Whipping up lather

[Infotech]

How hard do you press down on your shave brush when you mix up lather?

Can you damage a brush by pushing down hard enough to make it splay out in the bowl?

I ask because when I first got my Bk4 I didn't notice any bent ends but now it looks like there are some. The same thing with my C&E BBB.

I like to push down on the brush so it splays out a bit on my face too and use a circular motion.

I don't want to mess up the brush and read on the card that came with it "Don't press down" but I don't see how you can't press down.

Thanks for any thoughts!

[qhsdoitall]

It's tough to really rough up a brush and I wouldn't worry too much about it. Proper care of your brush, just like your own hair, will keep it it fine shape. Pre soaking your brush to soften the hairs before shaving and adding drops of water to the breech of the brush while making lather also helps.

[rick]

When mixing in a bowl I barely use any pressure at all.....
no. I take that back.
When Im whipping up lather in the bowl I pump the brush up and down every now and then
and when building lather on my face I really mash that brush against my face.
So ....
the answer is I press down pretty hard.

[TraderJoe]

I think the most important things to remember about care of shaving brushes are:

Do not use 'boiling' water
Do a (occasional) borax soak to eliminate/ward off any mildewAs far as pressure is concerned, just don't run over your brush with a Yukon Denali ;)

[Michael]

As far as pressure is concerned, just don't run over your brush with a Yukon Denali ;)

Unless of course, it's an EJ! :rofl

I lather in the bowl, occasionally press down slightly, but mostly, I just whip it as though I were beating eggs for an omelet. No pressure on my face either, just light circular motion.

[qhsdoitall]

And whatever you do don't drop it on a candle. :o

[Scorpio]

No worries. Press down, load the breech make lather. Lather and repeat.

Raf

[Michael]

And whatever you do don't drop it on a candle. :o

LOL...unless of course, it's a Kent!! :rofl:rofl

[_JP_]

With a badger brush I use just the tips to stir up the lather. With a boar brush (Omega) I really press down because I learned that makes the lather whip up faster.