Newbie....Brush Loading

**spanky1** · 02-06-2011, 03:08 PM

Been at this for about 3-4 weeks. Just recently got my Omega brush and Col. Conk soap. I soak the brush, and put a slight amount of hot water on the soap to soften it. I pour the water off before trying to load the brush. I don't seem to be loading very well. I make lather on the soap rather than the soap transferring to the brush.

I've watched the videos and it looks pretty straighforward, but I'm doing something wrong. Should I microwave the soap before trying to load the brush?

**Zephyr** · 02-06-2011, 03:22 PM

Sounds like your brush is too wet, try to put a few drops of water on the soap while you soak your brush, pour out the excess water from the soap, shake you brush and squeese it gently so it is just damp, then load the brush for at lesst 30 seconds, maybe up to a minute.

**CharlieTN** · 02-06-2011, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Sounds like your brush is too wet, try to put a few drops of water on the soap while you soak your brush, pour out the excess water from the soap, shake you brush and squeese it gently so it is just damp, then load the brush for at lesst 30 seconds, maybe up to a minute.

+1. This has been my experience as well. I bowl lather and with creams I simply shake the brush. Wtih soaps, specifically Col Conk Bay Rum I have to squeeze the brush gently. Otherwise I get the real foamy stuff and the brush doesn't get loaded. It also takes me about a full minute of loading the brush to have enough.

Charlie

**Eric V** · 02-06-2011, 03:34 PM

Sounds like your brush is too wet

+1

Shake then squeeze your brush before soaping it up. Are you face lathering or bown lathering? I bowl lather, and load up the brush with quite a bit of soap before making lather in my soup sized bowl.

**spanky1** · 02-06-2011, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Eric V

+1

Shake then squeeze your brush before soaping it up. Are you face lathering or bown lathering? I bowl lather, and load up the brush with quite a bit of soap before making lather in my soup sized bowl.

Trying to bowl lather, although I'm really considering face lathering. I've been squeezing the brush out, but I'm trying to squeeze it dry.

Should I try to apply pressure as I load the brush, or just let the weight of the brush work for me?

**Zephyr** · 02-06-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by spanky1

Trying to bowl lather, although I'm really considering face lathering. I've been squeezing the brush out, but I'm trying to squeeze it dry.

Should I try to apply pressure as I load the brush, or just let the weight of the brush work for me?

You should apply just enough pressure for the bristles to spread out a little.
Take a look at this, it might help: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...er_from_a_soap

**grump** · 02-06-2011, 04:18 PM

You do have to apply some pressure while swirling the brush, until lather appears to be creamy, then move it to the bowl.

**davros** · 02-06-2011, 04:34 PM

When I started with soap, I found bowl lathering a real struggle (mind you, I'm quite pleased there are no pictures of my first efforts with cream); face lathering is an easier way of getting usable results from soap, but can I also suggest having a go at palm lathering?
This method doesn't seem to get too many advocates, probably because it can be a little messy, and seems like it ends up wasting product. But it's very easy to do, and I found (and indeed find) it very helpful for getting a feel for how a soap lather builds up. If I try a new soap and find it hard to lather, I usually end up palm lathering it to figure it out.

**Go West Young Man** · 02-06-2011, 04:54 PM

Put some weight into it. You're trying to scrape up large quantities of soap with soft floppy bristles, you need to really work it hard.

**Luc** · 02-06-2011, 05:45 PM

Try to make a few bowls of lather before your next shave, it should help!

**dpmtherrien** · 02-06-2011, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Luc

Try to make a few bowls of lather before your next shave, it should help!

Good advice given above.

+1 on the practice lathers. Doing a few of these will really help you on your way.

**ackvil** · 02-07-2011, 05:06 AM

The ^ posts are right on. The wiki on lather may be helpful.

**akira7799** · 02-07-2011, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Luc

Try to make a few bowls of lather before your next shave, it should help!

+1 Everytime I've used a new soap or cream I've practiced with it a bit to see what I should expect.

**smarttowers** · 02-07-2011, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by spanky1

Been at this for about 3-4 weeks. Just recently got my Omega brush and Col. Conk soap. I soak the brush, and put a slight amount of hot water on the soap to soften it. I pour the water off before trying to load the brush. I don't seem to be loading very well. I make lather on the soap rather than the soap transferring to the brush.

I've watched the videos and it looks pretty straighforward, but I'm doing something wrong. Should I microwave the soap before trying to load the brush?

If you microwave it I'd be VERY careful my Col. Conk went from solid to liquid very quickly. I melted mine into the travel container it came in so it wouldn't move on me when I was loading the brush.