Why does my brush 'splay'?

[Razor&Pens]

While lathering my face (after making lather in mug) I find that the brush splays some so there is, for lack of being able to describe it better, a ring of bristles touching my face with a gap in the center. If my description is lacking I'll try to take a picture.

Any comments on whether this is acceptable or is a function of this particular brush or what?

Here's a photo of what it looks like. This is an Edwin Jagger medium best badger, probably about a month old, cleaned after every use.

 

[dpm802]

Its normal ... that's why it is designed with a convex top.

If it works, don't fix it. As long as it gives you good shaves, that's all that counts.

One way you can miniize the splay is to hold the brush mantic-style ... put the handle in the palm of your hand and grip the base of the hairs with your fingers.

 

[LawLess]

That is how my EJ BBB performs as well - and another reason it will be on the B/S/T soon. I like my brushes to retain their firmness and not 'wimp out' on me when lathering

 

[ouch]

As Ricky Ricardo would say, "Start 'splainin'".

 

[Tommy C]

Correct me if I am wrong but it looks normal to me since my boar brushes act the same.
I am pretty sure that a very dense shorter loft brush (45mm-50mm) won't act the the same. But I am just assuming.

 

[Razor&Pens]

That is how my EJ BBB performs as well - and another reason it will be on the B/S/T soon. I like my brushes to retain their firmness and not 'wimp out' on me when lathering

Lawless,

So what have you found that doesn't do this??

-T

 

[Gruder]

That's pretty common with the EJs. You're looking for brushes with more density and shorter lofts to avoid splay.

 

[LawLess]

Lawless,

So what have you found that doesn't do this??

-T

In my sig, you can check out my impression of a new Rooney 3/1 from Jim @ Vintage Blades. Very dense, scrubby, and the tips are oh-so-soft. Great combination of characteristics! It takes a bit more work to whip up lather (because of the dense knot) but it is fantastic on my face.

 

[Bertilak]

See this thread http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=81541 for a discussion of this.

 

[Confilo]

See this thread http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=81541 for a discussion of this.

Interesting thread, I have a few Rooneys and just ordered a Shavemac with a fan (flat shape, have not received it yet) I have a couple of Shavemacs with the bulb shape but tend to prefer the fan shape of the Rooneys.

 

[AFG]

Most brushes will do that to some degree unless they have a short loft and are very stiff. Not necessarily a bad thing, just depends how stiff/flexible you like a brush to be.

 

[Razor&Pens]

One way you can miniize the splay is to hold the brush mantic-style ... put the handle in the palm of your hand and grip the base of the hairs with your fingers.

Thanks. Inelegant, but works pretty well actually.

That's pretty common with the EJs. You're looking for brushes with more density and shorter lofts to avoid splay.

Thanks also. I understand now.

In my sig, you can check out my impression of a new Rooney 3/1 from Jim @ Vintage Blades.

The 3/1 seemed like just the ticket. Jim was fantastic to talk to. Of course I wound up ordering the Heritage "Emillion" in Faux Horn plus a stand instead. Acquisition disorder marches on.

See this thread http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=81541 for a discussion of this.

Very helpful!

 

[LawLess]

The 3/1 seemed like just the ticket. Jim was fantastic to talk to. Of course I wound up ordering the Heritage "Emillion" in Faux Horn plus a stand instead. Acquisition disorder marches on.

I feel your financial pain. I, too, ordered an Emillion because it just looks so good!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Yeah, what they said...the Rooney 3/1 I use is great at avoiding splay. It's got a nice stiff backbone, but still feels soft. Compared to the Vulfix 2233, it's night and day. The Vulfix has softer feeling bristles, but is floppy and feels more like I have to paint the lather on. If you want to avoid floppy, shorter loft, denser knot, and bulb shaped knot (as opposed to the more "fan" shaped) are what I would look for.

 

[cfriend]

Yeah, what they said...the Rooney 3/1 I use is great at avoiding splay. It's got a nice stiff backbone, but still feels soft. Compared to the Vulfix 2233, it's night and day. The Vulfix has softer feeling bristles, but is floppy and feels more like I have to paint the lather on. If you want to avoid floppy, shorter loft, denser knot, and bulb shaped knot (as opposed to the more "fan" shaped) are what I would look for.

+1

I've got a pair of Rooney Specials (3/1) in pure and super, both have minimal "splaying."

 

[Stubblefield]

I feel your financial pain. I, too, ordered an Emillion because it just looks so good!

That would make you an Emillion-aire.

To the OP: that '"splaying" is fairly common with softer brushes; it is just how they are.