Advice on new brush

I purchased a shaving kit several years ago and quickly gave up. It came with a Col. Conk Dovo 6/8 and the Vanderhagen soap, blue green bowl, and brush, not the new luxury one.
I jumped back in once I found this site and more info and have been shaving since October. (My tattooed arms. My beard is a little over a year and will be removed sometime next month, so I only have my arms to judge by, if it makes a difference.)
I'm still absolute crap with lather. I'm learning very slowly and I'll get there, but I thought maybe I would try a new brush. After all it set on a shelf in my shower in the bowl for a few years. It still works, but at the same time, I have no clue what I'm doing. I was hoping some old timers could give some good cheap options that consistently get the job done, and be forgiving for a complete novice, if brushes have that quality.

As far as brushes go, the cheap way out is a boar. But like what was said, it takes time to break in. Another option 8s a synthetic brush. They are normally very soft and dont have a lot of backbone but if you put your finger over the handle and the tips on the brush knot you can get a little more stiffness while loading your brush.
Low cost badge brushes ive found have a tendancy to shed. So thats another option but you might be picking hairs out of your soaps. Burushes are a personnal thing. Ive got some low cost brushes that i enjoy and ive got exspensive brushes to that i like. You just have to see what you enjoy the most.

Thanks guys. As far as strop goes, I've been using a belt. Its been working fine, but certainly has a great many nicks in it. But I will be ordering one soon, and I was actually looking at the ones from whipped dog.

Have you read the brush primer in the shave brush forum? It may help you come to a decision.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...sh-primer.html

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Have you read the brush primer in the shave brush forum? It may help you come to a decision.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...sh-primer.html

Bob

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No, but I will now. Thank you, sir.

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Originally Posted by Kyleybob

No, but I will now. Thank you, sir.

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You're welcome. It is really hard to advise someone what brush to get even if you know the price point the person is looking at, how they like the knot to feel on the face, do they bowl or face lather, what size knot they like and so on.

Bob

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/

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Originally Posted by Gasman

...it takes time to break in...

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I've been reading about, and watching movies that mentioned breaking in. However, no reference, on how it's done properly. What's the process of braking in a boar brush? Do synthetic brushes need to be broken in as well?

Funny, as an experienced vapor, I know that replacement coils have to be broken in as well. I know that procedure.

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Originally Posted by Neunerball

I've been reading about, and watching movies that mentioned breaking in. However, no reference, on how it's done properly. What's the process of braking in a boar brush? Do synthetic brushes need to be broken in as well?

Funny, as an experienced vapor, I know that replacement coils have to be broken in as well. I know that procedure.

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This thread should answer your question on boar brush break in.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...oar-break.html

No synthetic brushes need no break in, what see is what you get with them.

Bob

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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Kyleybob

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.

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Don't beat yourself up. There are times I can't get a good lather from one of my brushes. Why you ask? Well because i get into too much of a hurry. It takes time to get that perfection of lathering with a brush down to a fine art. I have been using a shaving brush off and on since I first started shaving. My Grandmother gave me my Grandfathers shaving brush. I still have it to this day. I would still have his shaving mug also but it fell ff the shelf in the medicine cabinet one day when I opened it up to get something out. I do still have my razor that was issued to me in Boot Camp. (I probably paid for it because they took all kinds of money out of my first paycheck)Good luck just practice you'll work it out.

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Originally Posted by Kyleybob

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.

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Just a friendly suggestion, but unrefined shea butter would, most likely, help keep your hands moisturized, especially, if you apply it when you go to sleep, if you are washing your hands throughout the day.

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Originally Posted by celestino

Just a friendly suggestion, but unrefined shea butter would, most likely, help keep your hands moisturized, especially, if you apply it when you go to sleep, if you are washing your hands throughout the day.

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Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Another trick is get some heavy duty hand cream and after application put on a pair of thin cotton gloves and do that at night.

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Originally Posted by Kyleybob

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

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Get yourself some O'Keeffe's Working Hands at Home Depot or Amazon. I use it on my hands.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Another trick is get some heavy duty hand cream and after application put on a pair of thin cotton gloves and do that at night.

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lol, I've tried this, but the only gloves I had were doctors exam gloves. Needless to say I didn't make it through the night.