This barber says working your brush in CIRCLES will damage your brush...

**Doctor** · 06-30-2012, 11:28 PM

Ya he says don't work your brush in circular moves because it loosens up the bristles... That's exactly the opposite of what i do. I work the brush in circular motions on my face and that's what most people do I assume?

**pipskicks** · 06-30-2012, 11:54 PM

Not only is there a ton of un-proven advice regarding brushes, a lot of it is really contradictory, I would think at least this should only be re: Badgers, I thought boars were meant to take a beating??

**Le Buzz** · 07-01-2012, 01:18 AM

Actually, I think squeezing the brush as he did does more harm. Why not give it a good shake instead? The few times ive tried squeezing my brush, I always notice the bristles being stressed, it really can't be a good thing.

Also, his lather looks very dry. To each his own.

**bakerbk73** · 07-01-2012, 01:48 AM

I wouldn't have a brush that couldn't handle being used for it's intended purpose. I also use mine in a circular motion, as well as up and down and side to side. I can't say that he's wrong, but I sincerely doubt that he has any empirical proof that he's right either. All too often people present their opinion as fact when they are two entirely different things. Personally, I'll risk it.

**NexlevMM** · 07-01-2012, 03:27 AM

This guy got licensed in '84. No offense but i'd need a lot longer resume to be taking what he says seriously.

**ackvil** · 07-01-2012, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by NexlevMM

This guy got licensed in '84. No offense but i'd need a lot longer resume to be taking what he says seriously.

Licensed means he has passed a test and knows how to cut hair and shave someone - not that he is an expert on brush care and methods used.

I have used a circular motion for the 50 years I have been shaving and have never had a problem with a brush. In fact, my oldest brush in continuous use dates back to the 1960s.

After I shave I thoroughly was my brush under warm water to get all of the soap out. I then gently squeeze the brush, give it two gentle shakes, and then gently rub it across a towel.

As said above, it is remarkable that there is so much opinion that posted as information that is incorrect.

**Threeme2189** · 07-01-2012, 04:22 AM

Different strokes for different folks.
Show me some verified documented proof and I will take his advice seriously.

**beginish** · 07-01-2012, 04:23 AM

Having corresponded with Robert, I find him to be a guy who knows what he is talking about. We have also seen plenty of pictures of vintage brushes here where the center of the knot is bald, presumably from mashing the brush while loading from a soap or lathering on the face. In fact, I recall a thread in the last year where a relatively new brush exhibited some of the same characteristics. There is probably a YMMV aspect to it, but I certainly would not dismiss it. Personally, I find myself using the painting method when face lathering, not for brush preservation per se, but because it suits me best.

**jsj_297** · 07-01-2012, 04:36 AM

I'll take the advice of the 50 yr shaver. I've been doing circles as a face latherer for close to 3 yrs, and no probs yet.

**musicman1951** · 07-01-2012, 04:41 AM

Meh. My lather looks better as well.

**lt114** · 07-01-2012, 06:08 AM

That might be the driest lather I've ever seen.

**Vickers** · 07-01-2012, 06:22 AM

But, I like going in circles.

**Acmemfg** · 07-01-2012, 06:31 AM

No matter....

A brush is a wear item and that's a fact. How quickly it wears may be determined by how it is used in a daily application, but not unlike a toothbrush, it's gonna wear out. What then?
Buy another brush. Even a couple years of using a brush 300-365 days annually, if it finally goes south, $15 and up buys you a replacement depending on your personal tastes for what, less than $1.00 a month based on that cost/time factor?.
A Semogue 1305 (which gets a LOT of love here) is about $20. A Simpson Chubby costs about 10X that much. Which is the "better" brush? We all know the answer to that.
Point?? Use the thing however you want and get another when (or if) it craps out. No worries...................

**Misunderstood** · 07-01-2012, 06:35 AM

He also sya to start by down strokes which may or may not be right for each individual depending on their beard growth pattern/mapping.......

**lt114** · 07-01-2012, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by Misunderstood

He also sya to start by down strokes which may or may not be right for each individual depending on their beard growth pattern/mapping.......

That's a good point. There is no single right direction for everyone to shave in for each pass.

**Rustonrazor** · 07-01-2012, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Vickers

But, I like going in circles.

Nascar fan maybe?!?

**luvmysuper** · 07-01-2012, 06:52 AM

I'm sometimes amused by the advice given by folks that "this will damage your..." fill in the blank.

Many of us are here because of the article "Shave like your Grandpa". Seriously - you think Grandpa gave a rats rear whether he was soaking or not soaking his brush, going in circles or not going in circles, squeezing his brush or shaking it with a wrist snap?

Don't know 'bout you, but I'm pretty sure Grandpa didn't have 10 or 15 shaving brushes on his bathroom shelf.

It's a brush. It gets wet. It gets scrubbed around on a puck of soap, then it gets scrubbed around on a face.
If the brush is so delicate that going in circles is going to destroy it, then I don't want that brush anyway.

We tend to get so focused on this process that we forget that what we are using for the most part are tools. And though tools should be cared for properly, and used properly, there's no need to be "that guy".

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**BeeSeeDub** · 07-01-2012, 06:55 AM

I'm confused - he seems ok with using a circular motion on the soap and in the bowl...I'll take my chances.

Regardless, wearing out a brush would just be a good excuse to buy a new one.

**Face&Head** · 07-01-2012, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by luvmysuper

. Seriously - you think Grandpa gave a rats rear whether he was soaking or not soaking his brush, going in circles or not going in circles, squeezing his brush or shaking it with a wrist snap? Don't know 'bout you, but I'm pretty sure Grandpa didn't have 10 or 15 shaving brushes on his bathroom shelf

So true. My dad who recently passed at age 97 was a dedicated classic wet shaver for over 80 years. I never knew him to have more than one brush or razor at a time. Having lived through the Great Depression, the idea of fancy shaving products, either hardware or soaps & creams, was simply beyond his comprehension. He would save up soap slivers to reform into bars. When I started shaving in the mid-60s I got hand-me-downs from my dad & older brother. The "tools" were just thrown in a drawer after your shave and even with that mistreatment lasted a very long time.