I feel like an intelligent man now. Thanks for the information! All this seems to make shaving fun instead of a task.
I've added a link to GDCarrington's excellent write-up on the different generations of synthetic brushes to the main post. Thanks, GD!
This is one of the most interesting reads I've had lately. Well done. For me, this could qualify as a PIF for the great info. Thanks again for posting.
Ok, I need help! What am I doing wrong to my brush. I am getting snarled bristles in the middle of the knot, I can wiggle them out with a needle, but I would rather know what to change in my technique. Thanks!!!
From the Original Post: 'Edgerunner, from Badger & Blade had this to say about horse brushes and their tendency to tangle in the centers: "Horse hair is used for making painting brushes. By nature, the hair is brittle, not very resilient and doesn't tolerate circular motion and mashing. Actually, when mashed, they feel prickly. I call it threshold of prickliness. If you start feeling your horse brush too scritchy, it's a sign you push it too much. Usually, the knots are made with higher lofts to prevent bristles from breaking and to bend better. They release lather very easily by slapping, painting, and [by using a] wiping motion. That's what these brushes are made for. The biggest fault of the manufacturer is they don't provide a warning note or something about this 'property' of the brush."' See the parts in bold above. You have to lather with a back and forth motion, and apply the lather the same way. Pushing down on the brush too hard and using a circular motion is what causes the tangling.
Because if it isn't, she needs to throw that brush away. Seriously though, the only brushes that have tangling issues in the center are horse hair. If it was boar or badger, the bristles would be breaking before they tangled. Edit: Darn, beaten!
If it is badger, then you are pressing way, way too hard (or it's a cheap machine made brush, and the bristles are not packed tight enough). Can you post pictures of the brush? Edit: Darn and blast! I usually remember to use non-gender specific phrasing.
It's ok, LOL, it is a very nice PIF I got from a member here, I'll try more gentle motions until it's time to buy my own brush!