Should I Be Worried about my Shavemac?

[lurker4life]

I just got my new brush in the mail the other day and I'm not sure if I should be worried or not. Right out of the box I noticed that it wasn't as soft as I expected based on reviews. As I do with all my brushes, I lather it up using Tabac to help with the smell and start the break in process. It made wonderful lather, however, after I rinsed everything off, the brush felt like a wet old dog would. Not only that but the beautiful bulb shape looked like an ugly old dog. Is there a problem with the brush? Could Bernd have accidentally sent me my brush in Pure or Best?

Just so you guys know what I'm comparing it to, I have used many brushes in my past but in my rotation right now is a Duke 2 and a Kent Blk8

I hope I'm just jumping the gun here as I've been waiting to get a Shavemac since I started shaving years ago

 

[AABCDS]

A picture would help us assess the condition of your brush. What grade of hair is your brush supposed to be? The D01 2-band isn't as soft as Thater brushes. I'm not sure what you were expecting. Boar brushes don't look all that great after lathering either.

 

[lurker4life]

A picture would help us assess the condition of your brush. What grade of hair is your brush supposed to be? The D01 2-band isn't as soft as Thater brushes. I'm not sure what you were expecting. Boar brushes don't look all that great after lathering either.

It's silvertip. I can take pics a bit later but the feel of the hair is not anywhere close to the super softness stated in reviews.

 

[brucered]

not sure anything will be as soft as your Kent.

it sounds like you have only test lathered it. have you actually lathered your face with it, to see how soft it is?

 

[lurker4life]

not sure anything will be as soft as your Kent.

it sounds like you have only test lathered it. have you actually lathered your face with it, to see how soft it is?

Negative. These are all test lathers which I've done on all of my brushes. I'm just really surprised as to how the hair feels at this point. After I rinse off the lather and the brush sits for a while, the hair feels very odd. It's hard to really put words to it since I've never experienced it before with any of the other brushes that I've had.

 

[brucered]

many brushes have the "crunchy" feel to them when they sit dry. My Rooney, Thater, Shavemac and Savile Row are all like this. They are all ULTRA soft when used.

i believe they refer to this feeling/hair as "hooked tips". it's nothing to worry about and will be fine when used.

 

[German]

+1 Shake it out after use... Swirl it gently on a towel and the hair will fall back into shape. Some silvertips with very fine hair will get hooked hair when dry. Nothing to worry about. They remain super soft when wet.

many brushes have the "crunchy" feel to them when they sit dry. My Rooney, Thater, Shavemac and Savile Row are all like this. They are all ULTRA soft when used.

i believe they refer to this feeling/hair as "hooked tips". it's nothing to worry about and will be fine when used.

 

[shyrlock]

I always heat up about a cup of purefied or distilled water for shaving. First I soak the bruch in it, use a little as needed for lathering in a seperate cup and finally use the remaining pure water for the final rinse of my razor and brush. This method has been keeping my brushes in topnotch condition for years. Some since 1995.
By the way, almost all of my brushes are Shavemacs. A couple Pures (They give a great lather and facial massage), two Super Silvertips, and three D01's. These are all superb brushes. I recently bought a Simpson Chubby 2 best badger, it will probably be on the Shaving Mall shortly.
Good luck. If after you've broken it in and used it for a while, and you still don't like it, I'm sure Bernd will take care of it for you.

 

[dreadpirate]

Maybe you are not use to a dense brush with a lot of backbone?? Hard for me to say without seeing for myself. Shavemacs have an excellent rep, but I guess it's always possible to get a bad apple.

 

[brucered]

+1 Shake it out after use... Swirl it gently on a towel and the hair will fall back into shape.

this is EXACTLY what I do after every shave.

 

[Mick]

As said earlier. Photos in various states (dry, wet, bloomed) would help a lot

 

[brucered]

The Shavemac 3-band regular Silvertip hair is soft as velvet, both in the dry and wet state......

funny... my Shavemac 3 band silvertip has the Hooked Tips when dry, but pillowy soft when wet (don't matter to me what it feels like dry)

 

[lurker4life]

Just an update just incase someone has the same concern and finds themselves reading this. After a week of running the brush through test lathers I can confirm that the tips are amazingly soft WHEN WET. When it's dry, not so much, but like posted above me, who cares how it feels dry. It was an absolute pleasure to lather with this brush and is now my go to brush. Thanks for all the comments made.