Thread: 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

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

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

Originally Posted by Kyleybob

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

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/

Originally Posted by Gasman

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

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.

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.

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.