Heat Retention

[mcmulvaney]

One of the standard assertions about badger brushes is that they tend to retain heat better than boar brushes. I finally noticed this morning that one of my boar brushes seems to do an exceptional job of both heat and moisture retention - probably (if memory serves) about as good as a Rooney 3/1 in Silvertip that I once owned. The brush is a custom handled (by Rudy Vey - excellent job, Rudy!) Omega 40033.



I fell in love with the knot, and finding the handle too short, I had Rudy make what you see here. As it sits, the loft/knot diameter/total height are: 48/24/100. They key difference between this brush and my other boars (21047 (all boar, not mixed), 10029, 80266, VDH) is its density. As you can see from the picture, it hasn't bloomed much, it has plenty of backbone, and yet the tips have softened nicely - no skritch. My guess is that the heat and moisture retention in this brush is more a function of its density than the type of hair.

Have any of you had a similar experience? What else contributes to heat and moisture retention? Are there synthetics that perform well in these areas? Let the conversation begin...

 

[Loric]

Heat retention seems to be most directly linked to size and density. The bigger and more dense a brush is the better it holds onto heat. For example a Chubby 3 Super stays much much warmer than my 22mm TGN super silveritp.

As to synthetics, some hold a little heat, but the only one I have used that does an impressive job is the MASSIVE and dense 39mm Sophie Cosmetics kabuki.

 

[gus1942]

One of the standard assertions about badger brushes is that they tend to retain heat better than boar brushes. I finally noticed this morning that one of my boar brushes seems to do an exceptional job of both heat and moisture retention - probably (if memory serves) about as good as a Rooney 3/1 in Silvertip that I once owned. The brush is a custom handled (by Rudy Vey - excellent job, Rudy!) Omega 40033.

View attachment 275528

I fell in love with the knot, and finding the handle too short, I had Rudy make what you see here. As it sits, the loft/knot diameter/total height are: 48/24/100. They key difference between this brush and my other boars (21047 (all boar, not mixed), 10029, 80266, VDH) is its density. As you can see from the picture, it hasn't bloomed much, it has plenty of backbone, and yet the tips have softened nicely - no skritch. My guess is that the heat and moisture retention in this brush is more a function of its density than the type of hair.

Have any of you had a similar experience? What else contributes to heat and moisture retention? Are there synthetics that perform well in these areas? Let the conversation begin...

Heat retention? Never give it a thought. I cold water shave.

Gus/BOTOC/Arkolyte

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

This all seems highly subjective. How are you gauging heat retention? Feel on face? We need real data to prove or disprove this.

 

[mcmulvaney]

It has indeed been subjective. However, it's been enough of a difference most times when I shave with this brush that it is noticeable. I do use a scuttle to soak my brush and keep my lather warm. Although I'm fairly consistent with microwave times, I know that tap water temps will vary. Again, it's been enough of a difference that it is still noticeable.

Most of the time I'm enough of a data geek to want to find some way of measuring just as you've suggested. However. right now I'm doing so much of that at work that I really don't want to do it much in my spare time. Anyone else out there want to figure out a way to do a brush heat retention study????