Maybe it’s like “The Fat”, works better as a shave stick. I have seen many report issues lathering it from a tub though.
You could be right. I do use it as a stick. It's the best stick after La Toja in my opinion.
Maybe it’s like “The Fat”, works better as a shave stick. I have seen many report issues lathering it from a tub though.
Best way to use a stick is rubbing it on your damp face and than proceed to face lathering.I wouldn't even use a shave stick if not for a synthetic brush.
Best way to use a stick is rubbing it on your damp face and than proceed to face lathering.
In this way, even with a badger brush, it's an easy job.
I get the same lather as well regardless of synthetic or boar or badger. Water is what makes or breaks my lather, alot of my soaps I need a really very dry brush to make a great thick creamy lather. I shake the heck out of my synthetic and it makes a big difference.
Not my experience at all comparing synthetics to boar bristle.I just like synthetics the best based on pure performance. For me synthetics perform the best. I've tried high quality silvertip badgers and still my preference is with synthetics.
The difference shows up most when using a shave stick.
Boar or badger brushes don't come close to producing the amount of lather a synthetic will produce with less effort.
I wouldn't even use a shave stick if not for a synthetic brush.
Not my experience at all comparing synthetics to boar bristle.
No.Using a shave stick?
Great!Using a shave stick?
In my post #43 I said: The difference shows up most when using a shave stick.
No, I get the same lather with every brush. But I find every brush demands it's own technique.
I'm trying to imagine how you would have trouble with an SOC and can't come up with a suggestion - that's the easiest lathering brush I've used. But I think that proves my point and I think you're correct in purchasing brushes that work well with the technique you're using. Makes perfect sense.
I have a mixture of boars, badgers, and synthetics. My favorite brushes fall in the badger category. I get a decent lather with all of my brushes. The only thing I dislike about synthetics is that many of them seem to splatter lather on the mirror which makes my wife unhappy. When my wife is not happy, I am not happy!
Would you mind sharing some tips on how you get your lathers to be the same level of quality between Synthetics and Badgers?
I love the feel of Badgers and I've tried many different ways, but the lathers I get from them, don't come close to the ones I can produce with a synthetic.
I'm aware that i need to soak it and load way more soap, but after that, I'm lost.
Thanks.
Interesting, I get easier lather with my badgers. One consideration might be the quality of your badger. I really like my SOC 2 band for face lathering and it was pretty cheap at around $65, but badgers tend to be considerably more expensive. Way more expensive than a typical synthetic. A fine boar brush is a fraction of the expense of a fine badger.
There are only a couple of variables with building lather: how much soap you load and how much water you add. I find with a badger the amount of water left in the brush has a large influence on how long you need to load. To dry and you'll be loading for ages, too wet and you'll make a big mess on the puck. I try and shoot for the middle ground. I do sometimes have to rinse off the outside of the soap tub.
The size of the brush and how much you splay the brush on the puck also makes a difference. But everything works in the proper ratio. You can squeeze the brush very dry and it will still eventually be loaded.
I suggest some experimental palm lathers. Try one with a dry brush and see how long you need to load (you can get a pretty good idea by looking at the soap on the brush). Try one with more water left in the brush. Then load one up good and slowly add water as you build lather on your palm. Keep adding water until you turn it into lather that's too thin for your taste. Pay attention as you go and you'll gain a lot of knowledge about the process.
Any brush can make good lather, but some require a lot more work. There is no rule about which hair to use, if you prefer your synthetic I would use that. Whatever works is good.