Soak the Brush - It's worth it!

I previously paid no mind to the whole "soak the brush in hot water" school of thought. I always just got it wet with really hot water before I lathered to shave. Last night I put the brush (I use a Rooney Type 3 Size 1 silvertip) in a bowl of steaming hot water for about 5-10 minutes prior to the shave, and I could FEEL the warmth from deep inside the brush while lathering. You don't get that effect by not soaking.

So, the brush itself acts as a mechanism for heating the lather as it goes on. I'd recommend it to anybody who doesn't go this route. It's well worth the time.

Just thought I'd share a personal experience.

Thanks for looking,

Ogie

+1 on the soaking.
I think it probably softens up the hairs and they hold the later better too...especially if ya use boars hair.

Mac

You are absolutely correct. It also makes sense when you understand the structure of the hair used to make the brush. The main purpose is to insulate and keep the animal dry; therefore, it should take a few minutes of concentrated soaking to saturate the hair shaft.

Lewis

I'm no scientician, so I don't know why it works....but it sure does.
I soak my brish every morning. When I forget, I can feel the difference in the temp of the lather as it is applied, even if I use a scuttle.

Since switching to face lathering I have also ditched the pre-shave soak (due to a lack of bowl to soak therein...). Now I'll have to see what I can come up with.

I always pre-soak with hot water while I'm in the shower. Then I rinse it with hot water before heading to the soap to make lather. Nice, lucious, fluffy, hot lather. I typically give the brush a good solid flick before lathering to avoid runny lather. Try it, you'll like it.

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

Since switching to face lathering I have also ditched the pre-shave soak (due to a lack of bowl to soak therein...). Now I'll have to see what I can come up with.

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Seraphim,

I picked up two Pyrex bowls from Target that I planned on using as soap dishes for the pucks that didn't come with their own (i.e. Ogallala), but they also serve as great brush soakers. I think they're less than 3 bucks apiece.

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Seraphim,

I picked up two Pyrex bowls from Target that I planned on using as soap dishes for the pucks that didn't come with their own (i.e. Ogallala), but they also serve as great brush soakers. I think they're less than 3 bucks apiece.

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Thanks.

Yes, I can certainly obtain a correct container easily enough (see below...). But I was digging the simplification of going bowl-less when face lathering...


I may have to try out my latest EBay aquisition:
http://i.ebayimg.com/14/!BW,Tv4Q!mk~...0iFCg~~_12.JPG

Or the aquisition I got right before that one:

http://i1.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/58/8e/69cf_12.JPG

I've always been an advocate. I have a simple green mug from my kitchen. The fact that it matched the mug and razor I bought was a coincidence but it helps I guess, lol.

I fill one mug from my water dispenser in the kitchen. It has a hot side that puts out hot enough water that you wouldn't want to drink it. Like soup or tea making hot. I put the brush in and take a shower. By the time I'm ready to shave the brush is piping hot and I'm ready to lather.

I can really tell the difference when I don't do the prep (soak the brush, shower first, long lather, etc) and am rushed. The shave is never as easy and doesn't come out as well in the end.

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Originally Posted by Lewis

You are absolutely correct. It also makes sense when you understand the structure of the hair used to make the brush. The main purpose is to insulate and keep the animal dry; therefore, it should take a few minutes of concentrated soaking to saturate the hair shaft.

Lewis

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That seems to make sense but for most animals its not so much the hair but the oil on the hair that repels water and the fat under the skin that keeps him warm. Of course the hair is processed and by the time it gets in the brush it behaves a little different.

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

....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

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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

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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 :beer2:

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)?

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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)?

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






Buy more tools!:)

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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)?

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

I soak my brush in hot water. I fill up a large coffee mug with hot tap water, fill the sink with hot water to about the mid point of the mug then take my morning shower. That gets the mug nice and warm as well. That hot mug helps keep the lather warm while I shave after the shower. It also loosens up the bristles and softens them.

Last Night I soaked the brush in VERY hot water while I showered and I felt the deep warmth from the brush while lathering up.

Very nice, I will do that from now on.

Great Tip!:)

I had not done this in a long time because i face lather.

I did the soak a couple nights in a row. I could not tell a difference at all... Oh well

I also face lather, if I didn't mention that earlier. I guess, in this case, YMMV.

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I had not done this in a long time because i face lather.

I did the soak a couple nights in a row. I could not tell a difference at all... Oh well

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This was my recent experience as well. Soak or no soak, after initial contact, the lather feels tepid at best.

In the Fall I may invest in a DB brush scuttle.

Gentlemen,

By using a scuttle my brush stays pleasantly warm throughout the shave. If you refer to my earlier post, you'll read my routine.

Also, I invert a latte cup over the scuttle bowl with my brush warmly tucked in it to further keep the heat in. By following this routine I enjoy a warm brush with soap every shave.

Obie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

By using a scuttle my brush stays pleasantly warm throughout the shave. If you refer to my earlier post, you'll read my routine.

Also, I invert a latte cup over the scuttle bowl with my brush warmly tucked in it to further keep the heat in. By following this routine I enjoy a warm brush with soap every shave.

Obie

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A scuttle is a whole other thing though. The idea behind this thread was about whether simply soaking the brush prior to lathering made a difference in heat retention.


Modern scuttles definitely work, no doubt about that.

Have to admit, I've never noticed a difference whether I soak the brush or not. Don't bother anymore. I make lather in a bowl.