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How do you BREAK-IN or Condition NEW Brush?

Was reading another Thread that was not specifically about the subject above, but it got me thinking. A person could spend big bucks for NEW Brush, and destroy it fast without some sort of Care, and Proper Break In?

Now the question is if you were to acquire a New Brush in Bore, Synthetic, or Badger Hair what would you personally do to Break in to get Ready to shave. Do you BREAKE IN say Bore differently then Badger, or ManMade Hair. Tips Tricks, and Secrets please share.

As for years I have only old Bore, that I have had years, when I got use, it stunk, I use, it still stunk, and used more the stink went away. Was from India and was what I call price point special.
 

brucered

System Generated
DO: Use it normally or test lather it a few times.

DON'T: Try any other method that involves boiling water, soaking overnight, placing it in the freezer or rubbing it on sandpaper. All of which have been promoted in the past.

The above applies to all hair types and handle materials.
 
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I don’t do anything unless they have a smell. If they have a smell, I make more lather than usual load it and rinse it off once. Then I just use it as normal.

I have a couple vintage brushes. I washed them with baby shampoo and let them totally dry out. I then used them as normal.
 
I unwrap the package on the night of a new moon. Then, after gently rinsing the brush in vintage Evian, place it in an Orrefors crystal pyramid, hand carved by a blind, virgin, left handed Maltese artisan in a scientifically calibrated refrigerator. After three days, rotating the pyramid 90⁰ every 24 hours, I remove the brush and palm lather using industrial grade Arko. Repeat this procedure nine times and then, and only then, will your brush be ready.

This is for synthetics. For natural hairs, it is much more complex...
 

Rudy Vey

Shaving baby skin and turkey necks
DO: Use it normally or test lather it a few times.

DON'T: Try any other method that involves boiling water, soaking overnight, placing it in the freezer or rubbing it on sandpaper. All of which have been promoted in the past.

The above applies to all hair types and handle materials.
This is exactly what I always say. There is no need for any kind of "break" in of a badger brush. One can even damage it when doing things, like soaking overnight. The knot will swell and then can break the handle. Has happened a few times.
Just use some lathers with a nice soap in your hand, nothing else!! No vinegar, dawn or whatever people recommend.
 
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With boar I shampoo lather it a couple of times after a 5-10 minutes soak (half the knot). Then I do a couple of lathers with a quality cream or soap. Carefully ring out knot and set to dry. This usually gets rid of the boar funk but like you I have had a few stinkers that took a long time to not stink.
 
I'll add that the "break-in" for a boar generally means having the ends of the hairs split, which makes it lather better and feel softer. This gradually happens as the hairs are soaked (a 10-20 minute soak is sufficient) and allowed to dry out completely. What I do is palm lather after soaking and then let it dry for 1-2 days (however long it takes to dry out in the place you're storing it), then repeat a few times until it starts performing better.

Also, many natural brushes seem to have residual oils that can collapse the lather when they're new, which the lathering will clean out after several lathers.

I agree that all the fancy "break-in" methods that I've seen (using heat, cold, overnight soaks, etc.) do no good, but can certainly harm the brush.
 
DO: Use it normally or test lather it a few times.

DON'T: Try any other method that involves boiling water, soaking overnight, placing it in the freezer or rubbing it on sandpaper. All of which have been promoted in the past.
This.
If it smells, I leave it full of lather for an hour or two.

Synthetics I steam and toss that nasty knot and replace with a nice badger, then see above.
 
Was reading another Thread that was not specifically about the subject above, but it got me thinking. A person could spend big bucks for NEW Brush, and destroy it fast without some sort of Care, and Proper Break In?

Now the question is if you were to acquire a New Brush in Bore, Synthetic, or Badger Hair what would you personally do to Break in to get Ready to shave. Do you BREAKE IN say Bore differently then Badger, or ManMade Hair. Tips Tricks, and Secrets please share.

As for years I have only old Bore, that I have had years, when I got use, it stunk, I use, it still stunk, and used more the stink went away. Was from India and was what I call price point special.
I test lather it a few times and dry it off on a towel after each use.
 
Be sure not to go above 4000 spm for the first 1000 or so uses. Vary your brushing speed as much as possible and avoid straight lines so the hairs get used to bending every which way. Avoid pulling trailers if at all possible and be sure to enjoy that new brush smell, really take it in, while it lasts because before you know it, it will be gone forever.
 
Just use some lathers with a nice soap ion your hand, nothing else!! No vinegar, dawn or whatever people recommend.

While the expert is here ... Rudy, may I ask you, please:

Do you recommend cleaning badgers to get rid of chalk? And how so?

I have hard water, where I live, lots of chalk and I means lots. I use badgers exclusively (diverse Chubby in rotation) and it's been a long time I used a solution with vinegar. Only thing I always do is to have the brush I use rest in water for some minutes prior to shaving to soften remains of soap and chalk and of course I rinse them after shaving, but you never get them totally soap free and then there is still the chalk.

If they shed a hair every now and then, they had done so so from the beginning, I want to say I never experienced an increased shedding over long periods of time, so I'm cool with no extra care. But I thought I take the chance to ask you. 🌞
 
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