My wife got me this Shavemac DO1 hair brush with a 20mm knot. Its the one that they offer on there site now. Here is my issue... its so dense I dont know how to lather with it very well. Any tips on how to use this brush? I actually like my $6 boar brush better right now. Can anyone shed some light?
Help! Shavemac DO1
- Thread starter andrewinman
- Start date
I don't have a Shavemac, but I had a similar problem getting used to my Rooney.
The two things that come to mind are:
1. You really need to get more water out of the brush. I shake my Simpsons once, my Rooney twice.
2. The brush might be hogging the lather. Try squeezing it and see what comes out.
I actually prefer my less dense Simpsons Ehsan to the Rooney 1/1 Super simply because it is less dense, making it a little easier to use.
The two things that come to mind are:
1. You really need to get more water out of the brush. I shake my Simpsons once, my Rooney twice.
2. The brush might be hogging the lather. Try squeezing it and see what comes out.
I actually prefer my less dense Simpsons Ehsan to the Rooney 1/1 Super simply because it is less dense, making it a little easier to use.
Use more product, alot more.
Recently got a dense brush (1/1) and it seems to working better the more I use it. Could have something to with the brush blooming more with increased use. Also, I agree about trying a bit more product and shaking more water out of the brush. Using a pumping motion while lathering seems to help too.
I have heard this complaint before with D01 brushes, I think ordering them custom with a shortened loft solves this problem somewhat, but having never tried a standard Shavemac I can't really say.
As far as lathering troubles, it's all a matter of experimenting with different amounts of soap and water.
As far as lathering troubles, it's all a matter of experimenting with different amounts of soap and water.
I'm guessing you're using soaps.
I bought a 23mm ShaveMac a while ago so perhaps I can comment.
One difference I discovered (and not just with this brush) is I got better results w/soap by not pressing hard into the soap - And make sure your puck is warm/soft/wet before you start.
With the bulbous head I needed to rotate the brush around axially more to expose more of side bristles to the soap.
When making the lather in the lather bowl I found that a very light pressure generated more cream than ramming the bristles down into the bowl.
Perhaps with the boar brush you had you're used to using more pressure than required with a soft (even though dense) badger.
just my $.02
I bought a 23mm ShaveMac a while ago so perhaps I can comment.
One difference I discovered (and not just with this brush) is I got better results w/soap by not pressing hard into the soap - And make sure your puck is warm/soft/wet before you start.
With the bulbous head I needed to rotate the brush around axially more to expose more of side bristles to the soap.
When making the lather in the lather bowl I found that a very light pressure generated more cream than ramming the bristles down into the bowl.
Perhaps with the boar brush you had you're used to using more pressure than required with a soft (even though dense) badger.
just my $.02
- Thread starter
- #7
I have been trying to face lather with it because of the density. My thing is that I dont want to press down on the brush because I feel like I will damage the tips. The tips already look a little bit and I have been using no pressure to barely any. I just am not used to this dense of a brush it just wont give in
I have been trying to face lather with it because of the density. My thing is that I dont want to press down on the brush because I feel like I will damage the tips. The tips already look a little bit and I have been using no pressure to barely any. I just am not used to this dense of a brush it just wont give in
hmmm...
I've never tried face lathering, I've always used a bowl. Sorry.
Maybe someone else can jump in here?
Andrew did you ever get your DO1 to work better for you?
Very old post...but since it has been resurrected, I'll bite, since someone may be having the same issues or looking to buy one --> (PM me 
)
I have a 2-band D01 20mm and it requires a little more product than normal due to the density. Coupled with the fact that it doesn't splay much, means that it does hold onto product a little bit. However, I don't baby my brushes too much and I'm not afraid to press a little to splay the hairs. This works and it lathers fine...but it is too scritchy for me due to the density.
)I have a 2-band D01 20mm and it requires a little more product than normal due to the density. Coupled with the fact that it doesn't splay much, means that it does hold onto product a little bit. However, I don't baby my brushes too much and I'm not afraid to press a little to splay the hairs. This works and it lathers fine...but it is too scritchy for me due to the density.
I have this same issue with my 23mm Shavemac Silvertip (not D01). I was expecting great performance, given that this brush is so highly rated, but after over two weeks with the brush I still think that my trusty EJ Medium Super lathers better with less effort and less product (and at about 1/2 the cost of the Shavemac). Maybe it's the density or maybe it's the bulb shape, but I just can't get this brush to make lather easily!
I have two - wouldn't mind having another to be honest - I love both of mine. I face lather, and the D01 seems about perfect for this. Once broken in they work up a lather more easily. I find they must be soaked well first. My best results have been with hard soaps.
I use a D01 primarily in a bowl. try using more product. mine lathers great
My Shavemacs have Dense Knots that will take some use and time to loosen up and reach the maximum potential, my Silver-Tip Fan, 45/21, took ~30 lathers to become good and I expect it hasn't reached its full potential, My Finest Bulb, 50/21, broke in quicker, ~20 lathers and eats Hard soaps as well as my Boars. Don't give up, Palm lather the brush everyday while using your Boar for the next two weeks, then give it another try.
