To dry, or not too dry

[roboboticus]

After a few months of DE wetshaving, I still haven't figured out how much water to leave in my brush before loading up with soap. Techniques I seen and tried:

• Squeezing the knot for a very dry brush
• A couple flicks to expell a good deal of water
• A couple gentle shakes with the bristles down, to retain a good deal of water

I'm trying to move from bowl lathering to face lathering, so it'd be nice to get a handle on this and spend less time/effort adding water after the fact. I'm curious what route most face-lathering soap users take.

 

[faster_than_u]

I like my brush dry. I give about 3 good shakes and then add water as needed. Works great for me

 

[TheChefs]

I like my brush dry. I give about 3 good shakes and then add water as needed. Works great for me

x2

 

[Joe Edson]

I like my brush dry. I give about 3 good shakes and then add water as needed. Works great for me

x3

 

[faster_than_u]

Wow that was cool quoted 2 times in a row. Win

 

[amspratt]

I just give it a couple shakes. I usually end up adding quite a bit of water after that, but it's a lot easier to add water than to take it out.

 

[Iakona]

I've been face lathering with a boar only and I squeeze it all the way out (but don't flick) so I can load up plenty of soap on a dry-ish brush. Then I let the water trickle out of the faucet and add as necessary.

 

[Rev. Nathan]

I just give it a couple shakes. I usually end up adding quite a bit of water after that, but it's a lot easier to add water than to take it out.

Absolutely. So many times I've messed up good lather by too much water. The only soap that seems to be uneffected by too much water is Proraso

 

[Aevum]

same here, full load of water, then lower it untill it dosnt drip anymore, and add water as needed, i like my lather cement like

 

[DErminator]

I squeeze brush, but not too hard. Then swirl it on a soap for a half a minute until it's fully loaded. Then I start face-lather and if it's too dry just dip the tip of the brush in water and continue. I always get fine lather.
But, as everything else in shaving, YMMV, try everything that people say it's good and see what works best for you.

 

[Speedwell68]

I soak the brush in hot water and let the brush naturally drain and that seems to be the right amount of water for my chosen cream to make a nice thick lather.

 

[pezdaddy]

I like my brush dry. I give about 3 good shakes and then add water as needed. Works great for me

x4

 

[pezdaddy]

I'm trying to move from bowl lathering to face lathering, so it'd be nice to get a handle on this and spend less time/effort adding water after the fact.

Better to start out too dry than too wet. It's really not that much time/effort to add more water a little at a time. For no particular reason, I add water about three separate times for the first pass, and than for subsequent passes I usually add a little extra for those (I am a 4 pass shaver plus touch ups)

 

[dpm802]

I soak the brush in hot water and let the brush naturally drain and that seems to be the right amount of water for my chosen cream to make a nice thick lather.

I use the same method for loading the brush, but since I like a sloppy-wet lather, I continue dipping the brush tips in water as I go along, until I get the lather to the wetness I want it.

 

[VampyreWolf]

Soak in hot water, and give it a couple good shakes to get most of the water out. Use that to get the cream started. The I'll dip back into the mug and wait till the brush quits dripping water. Seems to give me the right amount of water for the creams, if I didn't use too much cream.

 

[titan_021]

Whether I face lather or not, I give my brush a good squeeze and a gentle shake (while squeezed), so it ends up being pretty dry. I find it helps lift the soap off of a moist puck really nicely.

 

[roboboticus]

Thanks for chiming in, guys. I'm gonna go shave!