I use DR Harris which is about as hard as you can go, and I don't bloom it. Ever. Lathers well with my 26mm synth and omega boar but need a lot more work with the 30mm badger. I also find face lathering creates a better lather than bowl.
That is an awesome boar knot. I harvested one and will be putting it into a ferrule for my T-400 soon Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok, popular opinion confirms my research. Use more product. I do tend to bowl lather but I will occasional take it straight to the face. Two things to try! Thank you Gentlemen. I'd say it's a high end knot on an inexpensive handle. I own two of them. Good choice Steve. One of my first brushes, and I still use it often. I liked it so much I picked up an new one, trashed the handle, and installed it in my B-400.
Quick report on the advice I picked up here; I loaded more product & face lathered with The King. Great success!
Shifting from boar and synth while using a suribachi bowl to face lathering with a big badger has a learning curve. I think I've got the New Style partially figured out. Big brushes need more product so I'm loading more heavily. When adding water I've been dribbling from the faucet where the knot meets the handle. Going to try a procedure suggested by Andrew @Linuxguile - Dip the Tips of the brush. This could be the pivotal change that makes the whole badger lathering work for me. Pretty sure the knot is free of original occupant oils, and I'm loading well with good soaps.
Yes, dipping is a procedure I have used almost since my first day “proper shaving”. I usually have a glass or mug of water in the sink and just dip and lather if I am not getting what I expect. Rick so glad you like the Badger experience. Next summer try those soft pillows full of ice cold lather. Bliss!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm a firm believer in cool water shaving. Occasionally during cold weather I'll do warm or hot, but from March to November it's cold tap water. Tapatalk via LG
SOTD OCtober 1st Stirling Mentholated Pre-S have Soap Above The Tie Atlas H2 Gillette 7O'Clock Permasharp Stainless (4) Epsilon White Horse Hair (26mm Fan knot, Frigate Class) Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood Stirling Glacial Unscented PSB mixed with The Blades Grim Smolder AS
Godrej Shaving Round soap The King badger brush (33mm Cruiser Class) Fatip Piccolo & Kai blade Cool water lather & rinse, no post shave products. I enjoyed the challenge of loading a big bore badger from a small diameter soap tub. This soap is in my den via Steve @Vlasta (The brush, too. Check his signature for his off site shop ). It's used by street side barbers to shave customers in India. Only six ingredients, one of which is glycerin. Good -n- slick lather with a great post shave feel.
SOTD OCtober 3rd Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements SS DOC Ascension Treet New Steel 30DCLE (26mm, Frigate Class) RazoRock What The Puck Blue Barbershop Stirling Glacial Unscented PSB & Florida Water
No, it was a limited edition brush that Jason @jtspartan turned for the 30 Day Crew. The knot is a 26mm Maggard sunrise.
Very nice LE handle, and I have that knot in a @Jayaruh brush - #130. A little more backbone than a Tuxedo. All the great qualities of latest generation synthetics; quick drying & lather making machines.
Thanks Primo. Im down to one AD (New Forest brushes). They are relatively hard to come by, which keeps this AD under control.
SOTD OCtober 5th Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave PAA SS DOC Ascension Treet New Steel (2) Yaqi Professional (30mm, Cruiser Class) PAA Pineapple Bay Rum soap & AS