I just got a new silvertip brush, and was wondering ..does soaking the brush in hot water while i shower damages the bristles ?
General Question
- Thread starter Doctor
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Thats actually a great idea and highly recommended to give it a chance to really take up a good amount of water. Only two small things: Don't have the water too hot, that may damage the brush.
And try not to fully immerse the brush in the water. If you can soak the knot about 3/4 of the way in the water, it should be just right.
Happy shaving!
And try not to fully immerse the brush in the water. If you can soak the knot about 3/4 of the way in the water, it should be just right.
Happy shaving!
- Thread starter
- #3
well my hot water is steamy
If you wouldnt wanna soak your face in it, then its probably too hot 
A brush maker advised me that water that is uncomfortably hot for your skin is too hot.
Also, rinsing the brush in cold water is best.
Also, rinsing the brush in cold water is best.
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- #6
well human hair in extreme heat will be severely damaged. So i think same goes with badger hair...
Badger brushes, AFAIK, have a knot that is adhered to the base with glue. The concern with water that is far too hot is that the bristles will fall out if the temperature breaks apart the adhesive.
I think it's been mentioned here before that the thing to do is soak the bristles but not submerge the handle of the brush. You don't want the knot to swell and possibly split the handle. That seems a remote possibility to me, but it was mentioned on another thread.
Good advice on just soaking the bristles and not the handle.
When I first started wet shaving I would soak the entire brush, but now I find I get just as good results by holding the bristles under running hot water for just a few. Since this works fine for me, that's all I do now. I'm sure that its a matter of individual preference though.
When I first started wet shaving I would soak the entire brush, but now I find I get just as good results by holding the bristles under running hot water for just a few. Since this works fine for me, that's all I do now. I'm sure that its a matter of individual preference though.
Splitting is only an issue with wood handles. Those will occasionally split irregardless of whether the knot swells or not because wood absorbs water as well and that alone repeatedly can cause the handle to split.
I fill the sink with hot water that I am going to shave with (not uncomfortable to touch hot) and put the brush in the sink while I shower.
I personally never saw the wisdom of buying a brush that is so delicate that you can't put it in water.
Kind of like Merkur saying exposure to water destroying their plating isn't a warranty issue.
C'mon - it's wet shaving. There's going to be water. If the handle or the bristles can't stand up to water, it isn't a brush I really want.
YMMV
I personally never saw the wisdom of buying a brush that is so delicate that you can't put it in water.
Kind of like Merkur saying exposure to water destroying their plating isn't a warranty issue.
C'mon - it's wet shaving. There's going to be water. If the handle or the bristles can't stand up to water, it isn't a brush I really want.
YMMV
Yep, I throw the whole brush in the hot sink water. I've never had any brush fall apart yet, and I've been doing this for at least 15 years.
There is no reason to soak a badger brush. Just put it under the tap for a few seconds. Soaking is for boars
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