Why keep water in the brush?

**54jang** · 03-01-2007, 12:09 AM

I dont get it. I soak the brush while taking a shower and its like a sponge afterwards. I give it a few slight shakes so there is no more dripping water.

There is still a fair amount of water in the brush. Why is this good?

Wouldn't it be the same if I gave it a few firm shakes getting rid of most the water and just adding to the mug while lathering?

The reason I like the second method is because I can control the amount of water in the brush. When done the first way I always have excess water dripping down the arm while applying to face. Maybe my brush is too absorbent? Is that bad?

If someone could enlighten me on the whole brush hydration deal I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

**rtaylor61** · 03-01-2007, 12:53 AM

If your brush is dry, most of the lather will be built on the tips of the brush. You will have enough lather for one pass. But if the brush is properly hydrated, you will build enough lather for 3 passes or more.

Randy

**54jang** · 03-01-2007, 01:48 AM

How about shaking majority of water off and then adding to mug while lathering? Just as good?

Thanks.

**galpman** · 03-01-2007, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

If your brush is dry, most of the lather will be built on the tips of the brush. You will have enough lather for one pass. But if the brush is properly hydrated, you will build enough lather for 3 passes or more.

Randy

Not to mention the quality of the lather will be much enhanced!

**Thebigspendur** · 03-01-2007, 08:54 AM

The whole notion of soaking the brush is just to warm it up. I never do that. Just a quick rinse under hot water and I shed some of the water and thats it. This whole hot lather thing is unimportant to me anyway. If it was I'd buy a hot lather machine.

**BeeWolf** · 03-01-2007, 10:39 AM

I soak my brush thoroughly for a minute or two and then give it one shake to eliminate drips... and my brush doesn't drip down my arm when applying lather. Maybe it's the brush, but maybe it's the in-between step that's the difference: the lather generation.

I'm generating lather in a small bowl before applying, much the same as you are in a mug. But perhaps my method of doing so is getting lather further up into the brush then yours? Or maybe I'm generating it to a further development than you are?

Just thinking out loud.

**Leisureguy** · 03-02-2007, 09:25 AM

If your brush has held a lot of water at its base, you must pump the brush while working up the lather to get that water mixed into the lather---otherwise your lather will get progressively thinner on later passes.

I no longer soak the brush at all: I wet it under the hot water tap, shake it out pretty well, and charge it with soap or shaving cream by running it over the surface of the soap/cream. I work that onto my face---no lather yet, just a layer of soap or shaving cream. Then I start holding the corner of the brush under the hot water tap, then working the brush on my face. This adds just a little water, and I continue that until I have a nice, rich lather. Works for me, YMMV.