Thread: New Brush is a Cream Hog

I wouldn't call myself a newbie but I have a newbie question. I just purchased a 25mm badger silver tipped brush. Prior to this I have used a mid grade badger brush for a copuple of years and before that boar hair brushes.

This new brush is the largest diameter brush I have ever owned. It is also the biggest shave cream hog I have ever seen. I mean I have to use 3-4 times as much crean just to get the equivalent lather as from the smaller, lower quality brushes. Is this typical or do I just not know how to handle a larger higher quality brush?

Please nobody ask what brand because I don't want to defame anybody especially if it is because of my incompetence. Lets just say it is a well known and respected brush manufacturer.

how much cream would that be, either the old or the new quantity, since they are related by a simple factor.
i use practically soap only, so i'm not sure i can be of too much help, but my better brushes generally make lather easier.

The glob I use is about the size of a 1 centimeter marble. With the new brush I need two "snurdles" and I still don't get a really good lather. I have been playing with the quatity of water used but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

try pre-soaking the brush a little longer, also some of the lather may be getting trapped in the bristles try either squeezing the lather out by hand or on the edge of whatever cup or bowl you lather in, also give it some time to break in I have a large floppy brush that did that when new but now it whips up lather as well as any using the same amout of cream as the others, some try shampooing the brush to break it in but I am of the belief the only way to break it in is to use it

Thanks for the advice. I guess I need to stay patient.

The diameter of the knot is one thing and the loft is another. A 23mm knot and say a 50mm loft won't be a soap or a cream hog. When you start getting into taller lofts it might use more as the height increases.

I use an almond sized dollop of cream ( Salter's) in a bowl and lather with a brush already loaded with soap. Copious amount of lather .

I got a Rooney genuine horn handled brush a few months ago with I think it is a 26mm knot. Very dense and it took some breaking in before it would release the lather well. Sometimes they improve with use.

Like with honing pressure is important. As you swirl the brush in the cream or soap or on your face don't use pressure or at least very little and you might find the cream stays more towards the tips instead of going to the bottom and hogging the soap.