Soaking Badger brushes? (2024)

  • Oct 10, 2011
  • #1

shaverjoe

I currently use a Vulfix 375 in super. I am expecting a simpson Duke 3 in best tomorrow. I usually soak the Vulfix for 5-6 minutes in warm water while I shower, however, I have read a number of threads this evening suggesting quality badger brushes do not need to be soaked prior to use as they will absorb all the water possible/necessary by simply running them under water prior to making lather.

I am new to DE shaving and I would appreciate some feedback on this issue. Is the soaking necessary? Is it harmful? I would suppose both brushes are of good quality. Thanks for your input.

  • Oct 10, 2011
  • #2

Go West Young Man

Yup, the typical badger brush soaks up all the water it ever will in about 10 seconds.

  • Oct 10, 2011
  • #3

ben74

Badger hair is employed as a shaving brush material for its water holding abilities. While you don't need to soak the brush for any extended period of time, I don't think you'll damage it by doing so. Damage to the brush is likely to occur however if you soak in excessively hot water or past where the bristles are set in the handle.

  • Oct 10, 2011
  • #4

cessnabird

I don't think there is a given amount of time you have to soak your brush. However, I do notice my brushes are heavier (thus retaining more water) after a few minutes of soaking vs running it under a warm tap for a minute or so. I know, it's nothing scientific but it does make a difference in my experience. You will not harm your brush by soaking it as long as the water is not too hot and just the bristles, not the handle, are submerged. I can't imagine a nice wooden handle, treated or not, liking complete submersion in water on a daily basis.

  • Oct 10, 2011
  • #5

noahpictures

ben74 said:

Badger hair is employed as a shaving brush material for its water holding abilities. While you don't need to soak the brush for any extended period of time, I don't think you'll damage it by doing so. Damage to the brush is likely to occur however if you soak in excessively hot water or past where the bristles are set in the handle.

+1

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #6

ben74 said:

Badger hair is employed as a shaving brush material for its water holding abilities. While you don't need to soak the brush for any extended period of time, I don't think you'll damage it by doing so. Damage to the brush is likely to occur however if you soak in excessively hot water or past where the bristles are set in the handle.

Hi Ben, interesting post mate.
I've been soaking my brush in the sink before shaving admittedly with no problems over a few years. I think many others may as well. How does soaking it past the base of the knot cause damage?

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #7

ackvil

Hi Ben, interesting post mate.
I've been soaking my brush in the sink before shaving admittedly with no problems over a few years. I think many others may as well. How does soaking it past the base of the knot cause damage?

Some recommend you not use excessively hot water or soak it past the knot since they believe the glue holding the knot will weaken and the brush will shed. Whether that is actually the case is another issue. However, it seemed logical to me so I followed it.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #8

M

mdw15

The idea is that soaking the lower part of the handle can harm at least some handles, as cessnabird puts it, such as "nice wooden ones, treated or not."

I soak my brush in warm water, a while before shaving, in a clear plastic glass (so I can see the water level out at the knot).

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #9

I see, thanks Jim! I can understand about using excessively hot water -I've heard some say they like the idea of soaking it in boiling water (for cleaning) which I think would certainly affect the adhesive.
I would have thought most manufactures would use a quality adhesive that could quite comfortably tolerate hot water from the tap though. Do you think soaking it past the past the base of the knot would damage the brush? (e.g. in the sink) I do this every shave and don't want to be inadvertently damaging my brushes.

Edit. Great, thanks mdw15. That does make sense I guess. Better to be safe than sorry. Good idea about using the plastic glass, I will give that a try.
Cheers.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #10

I've soaked my brush before but I've never noticed any difference between 5 minutes and 10 seconds. I'm not 100% sure, but I'd guess that your brush will have a longer life if it's not soaked

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • Thread starter
  • #11

shaverjoe

Thanks for your responses guys.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #12

D

DOLLARBILL

I soak mine a few mins before the shave in an old coffee mug just a couple of fingers worth of water !
Enjoy Your Shave !

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #13

blantyre

Unlike boar, badger hair doesn't absorb water into the bristles but holds it by capillary action between the bristles. Soaking warms up the the bristles and ensures that the brush is well loaded with water, that's all it needs to do. I usually run my brushes under warm water for about a minute and then run them through a bowl of water to fill the knot, then shake out the xs water before lathering. Boar brushes usually do need soaking for a few minutes since the bristles actually absorb water as well as the capillary action effect.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #14

D

dpmtherrien

I don't soak any of my brushes. I just hold them under hot/warm tap water until their dripping. Then I shake out the excess water and load them up with soap.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #15

Unicorn

I think soaking is a waste of time and just another step in complicating a simple thing. I dip my brushes in the sink or hold them under the tap for a few seconds while filling the sink - and thats it.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #16

Shmu

I'd be very surprised if soaking a brush in hot water would damage the adhesive that holds the knot in place. After all, the adhesive is MADE to hold up to water and heat, so it must be waterproof.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #17

Greyfox

I soak mine in hot tap water in my scuttle while I am showering.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #18

Go West Young Man

Shmu said:

I'd be very surprised if soaking a brush in hot water would damage the adhesive that holds the knot in place. After all, the adhesive is MADE to hold up to water and heat, so it must be waterproof.

One would think so, but it does happen (especially with really hot water). The other problem comes when the sealant/finish on wood handled brushes gets compromised, water can damage or even split the handle over time.

  • Oct 11, 2011
  • #19

Mike Schutz

Badgers are not boars. Boars need to be soaked for a few minutes (I soak mine about 15 minutes while I shower) for proper use. Badgers only need about a minute or less.

  • Oct 12, 2011
  • #20

takeshi

shaverjoe said:

I am new to DE shaving and I would appreciate some feedback on this issue. Is the soaking necessary? Is it harmful? I would suppose both brushes are of good quality. Thanks for your input.

Try it both ways and see what works best for you. Soaking isn't harmful except as pointed out above.

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Soaking Badger brushes? (2024)
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