I need 2 improve on my lathering technique...

[warhawk]

Hope all is well with U and your families... My Semogue 620 arrived yesterday and I was gonna take it for a test drive tomorrow. I can't wait. However... I need your help on improving my lathering technique.

First of all... prior to receiving my Semogue 620 boar brush... my only shaving brush that I owned was my trusty Shea Moisture Badger brush (from Target). It was dependable but I wanted 2 move on. Anyways... my technique was to soak the brush in hot water, drop a "dollop" size TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream or CO Bigelow into my mug, shake brush off, than immediately do the swirling motion for about 3-5 minutes. I thought I was doing a good job until I saw the awesome, thick, creamy lather that was performed by your brush.

I am looking 2 improve my lathering technique... hope U can help. Thanks in advance for any help, suggestions, and tips. Man... I can't wait 2 use my new Semogue 620!!!

WARHAWK

 

[Vlad]

Check out the links in my address. Two other things I would suggest are

• More product. The more cream, the more lather.
• Face lather. It's not just for soaps, and allows you instant feedback on the quality of the lather.

 

[warhawk]

Check out the links in my address. Two other things I would suggest are

• More product. The more cream, the more lather.
• Face lather. It's not just for soaps, and allows you instant feedback on the quality of the lather.

Hi Vlad: I appreciate that.

WARHAWK

 

[Face&Head]

• Face lather. It's not just for soaps, and allows you instant feedback on the quality of the lather.

This is certainly true but only a masochist would face lather with a brand new unbrokenin boar. Ouch!

 

[Brent]

Since your boar is new, it does need time to break it in. Over time you'll find that it performs better and better as the ends of the hairs split. About a month of constant use is the standard to where a boar will be broken in, though it does depend on the brush. Some are only a week or two, some can go much longer. Having a defined period for it to fully dry seems to help. I took a shortcut that helped me break in my SOC boar in about a week and a half.

Also, the more product comments are spot on. If you see someone with pictures of lather bursting out of a giant bowl, chances are they used much more product than you do. I am a stingy person so I always try to hit a sweet spot where I have enough for a full shave and a bit left over.

 

[mharris127]

Since your boar is new, it does need time to break it in. Over time you'll find that it performs better and better as the ends of the hairs split. About a month of constant use is the standard to where a boar will be broken in, though it does depend on the brush. Some are only a week or two, some can go much longer. Having a defined period for it to fully dry seems to help. I took a shortcut that helped me break in my SOC boar in about a week and a half.

Also, the more product comments are spot on. If you see someone with pictures of lather bursting out of a giant bowl, chances are they used much more product than you do. I am a stingy person so I always try to hit a sweet spot where I have enough for a full shave and a bit left over.

Some boar brushes come softer than others. I have a VDH brush (I think it is boar) that is stiff and a bit scratchy whereas the Burma-Shave brushes boar brushes I have came quite soft to the touch. Brushes do soften some when broken in but some brushes stay stiffer than others even after years of use.

 

[Brent]

I agree, there are variations. But I find with a brush with non clipped tips, the break in period has a much more noticeable and positive difference. Granted, some will naturally be softer just like any brush. I have a few Simpsons and even in those badgers there is a large difference in scritch.

 

[Vivasanti]

don't be afraid to add more water, sometimes its the key to getting it to explode, sparing though..

 

[Luc]

I would recommend 2 things.

1. Practice your lather before your shave. You don't need to wait until you have to make lather to use it. Make a few bowls of lather, that's the best way to test a product. As soon as I change something (water, brush, shave cream or shave soap), I test it.
2. Review the tutorials - http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Category:Lathering - If you are unsure, have a look over there. They should help. Keep in mind that making lather is like a recipe. You will make some adjustments on the way (all products aren't the same).

 

[NickyBobby]

Practice, practice, practice. I read a post on here a while back that said there's nothing wrong with using 1/4 of a new soap or cream trying to figure out exactly how much water and product are needed to hit that exploding lather sweet spot. And that post was right on. You're better off figuring out how to make your lather explode and using extra product then going through weeks of mediocre shaves. So, when you get the urge, make up some test lather. Take good mental notes. And in no time you'll have thick dense lather with every shave.

 

[redrako]

Lots of good advise here. I'll reiterate a few points.

The 620 is a great and famous brush, but like all boars it needs it's time to to break in. Many of us go through a process of building 'break-in' lathers simply to help break in the brush. As has been mentioned, allowing the brush to go through complete wet/dry cycles is most beneficial.

Over time your brush knot will open up some and as mentioned you'll see the bristle ends start to split. Not owning the 620 myself, but having broken in five boars, I"ll tell you that for me, I generally find that after 7-10 days of 'break-in' that the brush starts to get where I like it. For the next few weeks it just gets better and better.

I mostly use boars with soaps (boar/soap/shave stick must be 85-90% of my lathers), but occasionally use a larger brush to bowl lather and it works fine. IMO, the short loft the 620 is better suited for face lathering. As Vlad mentioned, you can easily face lather with a cream by simply spreading it on your face and building the lather by swirling the brush around. Dip the bristles into water once or twice to hydrate the lather. As face&head mentioned, this may be a bit rough until the brush is broken in.

You have a great brush, but it takes a bit of work to bring it along to where you'll get the maximum use out of it - good things come to those who wait!

Keep us posted on your progress.