Thread: How To Lather Correctly With Your Badger Brush

So here instructions on lathering and aftercare for our precious jewels;

First from Thater, note ...... circular motion to load and to apply the lather. Brush is hung bristle down after rinsing and shaking out.



Next a word from Shavemac ;



The Plisson company knows a thing or two about the proper use and care of a shaving brush;



And now a word from Simpsons. Note that this is the only brush maker that I have instructions for, which stresses 'painting motions' to load, and to lather. Saying that heavy circular motion in loading, and in lathering, will 'damage the hair of the brush.'



Above is the Simpson instruction sheet when they were made in Somerset. Below we have essentially the same sheet, with a different set of charactuers representing the shaver. Also the stress on 'light to and from strokes' is in italics on the older instruction sheet, and in bold face type on the Isle of Man Simpson instructions.



Finally we hear from soap maker extradonaire, Martin De Candre. They too have instructions on how to use your brush to get the most out of their wonderful soaps, circular motions .......... but lightly and politely.





So it seems that the majority of this small survey of brush and shaving soap/cream experts favor circular motion to load and to lather. Where they all agree is that it be done gently. Also that the brush is better hung bristles down to dry out, than standing bristle up.

Over and out

I actually do a little of both when building lather on the face.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I actually do a little of both when building lather on the face.

Oh, me too. I don't know if I ever did painting strokes before I saw Lynn's DVD. I might have, just don't recall. When Lynn shaves in that DVD he lathers circular, applies it circular. I think it was after the second lathering that he used some painting strokes and it was like a light bulb went on in my head saying it was a great idea if you were down to the point where it would be efficient.

Thanks Jimmy - interesting reading, I was half-way through saying to myself, but whose the one's who say that using a circular motion will absolutely destroy your brush and it's verboten!! LOL

Simpson's of course...

Which is interesting, as I use circular motion obviously to load the brush (don't see how you could do anything else), yet they would say doing the same thing on the face is wrong? I've been paying attention lately to how I apply the lather to the face, and turns out, I'm more a to and fro guy then circular motion anyhow.

The MdC instructions included one important thing that I initially missed, you get slimey soap on your face with MdC if you use more than a smidge of the stuff...I remember my first jar of the stuff, and ended up with paper mache it was so thick first time I used it, took me quite awhile to get my brush cleaned up after that time...and of course to properly then store it bristle's down.

Plisson say's hot water, others say not too hot water...think boiling water would be a better phrase, as I have a Semogue brush downstairs with some nicely crinkled up boar bristles and wrinkled paint from soaking it in "boiling" water when I first started out.

So should we all start loading our brushes in a to and fro manner?

Thanks for taking the time to put this together...

It's my brush and I'll do as I please with it!

No doubt treating your brush gently will reduce the wear and tear on it.

As for hanging a brush bristles down... I'm afraid I'm a firm believer in capillary action, and have always shaken out excess water after rinsing and always rested the brush on it's handle, bristles up. I've never felt the need to pad the brush makers coffers by purchasing their brush stand. So far, I've only lost two brushes, one a Simpson from the time they got some bad handle material and it cracked within a year, the other started shedding, and I suspect the knot, and not my treatment of it, as it happened within a couple of years. But... if it makes anyone feel better about it, by all means, hang the brush bristles down.

One tends to worry more, when one pays more for a brush, perhaps that's why I only have one brush that cost more than $100, and I don't use it that often?!?!

In fact, I'm super pleased with my cheapo 22mm knot from China/Ebay and a Whipped Dog cheap handle... a bit of epoxy and it has been my goto brush ever since I lost my Simpsons Colonel. I have another Colonel, a custom made job by Simpsons that has a premium knot, but I honestly prefer the cheap one I put together myself. No brush will last forever, but I use mine the way that feels good to me, and if that means having to buy a new brush sooner, I'm OK with that.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Thanks Jimmy - interesting reading,

So should we all start loading our brushes in a to and fro manner?

Thanks for taking the time to put this together...

I'm more of a hither and yon kinda guy, it's just how I roll.

Funny how when I received a Simpson, I was concerned about my circular lathering habits being bad for the brush somehow after reading their information sheet.
However after many shaves, and many circular lather loadings, it still seems perfect..

I think the real point here is lightly. I had a brush that never lost a hair for a year. A friend came over and smashed it into his hand and started doing strokes then circles. Not sure which but the hair was breaking off like there was no glue on the end of it. I grabbed it in time to save it LOL. I do circles until the second or third pass. Once the hair is off the face you might as well just paint because ,on my face at least, creating lather without hair just ain't happening.
A stiff brush may load just as fast with paint strokes as circles but a nice soft badger,,,, um not so much I think. At first I set my brushes down hair up because I didn't have a stand. Pixel made a comment once that made me go right out into the garage and make 1. Forget exactly what he said (you know Pixel ) but the idea of leaving a brush hair up and wet, disturbs me.

Thanks for the instruction pics. I love em :<0)

Lynn's videos are where I learned to lather and shave so I follow his example mostly.

I picked up a neat trick from one of Obie's posts. I place the handle of my brush horizontally over the pour hole of my scuttle and let the fur/bristle hang out over the bowl.

This reminds me about reading about honing on the net. What is the proper pressure?

If you smash your brush into your soap and then your face you are going to bust hairs. [On the brush!]

Use a reasonable amount of pressure on the tips of the brush to make your lather and the brush will last a long time.

What is a reasonable amount? I find that hard to convey.........

I always thought being instructed not to use circular motions with a shave brush was a lot like being placed in a circular room with instructions to pee in the corner. Like others have said the important thing is to use light pressure when doing circular strokes with a shave brush. Just enough pressure to splay the knot slightly not mash it close to flat on your face.

Bob