Don't know if my routine will increase my brushes' longevity. I just give it a cold water rinse, finishing the rinse by holding the bristles up into the water stream. I then squeeze gently without pulling on bristles, give it several vigorous shakes, and then strop the brush on my arm a few times, like you would strop a blade. I stand my brushes on their end versus hanging.
Beat me to it! In reality I've only washed each of my brushes once and that was before the first time I used them. I figure if soap is good enough to wash my body, then soap is good enough to wash my brushes. And if soap is good enough to wash my brushes, I figure they get washed every time I whip up a lather! Like BamaT above, after the shave I rinse in cold water, gently squeeze out the water, shake it as hard as I can until I barely feel any more drops coming out, then "lather" up a towel the same way I would be lathering my face. I make sure to wipe the handle down and buff off any soap residue, especially around the base of the knot. They all (but one) get placed bristles up. No issues with any of my brushes, badger or boar, even after some have seen five years of use. Just make sure you're not storing a damp brush in a closet or cabinet. Being closed in can prevent adequate drying and promote mold.
What is the benefit of rinsing in cold water? I've always used hot water but maybe it's not beneficial?
I have no idea if it's better or not, just something I've always done. I rinse my hair with hot water in the shower and I've seen no ill effects, so.......
I agree with everyone else, that after initial cleaning, I never do anything else to it. I also rinse the brush bristles up, give the knot a gentle squeeze, and vigorously brush on a towel and set it back on the counter bristles up.
It's not necessary to wash one's shaving brush, but I would wash my brush the same way I wash my hair: mild shampoo and warm water, done twice.
I would certainly recommend a wash prior to first use, especially if is a vintage brush. For those I first use an antibacterial soap to kill the germs, then shampoo and conditioner. I wash the brand new out of the box ones just to get out any factory dust.
Good point, and I don't disagree, though I've never done that. (I would certainly wash a used brush, however.) As to new brushes, I would counter with these hyperthetical questions: Do we wash our hands every time we eat? Do we wash new clothes first, before we wear them?
Congratulations for being in that lofty 10% of the population. I'm not really surprised, though. We are wet shavers, are we not?
I give my brushes a cleaning with borax once a month just to clear out any soap deep in the knot. Just practice that I always do and I kind of enjoy my razor maintenance day anyway Brushes get cleaned, razors get cleaned, etc.
I've always just rinsed it out under a gentle stream of warm tap water. After I'll give it one or two easy flicks to get most of the water out, and then slap the heel of my right hand hard against the heel of my left hand while I'm holding the brush in my right hand. This gets a surprising amount of water out of the bristles too. A gentle couple of turns in my palm to open up the bristles a bit and it's on to the shelf until tomorrow's shave. Up until now I've always gotten by on just one brush and it's always been a boar. (geddit?? )
