Breaking in a new brush / Your first brush

[imarcus]

I ordered a Simpson Berkeley Best Badger a few days ago and I can't wait for it to arrive. This is the first shaving brush I've ordered. Is there anything special I need to do to break it in? What should I expect? What should I look out for? Are there any tips or tricks to ensure it lasts a long time?

While we're talking about new brushes, what was your very first brush? The brush I have been using is an old, worn out, no name boar brush. It is stiff, scratchy and sheds like crazy but it gets the job down.

[SplitHair]

On a new brush particularly with funk smell and to soften the tips, i will use a least favorite soap, do a palm lather, rinse the brsh, shake and dry it off on a towel to pull odor and oils off of the hairs, then let it hang dry at least a day. After about 10 to 15 rounds of this any new funky hard ybrush will typically go soft.

[Vivasanti]

Wow another one of these threads :D

heres my suggestion, just use the brush

[Marco]

Marcus, the Berkeley 46 Best is a lovely little brush that you can enjoy using with both soaps and creams. It will break in by itself after a few lathers and shaves, hence no worry. Remember to rinse your brush well after each use under running water, wipe it carefully on a soft towel using a light paint-stroke motion and leavy it dry at open air. Enjoy!

[alohakid]

Breaking in my Duke 2 Best

[dpmtherrien]

Just using the brush will more than take care of breaking it in.

However whenever I've had a brand new brush I've given it a good shampoo with tea tree oil, followed by a good conditioner. Then I've just let it dry for a day or so. This has always worked for me, and really sets that new brush up.

[takeshi]

I don't recall any of my badgers really breaking in much. Boars, on the other hand, definitely go through a break in period where they change and the tips soften. Don't worry, use it and enjoy! If it comes with a smell you don't care for there are guides and threads for dealing with that but no need to worry over something that isn't necessarily an issue.

[Face&Head]

I've never had a funk smell from any of the new Simpsons I've bought, so I'd just do a test lather and as Marco said, a thorough rinse, then on to a fabulous shave. Congratulations on your new brush!