Hi all. First post. I'm wondering how aggressive do you use your brush? I've watched some videos and everyone really seems to go at it with abandon. Pressing it flat while swirling it and brushing. Is that really necessary to get a good lather? My brush is a handmade super badger with a hand turned olive wood handle which is the companion to my DE razor I received as a set from my wife for my birthday. I don't wish to damage my nice personalized brush and the hairs are so soft I'd think treating it like that would be bad. Here's a link to what I'm talking http://www.mystic4men.com/
Using brush: aggressiveness
- Thread starter Vicv
- Start date
firm but gentle is the way to go, mashing will damage the bristles
welcome to the house
welcome to the house
Yeah, don't go crazy. It doesn't take much pressure in the bottom of a bowl, in your hand, or on your face to get a lather going. Mantic59's videos have a pretty good suggestion of holding the brush at the base where the knot meets the handle while lathering. That's a pretty good way to ensure you're not going to go too far in how much pressure you apply.
Welcome to you. I've never really used a lot of pressure with any of my brushes, and I've always been able to build a very nice lather.
Welcome aboard!
I mash mine sometimes. As long as the way you are using it works, then there is no reason to change it. Bear in mind though that the brush will not last as long as the razor no matter how you treat it.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thank you all for the welcome and replies. I guess I have to fix my settings as since I hadn't gotten a notification email I thought no one was responding. I must admit I was babying my brush badly. Basically just brushing the tips on the soap without letting the bristles deform at all
Went much better last night as I realized it was a tool and used it as such. Got a very nice lather from my ex sandlewood. Also the worst shave yet. I think precision blades are not for me. Felt much duller than my 7 o clock super platinum. So bad I'm letting it grow today. Ya in that video I linked to it just looked like he was really beating on that poor brush. I didn't use mine nearly as hard
Went much better last night as I realized it was a tool and used it as such. Got a very nice lather from my ex sandlewood. Also the worst shave yet. I think precision blades are not for me. Felt much duller than my 7 o clock super platinum. So bad I'm letting it grow today. Ya in that video I linked to it just looked like he was really beating on that poor brush. I didn't use mine nearly as hard
Welcome to B&B and the Shaving Brushes Forum! I think mashing nice badger hair brushes is neither necessary to get the job done nor best for a brush.
I use light to medium pressure and work largely with the tips.
I use light to medium pressure and work largely with the tips.
Not at all. I'd have to press very hard to do that since my brush is dense.
- Thread starter
- #10
Ok thanks. Been a lurker for a while. Finally joined. Bought a straight from a member here as well. So far been at it for a few weeks now. Still having some irritation after and getting only saw but I'm sure it will improve. The neck and under the jaw seem to be particular problem as the only was I can get it smooth is going at and that's not fun at all. Not trying to go ot just explaining myself
I wrote what's pasted in below (italics) for the M&F Group Buy launch post. It's not gospel, just what I think.
Different people have varying opinions about 1) best practices in the use of badger hair shaving brushes and 2) what kinds of treatment a brush should be able to withstand without resulting damage. I’m not an expert. The habits I've personally adopted reflect my belief that it’s probably best not to subject a brush to harsher treatment than getting its job done requires. I don’t find it necessary (or even useful) to soak my brushes for longer than a few minutes, and I never expose them to very hot water. I mostly face lather, but also use a bowl occasionally. I try to work mostly with the tips and I never mash or aggressively stir the knot into a soap puck or against my face (or palm, or anything else). Not all badger hair is created equal, not even all hair within a designated grade. I recommend taking that into account when using and caring for [a particular] brush.
Different people have varying opinions about 1) best practices in the use of badger hair shaving brushes and 2) what kinds of treatment a brush should be able to withstand without resulting damage. I’m not an expert. The habits I've personally adopted reflect my belief that it’s probably best not to subject a brush to harsher treatment than getting its job done requires. I don’t find it necessary (or even useful) to soak my brushes for longer than a few minutes, and I never expose them to very hot water. I mostly face lather, but also use a bowl occasionally. I try to work mostly with the tips and I never mash or aggressively stir the knot into a soap puck or against my face (or palm, or anything else). Not all badger hair is created equal, not even all hair within a designated grade. I recommend taking that into account when using and caring for [a particular] brush.
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- #12
As I know on the forums if there are not any pictures it didn't happen
Just beautiful! Congrats.
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- #14
Thanks
