Boiling water straight to the face, no towel

I came across this by accident, having had the electricity cut at some point for a few hours due to some work along the cables. Here's what I did: Place a bowl of water on the stove and bring it to the boiling point. Pour the contents into a ceramic mug. Put your brush into the mug and let it soak a minute or two. Lather and apply to the face. Put brush back in the steaming water. It is HOT, but nowhere near the burning point. Strop the razor, make coffee, do whatever it is you like for 3-5 minutes. Wash the soap off and relather and start shaving. DO this a couple of times, it beats any hot towel or microwave options.

I would be leery about putting my brush in water that hot. You could weaken the epoxy.

Just find an all night catfish house and dunk your face into their deep fryer.

I got along just fine with a hot towel, but apparently that just isn't good enough these days.

Never thought about the epoxy before. It doesn't seem damaged and I use a cheap Vulfix bristle.
I get along good with a hot towel as well, this just makes it better. At least for me. I don't know why, but the face doesn't sweat as much when you put very hot soap with it and lather directly on the face, which leads to better results in stretching the skin as it isn't that slippery anymore.

You can always put some alum on your fingertips to keep from slipping when you stretch.

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Originally Posted by whavens

You can always put some alum on your fingertips to keep from slipping when you stretch.

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Thanks for the tip. Usually when shaving after hot shower that slippery face was the biggest impediment. I'll try the alum like you mentioned, although I never used it after shaving.

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Originally Posted by whiskeypete

Never thought about the epoxy before. It doesn't seem damaged and I use a cheap Vulfix bristle.

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You may have got lucky, but if you keep it up you will see damage. Boiling water is horrible for brushes, for both the knot (epoxy) and the bristle. You should either invest in a scuttle or go back to hot towels.

+1 on Ryan's caution concerning hot water. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before immersing or dipping your brush in it.

My rule of thumb is, if its too hot for my face, then its too hot for my brush.

Gentlemen, yes, the shaving brush is not a lobster to boil. Plain old warm water is not only ideal for the brush, but also for the lather. Extremely hot water will neuter the lather.

Keep the brush warm — and your date hot.

Well, it seems my suggestion got its own better suggestions. Thanks, gents, you have probably saved me a brush. Although I must say, the lather is very nice. :)

I understand your thoughts behind the hot water on your beard. Best shave I get is when I walkout from a steam room after 15-20 minutes. I do no prep other than lather and the whiskers just fall off. I usually shave after a shower which gets close.

However you like your shave, Enjoy it.!!