Thread: Hanging Brushes up to dry.

When I was growing up I remember shaving brushes just standing up on the counter in the bathroom. All the men of the house used them daily and then just sat them back down. I remember over the years visiting friends bathrooms and seeing their dads or brothers brushes sat on their ends too.

I notice when I look at threads and online shops that most seem to reccomend hanging the brush up to dry and they like selling the stands for a pretty penny too.

Personally I have always just shaken my brushes out after use and stood them up to dry. I have lived all over the world in many climates and I have never had a brush go stinky or mouldy etc etc. except when its been put in my bag wet when travelling, and thats the only issues I have had, but nothing a good wash and air didn't sort out.

My friend Paul is still using his granddads brush, it does look a little worse for wear but then again its got to be at least 40 years old as he has had it that long. He shakes it out and sits in on its base, no issues he recalls.

So my question is really to the guys that sit their brushes on their bases;

Do you personally feel that sitting your shaken out brush on its end following a shave is detrimental to it's health?

Do you personally feel that hanging a brush is a trend or a cunning marketing ploy? Or is there something in it?

Do you personally feel that if your brush does die slightly premeturly it's all for the greater good as you get a new brush?

Good thread Kev.

I think that any moisture evaporates from the brush as long as its exposed to air.

I've never had a brush stand, and It hasn't caused me any trouble. However, I have nothing against brush stands. They look nice and keep a brush from toppling over.

Michael

I think I had the same brush for over a decade, I started wet shaving with cartridge razors/disposables with any conviction when I was about 18 I suppose, I don't ever remember buying a new brush, excepting the first one so that was 17 years ago, that brush died about 6 months ago, I killed it and another cheapie I got with early boiling water scuttle experements. I reckon if I hadn't destroyed it with stupidity then it would still be going.
I would hold my shave stick in my right hand, brush in my left hand, rub the brush over the stick (usually the wrapper or bits thereof too) lather up shave, sort if rinse out the brush, probably dry it a bit on a towel and pop it down, no stand.

1959-1960 about when I started shaving. there was my farther and 2 older brothers. we all used the same razor-brush. I still use the brush. it's an Eveready boar brush. there is a small crack in the side other than that it's ok. it has sat on its base laid on it's side and stood up in the mug. I plan on using it for many more years. it has never molded mildewed or any other damage. so it's anyway a person want's to keep it . just rinse it shake it and let it dry. kind of like other things.

I've done both. I used to stand my brushes up on the handles. The el cheapo Ever Ready brush lost some boar hairs over its lifetime, but was none the worse for wear.

My experience with a more recent purchase--a more expensive Caswell Massey badger brush--was different. After 2-3 years of standing it on its handle, the entire knot came out of the handle when I was shaking the excess water from it.

I think the difference may be a change in manufacturing techniques. Perhaps brush makers have changed the adhesive used in today's brushes. Doing so may have resulted in creating brushes where th adhesive may deteriorate when moisture is allowed to soak into it.

Just my 2 cents.

I think brushes should be hung to dry for at least 24 Hrs prior to storing them upright.
Granted, Cappilary action will dry the hairs,but you do have sort of a reservoir that will collect a small amt of water that needs to drain I feel.

My thought is along the lines of what Pixie said and it sure can't hurt any.

Bob

I too have done both, I have an old Simpson and a wooden handled boar brush that I have had and used for well over 30 years. I never hung them until about 10 years ago. Now I hang all my brushes to dry then on the base to store. I have a rotation of about a dozen and collection of about 50 more.

You can buy the plastic stands under 5 dollars. I do dry my brushes well on a micro fiber towel, a terry cloth towel works almost as well, by dabbing the brush tip down on the towel driving the water from the brush into the towel. Then draping the towel over the fingers of an open hand and flagging the brush tips across the edge of the top fingers. 10-20 back and forth laps will leave the brush almost completely dry to the touch.

I do believe hanging keeps the water from the glue plug and may prolong the life of a brush, it couldn’t hurt. On the other hand, I do collect brushes and still fine many old brushes with a full head of hair.

This is an old holdover from when brushes were constructed with a more porous base material. Inverting the brush was the best way to drain residual water out of the base. Today, the epoxy resins used to secure the bristles are entirely waterproof, virtually negating any benefit with inversion. Some of my brushes are in stands because I like the look, while others are standing on the handle. Here is how I dry my brush.

1. Rinse with warm water, then shake gently a few times over the sink.

2. Gently brush and squeeze the brush on a towel.

3. Gently use centrifugal force to shake out any remaining water by swinging it through the air.

Hang or stand upright. In an air conditioned environment my brushes are dry in less than four hours.