

[luvmysuper]

I have heard that pushing down vertically down on the brush (plunging) loosens the bristles. However, I've also heard this plunging facilitates the transfer of soap from the cake to the brush and is somewhat necessary. Thoughts?

If plunging the brush loosens the bristles in your brush, then you need a different brush anyway from a decent manufacturer.

It's a brush and was made to swish and swirl and plunge.

 

[stubble trouble]

just further demonstrates that opinions very on almost every facet of wet shaving, IMHO.

 

[seanmckay]

This is why people say, your milage may very (YMMV). You can try different advices given to see what works for you. Once you found what works, give the advice back

 

[texbilly]

Yep, if you have to baby the brush, it's not made well. If anything, I like to mash my new brushes a bit to determine if I have a dud.

 

[Dpflaum]

Yep, if you have to baby the brush, it's not made well. If anything, I like to mash my new brushes a bit to determine if I have a dud.

Same. The little, non-blooming, knot on my Case has taken a beating without missing a beat.

 

[JPDyson]

You should be able to plunge with your brush, but we're not talking about a severe mashing here. That wouldn't be all that helpful, let alone the undue wear it might cause. I mostly swirl, but do some mid-to-late-lather plunging to pick up more lather.

 

[Ignatius]

just further demonstrates that opinions very on almost every facet of wet shaving, IMHO.

The only people telling you that are vendors who don't want any returns.

 

[Greyfox]

Yep, if you have to baby the brush, it's not made well. If anything, I like to mash my new brushes a bit to determine if I have a dud.

Amen. It's just a brush. Nothing magical about it.

 

[huntmol]

Interesting, I've never heard of the plunge. I just swirl my brushes around on the soap until they've picked up enough.