Breaking in Brushes

I've a question that I'm curious about.

How long do find it takes to truly break in a brush? Your brushes?

Here's what I mean. Last year when I began str8 shaving, I purchased a Vulfix 41. I really love this brush. It lathered and felt great right from the beginning. However, in the last two months, I could swear that it's holding more water, the bristles are softer, and it makes a better lather.

Same think with my Frank Shaving. I ordered the short knot some time ago, and thought it was very stiff (compared to my Vulfix). Yet, in the last two weeks, much of the backbone has left the bristles. It's not entirely floppy like the V41, but it's a tonne softer than it was 3 months ago.

Am I out of my mind, or do these things really change a bit over time?

Thanks,
Maxi

brushes age like wine.. grow with your brush.. it's a working relationship.

Vulfiz is known for its softness. I have one and I am very happy with it. Some guys prefer a stiffer brush, the Vulfix fits my needs perfectly.

I've never had to break-in a brush. I always found they worked well from day one and really didn't seem to change over time. Now I'm talking after the initial cleaning to get all the gunk out. Also I've never used a boar or a pure badger so they may be different.

I restored my first brush, using a knot from the Golden Nib. I loved it the second it touched my face. And I never noticed changes.

I just restored 3 more brushes, and I used one, brand new knot.... definitely not the same. Much harder, even seemed harder to build lather, i feel rather disenchanted to have BAD as I'd rather use my first brush than another.... maybe that means I wont have to worry and I will be faithful to my future wife.... seeing as i can be faithful to my brush....

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Originally Posted by vthomlinson

brushes age like wine.. grow with your brush.. it's a working relationship.

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I too feel like the more I use mine, the better they get. However, I don't think that I have ever felt that any of my brushes "underperformed" just on the basis of being brand new. They have always worked from the get go. Just worked better as time went on.

It depends on the brush. I find that the densely packed two band super badger brushes take around 20 uses to break in with the flow through drastically improving from use 1 to use 20.

Boar brushes also take awhile to break in. As the hairs split, they become much softer and the lather retention become better.

Standard three band super badger brushes do not seem to require a break in at all.

Maybe it was the user who needed the break-in period. I'm pretty sure my first attempts at lathering were not too great.

It's possible, although not likely :)

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Originally Posted by captp

Maybe it was the user who needed the break-in period. I'm pretty sure my first attempts at lathering were not too great.

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My thoughts exactly. I have a few brushes. I clean them with Borax maybe once a year, and they all get conditioned bi weekly I guess. I use hair conditioner. Some guys take them in the shower. I don't know if they break in or not, but the more you use them, the better you get at making lather.

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Originally Posted by vthomlinson

brushes age like wine.. grow with your brush.. it's a working relationship.

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I agree, avoiding however to use creams and soaps that contain silicon

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Originally Posted by vthomlinson

brushes age like wine.. grow with your brush.. it's a working relationship.

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Gentlemen:

I heartily concur with my good friend Victor.

The question to consider is this: what exactly is the definition of a brush breaking in? Each type and brand of brush has its own characteristics, and each shaver his or her own definition of "breaking in a brush."

That's why I consider Victor's comments so profound: it's a relationship that matures with time and practice — with each shave.

Regards,

Obie