Thread: The Synthetic Brush Shootout

Yes, the technique for loading enough soap onto a synthetic brush is different from that when using a badger brush which is different again from using a boar brush. Been using a Plisson synthetic this past week and MWF. It is perfectly possible to load enough MWF that you can do a 4 pass face lather cold water shave without having to reload the brush in between passes. Just load the brush long enough.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, the technique for loading enough soap onto a synthetic brush is different from that when using a badger brush which is different again from using a boar brush. Been using a Plisson synthetic this past week and MWF. It is perfectly possible to load enough MWF that you can do a 4 pass face lather cold water shave without having to reload the brush in between passes. Just load the brush long enough.

Bob

Good point, Bob. As I made the switch to a synthetic the second load was just seemed to give me more control over the resulting lather than a single, extended loading approach. I suspect that more time with the Cashmere knot will result in a different approach and better results, something I'm looking forward to experiencing.

As with all of these knot reviews I'm comparing my procedure over two days to what I developed over a couple of weeks with the Whipped Dog brush. All of these notes should be taken with a rather large grain of salt and the knowledge that not only YMMV but mine may as well if I were to spend significantly more time with these knots.

All of my synthetic brushes, 4 different makes, seem to respond well to just running the tips across the water, quick shake, quick shake over the puck and then loading. That is repeated 3 or 4 times to get enough soap loaded for 4 passes. Then build a lather on my face, or bowl if you like, adding water the same way till you get the lather you want. Let the soap hold the lather as the knot won't. Too much water in the knot will leave it running down your hand and wrist.

Bob

I just wanted to post a quick apology, gentlemen. I've been sick for the last several days and since my symptoms have included some muscle ache and lack of coordination I've been staying away from my razors. I believe I've turned the corner on the illness and hope to get back to my review here in the next day or so. Just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't completely disappeared.

Get well soon GreenRipper!

Hang in there,,,,,

Hope you get to feeling better quickly, being sick sux

And this review is quite interesting, thanks