Is soaking your brush before you shave bad for your brush? I don't put the handle under water I just stand the brush upright in a bowl with warm tap water with 50% or so of the hair in the water. I do this first thing in the morning while I shower have breakfast etc. Can this be bad for the brush hair if you leave it like this for 15-20 mins?
Soaking A Brush
- Thread starter MikeC
- Start date
I have been doing this for years without any problems. In fact, one brush has gone through its bath for more than 25 years and is still fine. Soaking the brush, IMO, is essential for building a good lather - also it is easier on your face.
I always soak my brushes, the length of time dictated by the type of brush that I'm using. For a badger brush, a seconds is all that is required and it's mainly to bring the brush to temperature. A board brush gets a longer soak, 30 seconds at a minimum and longer if I'm not in any hurry, as boars benefit from a soaking.
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I never go with out it. Regardless of bristle type I love a nice warm brush to face lather with. If I go with out a soak and the brush is cold, it does not feel as good.
Badger brushes generally dont need it as they can soak up water in just a couple seconds. My Simpson two band being the exception as the broad hairs will soap up a good amount of water if left for 5 minuets and become noticeably softer. Boar brushes need a 3-5 soak to absorb water as they do not hold water by capillary they soak water into the bristles so it is in fact needed to get full hydration. If I skip a soak with a boar my lather nerve turns out as the bristles are soaking up water that the soap needs! YMMV on that one, but its what happens for me.
It should not hurt a well made brush. Plastic/stone handles wont suffer at all, and a well scaled wood handle should be just fine as most makers use boat/dock finishes on wood brushes.
Badger brushes generally dont need it as they can soak up water in just a couple seconds. My Simpson two band being the exception as the broad hairs will soap up a good amount of water if left for 5 minuets and become noticeably softer. Boar brushes need a 3-5 soak to absorb water as they do not hold water by capillary they soak water into the bristles so it is in fact needed to get full hydration. If I skip a soak with a boar my lather nerve turns out as the bristles are soaking up water that the soap needs! YMMV on that one, but its what happens for me.
It should not hurt a well made brush. Plastic/stone handles wont suffer at all, and a well scaled wood handle should be just fine as most makers use boat/dock finishes on wood brushes.
Probably not bad for the brush, but after 15-20 min. won't the water be cold?
I just run water over the brush until it is well soaked. 15 - 20 seconds at most. Works fine for me.
I just run water over the brush until it is well soaked. 15 - 20 seconds at most. Works fine for me.
My apartment has water so hot it will blister your fingers, I put that into a thick mug, wait for it too cool a bit throw my brush in and take a shower. When I get out its perfect temperature every time.
I've seen a boar destroyed by soaking it in very hot water-the epoxy holding the knot melted and the bristles separated from the handle.
However, that was the cheap offering from Wilkinson. My Men-u brush regularly enjoys the searing pit that is my sink to no adverse effect...yet.
However, that was the cheap offering from Wilkinson. My Men-u brush regularly enjoys the searing pit that is my sink to no adverse effect...yet.
I posted this question in the shaving brush forum last week if it helps, i always soak mine, but a few replies said tp try it without a soak, just wet under a tap before use, i tried that for a few days but the results, for me, were not s good as a good soaking first, i do this with my badgers and my boars.
Cheap brushes with poorly sealed wooden handles will suffer from soaking (I'm looking at YOU Tweezerman!) but otherwise you should be OK.
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