Thread: VDH Soap Experiment

Originally Posted by henryconchile

The VDH boar brush was the first shave brush I ever used years ago. I always had problems lathering with it. It just didn't hold lather well enough for me. When I switched to a badger brush, I saw a huge improvement in my lather.

I think the problem is with the VDH brush's ability to hold water. I still have the boar brush, but I use it to strip bristles from it and do the HHT on my straight razors when I hone them. I will try lathering on a VDH soap tonight with my old VDH boar brush to see if I can get good results. I'll let you know what I find out.

Thank you. I mean I get a great consistency but it just doesn't have staying power. I really want it to work for me as I'm partial to the deluxe scent.

Originally Posted by Vegita182

Thank you. I mean I get a great consistency but it just doesn't have staying power. I really want it to work for me as I'm partial to the deluxe scent.

I finished my test. Yeah, the problem is with the boar brush. The brush absorbed a lot of soap and I was able to get a decent face lather, but the lather was too thin. I did the following:
* Wet the brush under running warm water for 15 sec
* Swirled the brush on the soap, in its bowl, for 1 min
* Face lathered for 1 min

When I saw that the face had a thin lather, I squeezed the brush and noticed that it had a lot of lather in it. I collected the lather in my hand and applied it to my face. My hand did a better job at face lathering.

You may want to try a badger brush. You don't need an expensive one. Try a $15 badger brush as a starter. Target used to sell a VDH Luxury shave set in-store that included a badger brush. Otherwise, you may have to go online to get one.

Try soaking the brush for 10 min or so and then take it out of the water let the excess run off. Do not shake. Take it to your puck and swirl with no downward pressure with just the tips. You will see a little water form in the center of your puck swirl till none of that water is left. Then go to your face or mug and build your lather.

A new brush will also help but the vdh brush is a decent brush. With that said I put it in its own category. I would not judge other boar brushes by the vdh brush. I have tried a bunch of brush, badger, horse and boar. I found the omega big pro boar brush to be my favorite brush and one of my lest expensive. For a quick cheap brush target also sells the Shea moisturizer badger brush which is a nice brush.

Originally Posted by henryconchile

You may want to try a badger brush. You don't need an expensive one. Try a $15 badger brush as a starter. Target used to sell a VDH Luxury shave set in-store that included a badger brush. Otherwise, you may have to go online to get one.

Walgreens also carries the VDH stuff, though it depends on the store as to it being the Deluxe or Luxury. You can buy the Luxury badger brush for about $15 by itself, or for $30, you can get the badger brush, Luxury soap, apothecary mug and brush stand. I started with this kit, though for testing purposes bought the Deluxe kit with the boar brush and green/black bowl as well. I can get good lather with either soap or brush.

It may not be MDC or MWF or (insert high end soap of choice here), but it gets the job done and quite well, in my experience.