Thread: does anyone actually follow simpson's instructions?

Funny, but I think my old Edwin Jagger brush came with those same instructions. It must be something to avoid excessive returns from claims of defective brushes.

For what it's worth, I like doing a circular motion when I first apply the lather to my face and neck. I then go back over it with the paint brush motion to make sure it is spread thick and even.

I always finish my lather with paint brush strikes. It just gives a nice even layer of lather and it gives me satisfaction to have that.

Surely the whole point of a shaving brush is to meet our needs as shavers. I initially paint a layer of lather over my face, then scrub and circular massage for as long as I wish before smoothing over gently with paint strokes. I'm quite sure my Simpsons brushes can cope for a few years.

To seek to protect a brush would be a bit like never exceeding 1500 revs in a high powered car. Wouldn't life be dull!

Originally Posted by Fido

To seek to protect a brush would be a bit like never exceeding 1500 revs in a high powered car. Wouldn't life be dull!

That is a good point, Fido. However, I have always wondered how shaving brushes were intended to be used. In my limited experience, the shaving brush is the only brush people do perpendicular circular motions with. That said, they are tools, and a person can use a tool as they see fit. I believe those particular Simpson instructions were born from a time when that company was having issues with shedding shaving brushes.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

i was looking at that little instruction leaflet that comes with simpson brushes and i was thinking.. does anyone really follow their advice?

simpson says you have to use the brush as if you were painting.. and never in a circular scrubby motion..

well.. i fully just ignore this.. i face lather with a wee scot and i fully enjoy the circular scrubs.. perhaps i'm asking for trouble.. but i just get the best results this way.. building my lather in a painting motion would take forever and really not be as enjoyable as my standard methods. does anyone out there follow simpson's advice or no?

Every Barbers shop shave I've had the barber has used circular motions when applying and working the lather into my beard.

As for reading instructions I thought real men don't read instructions!!

I always start out with the circular motions whether it is loading the brush or first applying the lather to my face. It seems like there is an impasse with the brush makers and the cream/soap makers since all the software makers tell you to load the brush and apply with circular motions.

I paint it on my face after a good lather has built up because I like the way it looks.

I paint, circle and then paint again. Have an old Simpson brush that is nearly twenty years old and is still in good shape.

Those type of instructions remind me of the firearms manufacturers whose literature say never to load you gun until you are ready to shoot.
Its all CYA PC BS.

I like to brush the lather against the grain, across the grain, then with the grain. Then I shave it off in the opposite directions.

Brushes were meant to enjoy. I put some elbow into mine and really enjoy the lather. Especially on the face. The brushes are fine. These new knots are tight.