Hairdryer for shaving brushes?

[Jim in NZ]

Does anyone ele use a hairdryer to dry, or at least partially dry, their shaving brush?

New Zealand winters are wet, and not conducive to quickly drying a shaving brush. I've taken to using my wife's hairdryer for half a minute or so, just to give the brush a mild kick start and try to avoid it sitting wet for ages.

Is there a reason not to? Does anyone else do this? Am I suffering from a bit of OCD?

 

[Big Jim]

I have occasionally used a hair dryer on a shaving brush, especially when traveling. I think you are safe IF you use low temperature and gently remove of the moisture.

 

[mcee_sharp]

Invariably synthetics will dry faster, a good option in humid environments.

Whether I'm using synth or natural I kick start with a good brushing on a towel. Indoor humidity typically maintained at 25-35, dependant on season, so likely much drier than NZ :/

Do your brushes dry out in time for the next days shave?

 

[DesertIguana]

If you lived in Hot Dry Arizona, you only need put Brushg outside in Yard on a Cuctus for 15 minutes, and it would be DRY.

 

[brucered]

Is there a reason not to?

It's not needed and you could potentially damage the knot and/or handle.

Squeeze the base of the knot, flick the handle a few times to get water out, towel lather it a few swipes.

Does anyone else do this?

I'm sure there are, but I'm not one of them. Keep it simple.

People do all sorts of crazy things here.

Am I suffering from a bit of OCD?

No, but you are way overthinking it.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Using a hairdryer is not something I do living in the UK. However, I sometimes visit the Philippines and normally take a Simpson Classic 1, and even that can take a couple of days to dry depending on the time of year and the humidity of the accommodation. It has occurred to me that were I to take a Chubby 2 instead that it could take for ever to dry, possibly inviting mould, and I could imagine using a hairdryer under those circumstances. That said, in that case I would probably switch to using brushes more suitable to the climate, or simply use the same brush every day in which case complete drying is not necessary.

 

[Jim in NZ]

Invariably synthetics will dry faster, a good option in humid environments.

...

Do your brushes dry out in time for the next days shave?

I have found that my synthetics feel dry most mornings, but there have been a few days where they are still damp in the base of the knot. The boar bristle is usually still slightly damp if I don't use the dryer after shaving.

We don't have A/C, (were on natural gas radiators) so inside air isn't always very dry, which doesn't help.

When I use the dryer, I make sure it is set to low heat. It's warm on my skin and nowhere near enough to melt bristles.

 

[Jim in NZ]

If you lived in Hot Dry Arizona, you only need put Brushg outside in Yard on a Cuctus for 15 minutes, and it would be DRY.

Your daily max temp is probably double or even triple ours! If we hit 80ºF, we start to panic.

From.Wikipedia: The hottest recorded temperature in the city is 31.1 °C (88 °F) recorded on 20 February 1896, while −1.9 °C (29 °F) is the coldest. The city is notorious for its southerly blasts in winter, which may make the temperature feel much colder.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I don't consistently do it, only under two circumstances

1- traveling and I need to dry the brush rapidly. This absolutely will not damage the brush or the handle.

2- when I'm trying to break in a brush... usually boar. This is, bar none, the fastest way to break in a brush. Soak, lather briefly, then blow dry. My Semogues generally need a dozen or two wet/dry cycles to break in thoroughly. This cuts that by about 75%.

Air drying does not produce the same results only slower, cycle for cycle. So when I say accelerate break in I'm not talking about the wet/dry cycles being faster; I'm talking about about the brush needing less wet/dry cycles to break in....it has something to do with why hair is frizzy when you blow dry it as opposed to air drying.

Just organic use, though, with a brush that's already completely broken in? Nah, I just air dry...but then I rarely use natural brushes anymore

 

[Roy]

I use one on my badger brushes, one aSV and a smaller size one.
Squeeze the water from the brush and towel dry. Then blow dry on a low setting. The brushes are wonderfully soft doing this. After a year, no damage to the brushes but I do protect the base of the knot with my fingersso no damage to the glue.
I wouldn't do it with synthetic as I think the heat might damage the knot and these do dry quickly..

 

[Lil Cooties]

I've only done this once, the other day when I used my horse hair. It still felt wet in the center of the knot after a day or two out in the open (cold weather was slowing drying), so I gave it a few minutes with the hairdryer about a meter away. It felt slower to dry than my boar in similar weather, so in the future I will stick to boar or synthetic, and keep the horse for warm weather.

 

[DesertIguana]

Your daily max temp is probably double or even triple ours! If we hit 80ºF, we start to panic.

From.Wikipedia: The hottest recorded temperature in the city is 31.1 °C (88 °F) recorded on 20 February 1896, while −1.9 °C (29 °F) is the coldest. The city is notorious for its southerly blasts in winter, which may make the temperature feel much colder.

Hotest day I experienced was like 20 years ago it hit 122/123 ish °F. We normally get 100 days per year over °110F'./

 

[Frito Ray]

Shhhhh…I just give three or four good forearm flicks onto the shower wall and close the curtain.

 

[Tomo]

I hit my brushes with a blow drier after every shave. About 30 seconds just to give them a kick start. I started doing it for travel and ended up doing it at home too. I’ve never had an issue with it. Works great. Just be sensible with it. Don’t go hitting them with full heat at point blank range. The hair and glue is not going to like that. If it’s gentle enough for the hair on your head it’s going to be fine for a brush. I fan the bristles with my hand as I do it. That lets you get into the knot and feel if it’s getting too hot. I used to set brushes outside in the breeze. Blow drying is much easier.

 

[gpjoe]

Does anyone ele use a hairdryer to dry, or at least partially dry, their shaving brush?

I do not.

Is there a reason not to?

Nope. Can't see why it would harm the brush.

Does anyone else do this?

I'm sure some do.

Am I suffering from a bit of OCD?

Maybe a touch...but you do you...and don't worry about what others do.

 

[Roy]

I hit my brushes with a blow drier after every shave. About 30 seconds just to give them a kick start. I started doing it for travel and ended up doing it at home too. I’ve never had an issue with it. Works great. Just be sensible with it. Don’t go hitting them with full heat at point blank range. The hair and glue is not going to like that. If it’s gentle enough for the hair on your head it’s going to be fine for a brush. I fan the bristles with my hand as I do it. That lets you get into the knot and feel if it’s getting too hot. I used to set brushes outside in the breeze. Blow drying is much easier.

Hi I do it exactly the same. A good description. My badger brushes look and perform great with nice softness.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

Microwave, simples.

 

[musicman1951]

First, I do not use the same brush two days in a row. If you only have one brush this is the perfect time to get another - maybe two more!

When traveling by car we usually leave for home pretty early in the morning and I will sometimes do 10 seconds with the hairdryer as far away as my arm will reach. I find the best way to get water from a brush is to flick it with a whipping motion, aimed at the shower area. I've been doing this for a very long time and never lost a knot. I also travel with a synthetic.

 

[Roy]

I do have more than one brush, but I find using the hairdryer, eaves the badger hairs in superb condition . If dried over 2 days by air, the knot is not as good.

 

[Norman Gunston]

2- when I'm trying to break in a brush... usually boar. This is, bar none, the fastest way to break in a brush. Soak, lather briefly, then blow dry. My Semogues generally need a dozen or two wet/dry cycles to break in thoroughly. This cuts that by about 75%.

100% agree - works wonders with boar brushes. I soak brush in a mug of water in refridgeration overnight, then apply the hairdryer to the tips only.