Why soak the brush?

[BlackBard]

I just swish my badger brush in the water as the sink is filling up. This probably takes about 30 seconds. Then I face lather. I do not SOAK my brush. I have never understood what benefit there is supposed to be to soaking a shaving brush for longer.

So, my question is: Why do you soak your brush? For how long? What are the benefits?

 

[LegionPrime]

Why do you face lather? Same thing, different stuff works for different people whether it be something that they feels gives them a better shave, convenience or even just habit. I know I soak my brush in my lather cup while I'm washing my face. It warms the bowl and gets the brush wet & warm. Then all I have to do is dump the water, give the brush a good shake and I'm ready to go. I also don't fill the sink with water, if I need water I just turn on the faucet for a second or two. Why do all you people fill the sink with water? The faucet's right there!

 

[doug1066]

I soak my brushes while I am applying deodorant and getting my gear ready. I do it to make sure that they have enough moisture in them to make a good lather.

 

[simpleguy]

I soak my brush in hot water mainly to get the brush as hot as possible so the lather stays warm.

 

[Neognosis]

So, my question is: Why do you soak your brush? For how long? What are the benefits?

I do the same as you. I only soak the brush as long as it takes to get my razor out and pick a shaving cream or soap, or maybe brush my teeth. Sometimes I don't even soak the brush. It seems just fine if I just wet it under the faucet.

And in addition, I suspect that soaking anything that is a natural animal hair bound together with glue in hot water might not bet the best thing for it, in addition to the necessary brutalities of rubbing it repeatedly on soap and skin...

 

[kpeople]

I just fill a bowl with hot water and let it sit while I'm in the shower. Why not? It takes some of the stiffness out of the brush and holds water better, so it feels nicer for face lathering.

 

[Renato1]

I soak my brush under a tap of hot running water for between five and ten seconds.
Works for me.
Regards,
Renato

 

[5savages]

Why do all you people fill the sink with water? The faucet's right there!

Because I find it much easier to use one hand swish the razor in a sink full of water to rinse it off, than to use two hands to turn on the faucet, rinse, then turn it off. I suppose one could just leave the water running while shaving though.

 

[diyguy]

I don't soak either. Just wet the brush, load with soap, and face lather. Seems to work fine for me.

 

[deruitem]

for a badger I agree 30 seconds works. For a boar, I would soak the brush. I have seen hairs break when its not soaked to soften the bristles

 

[jtb]

for a badger I agree 30 seconds works. For a boar, I would soak the brush. I have seen hairs break when its not soaked to soften the bristles

+1 I thought it had to do with the badger vs boar thing. Badger hair does not absorb water while boar bristles do absorb water. So you soak a boar to help keep it from breaking.

 

[Rustonrazor]

Because I find it much easier to use one hand swish the razor in a sink full of water to rinse it off, than to use two hands to turn on the faucet, rinse, then turn it off. I suppose one could just leave the water running while shaving though.

not a tight wad like me. I fill the bowl 1 time with steaming water and use it for my entire shave. Dip my brush for 10-15 seconds. Tried soaking but didn't see a difference.

 

[barrycv]

I fill my mug & surrounding jacket w/ warm water before I do my shower to heat it up. I started putting my brush in there just because it was something w/ water setting there. I haven't noticed any major difference in later performance.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I use to soak, but as my technique improved I find that its not necessary. I just run my brush under hot tap water for a few and then either bowl or face lather. Doing that works just fine for me.

 

[5savages]

not a tight wad like me. I fill the bowl 1 time with steaming water and use it for my entire shave. Dip my brush for 10-15 seconds. Tried soaking but didn't see a difference.

While I don't intentionally waste water, I don't go out of my way to save it either. Let's say I use 5 gallons of water for a shave...that costs me all of 3¢. I've gone to cold water shaving so the heating costs are negligible.

 

[luvmysuper]

Routine.
I soak my boar brushes in the sink while I shower, approx 10 minutes or so.
I don't want different routines, just different products, so I do the same with my badger brushes.

 

[rickboone1]

I have...but I don't do it as a necessity. There are times I just place it under running water. Works just the same for the most part.

 

[mwhals]

I just hold it under the faucet for a while. I have never found the need to soak.

 

[jsj_297]

I fill my sink with hot water, just dip it in for 10-15 secs and I'm ready.

 

[n.solo88]

I feel like the hair is softer on the brush