I have discovered that if I splay the brush, while face lathering, it works much better and I get a really good lather. Perhaps this is how you are meant to do it, but I didn't know. I suspect I have probably been vigorously face painting, rather than lathering. Does anyone have anymore useful tips?
This is what I do. Don't know if it's correct technique or not either. I was exactly like you were for a long time. I didn't push down and did lots of painting as opposed to lathering. Now I splay out the brush like your photo. It helps!
It's your brush. Use it your way. Seriously, it's a tool. Use it in a way that it will give you the best results. If it wears out, get a new one. That said, I don't abuse my things, but I don't baby them, either.
Badger, boar, horse, goat? Different back bone & splay from various materials. Glad you found a new way to use your existing tool.
Pressing down or splaying as you call it is a must, but to a certain extent. I first wet my bowled soap (melted hard soap or pressed Cella) then light to medium splaying with soaked and shaken brush, then have fun wiping up a great lather in circular and figure eight motion, pressing down a bit and massaging, dipping brush as needed in water as I go. Good idea to keep mouth shut while lathering, not to have conversation with wife or stick your tongue out at her. Enjoy that lather and shave.
Yep! Splaying is an important part of my face-lathering experience. I used a new brush today with the Maggard 24mm synthetic. It is soft, yet it splays nicely and bounces back with good backbone.
I am not a brush splayer, rather lather is painted on in brush strokes with a synthetic. @swarden43 - It's your brush, deform it your way!
You weren't around in 43. It's your history, remember it your own way. (I think that's the way they teach it in school now any way.) Don
Great memory, Chris. I'm impressed. I played safety, number 43 at DHS, Dover, NH. And I think @Dzia Dzia was talking about Jayaruh. Yes? No?
It's your memory enjoy it your own way. I wore #11. Second string QB and DB (they didn't call em SS,FS, or CB when I was in HS) until I drove a shoulder into the cross town rivals tight end and got my bell rung. He fumbled. I saw stars and could hear the coach excitedly exclaiming, "GOOD HIT BOO CHECK (Buczek)!!! That was it for me. 140 pounds don't make it in football. @Jayaruh, hope you didn't take offense my friend. The quips hit me quick. ... To be continued... Don
I face lather and after I load the brush I scrub away for a full minute then settle down and smooth it out and go. If the brush doesn't " splay " then it just doesn't work for me. I'm glad you discovered the best way to lather!
This is exactly what I do when I face lather. It seems to push excess soap from deep in the brush, or something like that.