Thread: Soak the Brush - It's worth it!

....unless its polar bear hair, in which it acts like little fiber optics strands...hmm...then i could just leave my brush out in the sunlight.

Mac

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

At any rate I usually just run the brush under hot water and for the initial lathering its plenty hot.

This was precisely the point of my post. What you are doing is what I had been doing, and when I soaked the brush, I noticed a considerable difference.

I suppose YMMV... "plenty hot" is a relative observation. Mine was hotter longer this way versus running under the tap. But, any way you go, to each his own!

Cheers,

Ogie

Right now i have a tweezerman that i soak everytime and it works great. Very soon though i will be purchasing a pricey Shavemac silvertip brush. Ive read people saying that sometimes it can be bad for a brush to soak it in hot water.

Does this only apply with older brushes with under-par construction? Will i be ok soaking my shavemac in hot water (from the tap, not boiling or anything)?

Originally Posted by shorynot

Right now i have a tweezerman that i soak everytime and it works great. Very soon though i will be purchasing a pricey Shavemac silvertip brush. Ive read people saying that sometimes it can be bad for a brush to soak it in hot water.

Does this only apply with older brushes with under-par construction? Will i be ok soaking my shavemac in hot water (from the tap, not boiling or anything)?

Hot water will be fine. Use your tools (i.e. brush), enjoy your tools, don't overly baby your tools.






Buy more tools!

Originally Posted by shorynot

Right now i have a tweezerman that i soak everytime and it works great. Very soon though i will be purchasing a pricey Shavemac silvertip brush. Ive read people saying that sometimes it can be bad for a brush to soak it in hot water.

Does this only apply with older brushes with under-par construction? Will i be ok soaking my shavemac in hot water (from the tap, not boiling or anything)?

I have a shavemac silvertip and I soak it in hot tap water every morning and have been for the past year and a half. No problems or ill effects. Enjoy they are great brushes.

Really if your talking hot lather I'm not the best one to be talking to about that. My view has often been trying to get hot lather is like a dog chasing his tale. I actually have a georgetown scuttle and its a nice decoration near my gear. I'm afraid I'm just a face latherer from the getgo and hot lather just isn't such a priority to me. If I want hot lather I just give my brush a shot of hot water and I have hot lather.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Really if your talking hot lather I'm not the best one to be talking to about that. My view has often been trying to get hot lather is like a dog chasing his tale. I actually have a georgetown scuttle and its a nice decoration near my gear. I'm afraid I'm just a face latherer from the getgo and hot lather just isn't such a priority to me. If I want hot lather I just give my brush a shot of hot water and I have hot lather.

Good point.

However, I have to say, that it sure looks like the dog has alot of fun chasing his tail, so the quest for hot lather continues!

The advantage to being new to straight blades is that you experiment. I tried to put my brush in hot water while I take a shower. At the same time, I put a little water on the soap. After the shower, I drain almost completely the brush and swirle it on the soap. I lather up on my face and barely need any water more. I might have to dip the brush in hot water once.
I find that this technique will work best with my brush and Geo F Trumper soap.

Gentlemen,

I heat my Georgetown scuttle with boiling water from the tea kettle. I have plenty of hot water in the faucet, but somehow it pleases me to think the Charles Dickens might have heated his scuttle with boiling water from the tea kettle.

By the time I head for the shower, the water has cooled off slightly so that I can safely soak my brush without boiling it. When ready to lather, the brush is pleasantly warm. A couple of shakes and a few swirls on the soap in a shave mug or a dab or two of rich shave cream from a tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street Rose, Trumper or Truefitt & Hill, and I lather directly onto the face.

Finally, I refill the scuttle tank with boiling hot water and park my soap-rich brush in the scuttle bowl to keep it warm between razor passes.

Is this heaven or what?

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I heat my Georgetown scuttle with boiling water from the tea kettle. I have plenty of hot water in the faucet, but somehow it pleases me to think the Charles Dickens might have heated his scuttle with boiling water from the tea kettle.

By the time I head for the shower, the water has cooled off slightly so that I can safely soak my brush without boiling it. When ready to lather, the brush is pleasantly warm. A couple of shakes and a few swirls on the soap in a shave mug or a dab or two of rich shave cream from a tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street Rose, Trumper or Truefitt & Hill, and I lather directly onto the face.

Finally, I refill the scuttle tank with boiling hot water and park my soap-rich brush in the scuttle bowl to keep it warm between razor passes.

Is this heaven or what?

Obie

I used to do the same thing when I shaved on weekends. It was nice to have hot lather on your face. I don't do it during the week not enough time.