Tripped over this article from 35 years ago....

Don't forget the conditioner.

 

Yes, but you should give it a ten to fifteen minute soak in diluted white vinegar first. Then shampoo and gently comb afterwards.

 

Round brush, round puck, round mug. Now I wonder why men, for centuries, used a circular, swirling motion to lather? Applying brush and soap to face is the singular joy of wet shaving and why I've been doing it for over 54 years. Working that lather into your beard, softening it, preparing it for shaving (regardless of razor) is what its about for me. I used brush and soap even when I used cartidge razors.

The circular motion is what I enjoy and if that's what you like, I would just continue to do it. About brush longevity, I used two Old Spice branded brushes for the first over 25 years I shaved. The first I lost in a move, the second I lost in a flood in 1994. Both worked just fine until the day they were gone.

In my opinion, there are no "experts" in shaving. There are just shavers and each is the "expert" for his shaves. Shaving is something men have been doing for thousands of years, which hardly qualifies it as an arcane science or art form.

 

Yes yes yes. Thank you for adding those most important steps!

 

My old timers kicking in. I need to start keeping sticky notes to not forget this stuff. Thank you for the reminder.

 

Don't forget to bloom your soaps as well...

 

Blah...blah...blah...........

 

If this really was a thing, it would be more widely known in the seventies and eighties. Otherwise there would have been way more complaints about brush knot issues.

I cannot recall that anyone ever gave me lathering instructions. I also never felt that I needed it.

Back then we just shaved. And the routine I established then (mimicking my dad) still works for me. After all, there is no magic involved.

--
Pitralon forever - Real pens have a nib - If it doesn't tick, it's not a watch.

 

Very well said.

 

Me also Joseph.

 

I never intended to post this article so we could all stomp a dead horse into wormy gut mush over the well known and often argued over Simpson flyer about how their brushes should be used. This is a slip of paper found in every Simpson box, that is more a tradition than anything else, but has been pounded into oblivion on forum thread after forum thread.

LOOK, a squirrel! Kent brushes are all made from Pure badger hair. It says so right on the handle.

My intention was simply to point out the fact that the NYT was writing articles about a wet shaving resurgence, 35 years ago.

 

Doug, it’s so great to see you around full time again.

 

Jared.

 

Interesting article. If one is really interested in brush longevity you should just leave it in the box. I swirl and always will swirl. And I swirl in both directions! I even comb my brushes from time to time. Haven't found a knot yet. Minimal pressure is all that is required to lather well. Remember you are not scrubbed a burnt pot, you are gently applying lather.

 

The only time I use up and down motion is when I lather williams, thats what my grandfather taught me, but i swirl other soaps and have never had an issue, all my brushes are cheap except the one i never use, so maybe you are right, maybe the softer more expensive ones knot up. I got a badger in a kit i bought via gift card from AOS and still found I enjoyed my cheap boar better.

 

Sayyyyyy are you trying to take away our fun???? Kicking dead horses if half the fun around here. Insulting bloomers and cold water shavers is most of the rest. Right @Primotenore .

 

That'swhatI'mtalkinabout

 

By George, I think you found the secret. By employing bi-directional swirling, you twist the hairs against themselves in one direction, then untwist them in the other.

 

You do use a hairdryer, set on low, when finished, right?

 

You talking' to me? I can't respond right now, I am too busy blooming....