Thread: thinking about Thäter but...

I was ready to pull the proverbial trigger on a 28mm Two band Silvertip Bulb this evening and thought I'd do a little research first. Probably a very good idea for a $200.00+ shaving brush.

I've read on more than one forum that Thäter's instructions recommend against using their brushes if you are a face latherer. I use creams exclusively and don't know why this would be a problem.

I would appreciate your learned thoughts and ideas.

That sounds like bs to me. And 200 bucks ?? where are you getting it? Are they that much at SRD. I have owned my 24mm for over a year and its the BEST,i face lather and bowl lather too.

Originally Posted by nessmuck

That sounds like bs to me. I have owned my 24mm for over a year and its the BEST,i face lather and bowl lather too.

Yes, my BS Meter pegged when I read that as well. I've never had a problem face lathering with any brush I've ever used; silvertip, boar, etc.

Originally Posted by nessmuck

And 200 bucks ?? where are you getting it? Are they that much at SRD.

Well, the 28mm are over $200.00 at SRD but that's not where I was surfing. I wish I was around when the group buy was in progress!

Gentlemen,
Correct you are on this nonsense about face lathering damaging Thater brushes. This is the first I've heard of it. The two Thaters I have are fine and dandy face or bowl lathering. Another warning floating around is that one should apply lather in a paint brush motion rather than circular for fear of damaging the brush. The next warning I expect to hear is that one should hold the handle with two fingers, thumb and index, and extend the pinky finger like an antenna to prevent the hairs from falling out. Oooooh, I like that.
Stay well.

Obie,
Grand comments and fine wit. I think you should post a photo of yourself holding that Thater with your pinky extended! Wonderful Sunday wisdom and wordplay, sir.

This got me curious (just had to check it out for myself) - so I headed over to the H L Thater website to take a quick look...

Dumped all 3 pages under 'Tips for Shaving and Care' into translation.babylon.com. Only one page talks about using the brush to build a lather. It only describes how to bowl lather. But - as is to be expected - makes no statement/recommendation whatsoever about not using the brushes for face lathering.

Makes perfect sense - after all, a badger shaving brush is a badger shaving brush regardless whose moniker is on it...

And as others have chimed in, they're using their Thaters to face lather without issue and with great success/results. So I wouldn't hesitate the least bit to grab a Thater and see if it takes you to face lathering nirvana.

As for holding the brush with thumb and index finger while extending the pinky - it not only prevents the hairs from falling out, it also focuses the ions in the air around the brush into the brush handle - causing the brush to vibrate for a really deep facial massage while lathering (just make sure none of your fillings are loose before starting).

In all seriousness though, if you do end up with a Thater, please do report back and let us know how you like it. As a face latherer who likes ZERO scritchiness in his brush, I've been on a quest for a large uber-soft fan for flat head brush. My search has lead to me a Shavemac D01 (standard 3-band) which is quite amazing. However the person who traded it to me mentioned the only other brush he felt could compete with it for softness is a Thater - which has me very curious about them now...

Originally Posted by pcg

Obie,
Grand comments and fine wit. I think you should post a photo of yourself holding that Thater with your pinky extended! Wonderful Sunday wisdom and wordplay, sir.

My dear pcg, thanks for the kind words. I think posing for such a photo on SRP sounds intriguing. Hollywood here I come. . . Stay well.

my 6yo daughter just told me that when you are drinking from a glass you should hold your pinky finger out because it's 'ladylike'

I am a big proponent of smooshing my brush to get all the lather out of it and would probably make Mr Thater cringe if he saw how I treated my M&F brush (not only the smooshing AND face lathering in a circular motion, but I yell at it constantly. I'm sorry but shave brushes NEED to be demeaned so they stay in line).

Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

my 6yo daughter just told me that when you are drinking from a glass you should hold your pinky finger out because it's 'ladylike'

But seriously...

I have a habit of over-researching my purchases and my wife kids me mercilessly about it. Ultimately though, I make my decisions based upon that research. $200.00 is a lot of money for me and I would hope when you ascend into that class of product, you won't be replacing it for a long time.

Originally Posted by Malacoda

This got me curious (just had to check it out for myself) - so I headed over to the H L Thater website to take a quick look...

Dumped all 3 pages under 'Tips for Shaving and Care' into translation.babylon.com. Only one page talks about using the brush to build a lather. It only describes how to bowl lather. But - as is to be expected - makes no statement/recommendation whatsoever about not using the brushes for face lathering.

Here's one of the links I found. Note the last sentence of the last post on the page. The forum poster claims face lathering is not recommended and his comment is taken from Thäter's instructions included with the brush:

SMF :: View topic - Thater 2 Band

I'm not going to post every link I found, but there were no forums that I read that were critical of Thäter's products.