Thread: Advice on new brush

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Take a look at Stirling Soap Company brushes. Both badger and boar reasonably priced. The badgers are great. I’ve got four.

https://www.stirlingsoap.com/shave-brushes/

I've actually decided that when I get my first badger brush it will be theirs. I had narrowed my choices to them or Whipped Dog. I've yet to see anything but good reviews about Whipped Dog. However, I was pleased to find out Stirling is located in a town I grew up playing in football. We had the same relatively rare mascot, Bearcats. I'm glad their soaps and brushes get pretty good reviews.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Assuming your current brush is still serviceable, I recommend that you practice with it, a lot. Make lather in the palm of your hand or in a bowl several times a day. Make the lather as wet as you can.....then make lather as dry as you can. Make lather by loading up the brush with soap as much as possible. Make lather loading up the brush as little as possible. Try making a good lather in less than 90 seconds, then make a good lather with no time limit. Watch videos on lather making. Somewhere in the middle of this hodge podge, you will learn to make a great lather.

Excellent advice, I thank you and shall shortly spend some me time in the bathroom alone with my soap! I was fortunate enough to receive several soaps from some very generous members on here couple months ago, so I might as well put in as much practice as I can. I'll tell you one thing, there's a lot of great people one here. Its a breath of fresh air. Thanks again for the advice.

The brush topic has been covered well. I would like to share a couple of ideas regarding Kyleybob's statement that he isn't getting good lather.

That is probably more of an issue with the soap than the brush. What soap are you using? You mentioned Col Conk in your post. If you are using Col Conk's inexpensive glycerin soap then I would recommend something different.

Opinions on who has great soap is a Ford /Chevy type thing.

Unlike the majority, I have a preference for creams. I don't think you can go wrong with Taylor of Old Bond St, Baum.be or Castle Forbes. I personally believe that Castle Forbes is the best on the market, though I haven't tried all of them.

For shaving soap, I'm a real fan of Stirling. Rod, a Veteran, and his wife, run Stirling Soap and they are in your state of Arkansas. I also like Barrister & Mann and have their Seville soap on my list to try. For hard soaps, Pre de Provence and Haslinger's Schafmilch Rasierseife are hard to beat.

Originally Posted by Pete123

The brush topic has been covered well. I would like to share a couple of ideas regarding Kyleybob's statement that he isn't getting good lather.

That is probably more of an issue with the soap than the brush. What soap are you using? You mentioned Col Conk in your post. If you are using Col Conk's inexpensive glycerin soap then I would recommend something different.

Opinions on who has great soap is a Ford /Chevy type thing.

Unlike the majority, I have a preference for creams. I don't think you can go wrong with Taylor of Old Bond St, Baum.be or Castle Forbes. I personally believe that Castle Forbes is the best on the market, though I haven't tried all of them.

For shaving soap, I'm a real fan of Stirling. Rod, a Veteran, and his wife, run Stirling Soap and they are in your state of Arkansas. I also like Barrister & Mann and have their Seville soap on my list to try. For hard soaps, Pre de Provence and Haslinger's Schafmilch Rasierseife are hard to beat.

I have a handful of soaps that were given to me. I have both Stirling, and Barrister & Mann. I think its mainly the fact that I'm still very new, and am still learning.

Originally Posted by Kyleybob

I have a handful of soaps that were given to me. I have both Stirling, and Barrister & Mann. I think its mainly the fact that I'm still very new, and am still learning.

I have used a fair number of soaps and creams over the last few years ranging from inexpensive to expensive. I have found that most all will give a lather good enough that it will not keep you from getting a close comfortable shave. Some, surprising few, have been trash with some better than others. Some have been a bugger to raise a lather with and others seem to lather well if you just look at them. So I think you are right in that you are new to this and still learning the ropes. Take your time and practice lathering with your brush and one soap/cream till you can do well with that combo. Once you have that combo figured out try a different soap/cream till that works for and so on. Most all soaps/creams are a bit different to lather so you have to get to know them and how they like to be lathered. Like most things in this sport it is seldom the gear that is the issue, although that is always a possibility, but more likely the operator. It will get easier as you gain experience.

Bob

Agreed. I think thats the best advice. Practice with one soap and one brush until you find what it takes to get good lather with those before changing to other brushes or soaps. I know its hard to use just one, and i was really had about this myself. I could use just one. And it took me much longer to gain the experiance needed to know my equipment.

Practice and practice some more. Its sounds odd to practice making lather but it really is needed to have exactly what you want in lather. And all soaps act different!

Thank you to all for the advice. I do believe these thread has very likely "shaved" a significant amount of time off of my learning curve.

Kyleybob,

You might Google: lynn abrams making lather

He has a bunch of videos on making good lather with different brushes and methods. This can really shorten your learning curve.

Anytime I want to learn something about shaving I Google the topic with Lynn's name. I like him because he is very competent and doesn't say anything unless it is correct.

Originally Posted by Pete123

Kyleybob,

You might Google: lynn abrams making lather

He has a bunch of videos on making good lather with different brushes and methods. This can really shorten your learning curve.

Anytime I want to learn something about shaving I Google the topic with Lynn's name. I like him because he is very competent and doesn't say anything unless it is correct.

It has been noted, sir. I'm giving it a search now.

I thought I would give an update. I still suck, but I'm getting there. I can get a good lather, but it tends to dry up pretty quick after I put it on. I make quite a few throughout the day, but I can't really do too many on my hands and what not to see its going to dry quick. Its cold and every body part I have has been drying out this year, my hands more than anything. I'm a paraplegic, and for whatever reason the hand rails on my wheels, and washing my hands all throughout the day almost keep them raw from being so dry.