Thread: Simpson Sommerset brush instructions and video.

I have received a Simpson Sommerset (gorgeous, by the way) Harvard 3 best badger from member AABCDS, and with it came this brush instructions (something that Vulfix should consider to add again with the brushes) where you can clearly see how Simpson recommended to use the brush while making lather on the face.I have found myself,and thanks to the video that I add from du212,that painting strokes works really well,even better than I was expecting it and I can use pure badger brushes with no fear of exfoliating or irritating my skin really bad.

These are some pics of the instructions :






And this is the video of du212 making lather with painting strokes.He uses Palmolive shaving stick,and almost shave with the lather he made using his hands,but later makes the painting strokes and create a lot of lather (the video is in spanish,but really easy to understand and watch)

Where is this "paint brush motion only" comming from. I see that very often lately. Why exactly does circular motion damage the bristles,
and how should I produce a nice a thick and creamy lather in my bowl with that motion?
And if you see closely, in this video a very closed circular motion instead of a paint brush motion is used to create the lather

Here is another example of paint brush motion. The lather produced is not exactly what I am looking for

i have to agree with the "paint brush" style of face lathering as i have been doing it for a few weeks now and it works excellently without using so much soap.

This is a great piece of advice for all of us.
I recall speaking to a master painter who said that when using brushes to only use the tips of the brush and to paint in linear strokes.
He said that is the best way to paint and has the least amount of stress on the paint brush.
When making lather by brushing in circular motions the hair gets continuously twisted, and when they are wet the hair is very soft which often leads to breakage,
especially in the center of the knot. If you look at photos of vintage brushes on eBay you will see many broken and missing hairs from the centre,
because that area is where the hair gets twisted the most.

The different style is personal preference, this also leads to the discussion on the shape of the brush head, English style is the fan head and European style is the ball head and each have merits for the painting vs, circular lathering.

Sam

Originally Posted by ShaveShack

The different style is personal preference, this also leads to the discussion on the shape of the brush head, English style is the fan head and European style is the ball head and each have merits for the painting vs, circular lathering.

Sam

Thanks Sam,
could you share some more of your insights as to which style of knot (fan or ball) is better suited to each type of lathering motion?
From what I could see the brushes most affected by broken hairs were the ball style knot brushes.
Now that you made this distinction, I recall that paint brushes are made the same way, both in a rounded "ball head" shape and in a "flat fan" shape.
The painter that I spoke to was adamant that all brushes should be used in the same manner to preserve its particular characteristics and longevity.

Originally Posted by ShaveShack

The different style is personal preference, this also leads to the discussion on the shape of the brush head, English style is the fan head and European style is the ball head and each have merits for the painting vs, circular lathering.

Sam

I use an english brush with side by side movements, the shape of the brush is not as important than the flexibility of the bristles, the more flexible (at the top of the bristles, in flyfishing it's called "tip action") they are the light and faster must be the strokes. And of course the hand behind the brush, but this is simple, practice and you wil get it

Circular lathering is good, but if you want to use a pure badger brush or some best badger without exfoliating your skin and you want to give to your brushes longer life, the side stroke is your friend.

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

Where is this "paint brush motion only" comming from. I see that very often lately. Why exactly does circular motion damage the bristles,
and how should I produce a nice a thick and creamy lather in my bowl with that motion?
And if you see closely, in this video a very closed circular motion instead of a paint brush motion is used to create the lather

Here is another example of paint brush motion. The lather produced is not exactly what I am looking for

This guy is more delicate and softer than me at lathering, I don't know a reason to bring this video different than to support your comment about the lather....Please look my video, cheap palmolive soap,...and efficient side strokes, if the lather looks airy or flabby or watery,...please show me your technique because I like a lot to learn from the masters.

The lather produced in the video you've linked is used for DE shaving, everyone in this forum knows that the lather for straight used to be different. Anyway for some shaves the lather of the video works. This guy don't need more, he don't have motivation to do more.

I've never been a follower of the paint stroke only school. Personally, I think the manufacturers recommend it because they feel it puts less stress on the tips which means it's less likely you will complain about damage. I use circular strokes and have been for years on all my brushes and have never had a problem. I think what is more of a problem is some folks use a lot of pressure and actually crush the brush against their face or into the soap bowl. I think that causes way more possibility for damage than circular motions.