Brush Cleaning

I also use MAC makeup brush cleaner John. It's a great product that works quite well. It always surprises me how different (read, how much better) the brushes feel after they have been cleaned.

I also use MAC makeup brush cleaner John.  It's a great product that works quite well.  It always surprises me how different 9(read, how much better) the brushes feel after they have been cleaned.

Really, Nathan?! I might have to actually try cleaning mine, then.

Only when I use them for a shave. I have never cleaned any of my brushes in six years. It must be our super soft water that keeps them clean.  

Really, Nathan?! I might have to actually try cleaning mine, then. Big Grin

I do enjoy using MAC brush cleaner Celsetino and while I do not dispute that soft water makes for cleaner brushes, I think the cleanliness of your brushes may be attributable to your consistent use of Mystic Waters soap. I am always amazed at how little residue is left by that superb soap, especially when I compare it to how much residue is left by some very popular creams on the market.  Perhaps you're using the finest brush cleaner known to man for your daily shaves my friend!

I do enjoy using MAC brush cleaner Celsetino and while I do not dispute that soft water makes for cleaner brushes, I think the cleanliness of your brushes may be attributable to your consistent use of Mystic Waters soap. I am always amazed at how little residue is left by that superb soap, especially when I compare it to how much residue is left by some very popular creams on the market.  Perhaps you're using the finest brush cleaner known to man for your daily shaves my friend!

Hahahaha! You may be correct, Nathan. The combination of Michelle's soap and Vancouver's uber-soft water are a great way to keep my brushes, so clean!
Honestly, I see no white residue, whatsoever, on any of my brushes, even after 4-6 years of use. Perhaps, I'll try cleaning one, one day, to see if there is a noticeable difference.

I do enjoy using MAC brush cleaner Celsetino and while I do not dispute that soft water makes for cleaner brushes, I think the cleanliness of your brushes may be attributable to your consistent use of Mystic Waters soap.

Hahahaha! You may be correct, Nathan. The combination of Michelle's soap and Vancouver's uber-soft water are a great way to keep my brushes, so clean!  
Honestly, I see no white residue, whatsoever, on any of my brushes, even after 4-6 years of use. Perhaps, I'll try cleaning one, one day, to see if there is a noticeable difference.  

I don't mind cleaning my badger brushes or boar bristle brushes with Da Vinci's makeup brush cleaning soap but it doesn't feel necessary. Since I switched away from using my tap and limiting my natural hair brushes only to filtered or distilled water during soaking, lathering and rinsing. My tap water is very hard and my early days of shaving were busy with brush soaking with vinegar and dish soap.

If I don't rinse a soap completely from the base of the knot, then the residue tends to harden and form a slight crust. It happens from time to time so I help alleviate the dried remnants of lather with room temp water which the base of the handle on the sink and let all water fall and flow down through the concentrated portion of the knot.

The hair is so fine and tightly packed together so it traps moisture and a good whipping or specific shaking helps "wring" out the water. Then you can observe the natural bloom or width in splay while it starts to dry near a window or in a room with some circulation.

I have a question for everyone. Does anyone like to dry their brushes in the sun?

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a topic based on opinions. But here goes. I currently have ten brushes all which with the exception of two are two band badger the other two are also badger. A few years ago this topic came up and I talked with a few people and read much verbiage regarding it. I cleaned a few of my brushes using the following method. I am not a fan of specialized products if the end result can be achieved with things I can use in my house. I used a bowl that holds about 8 oz of liquid; in it I pour approximately a teaspoon (measuring teaspoon) of white distilled vinegar (5% acidity) and then I fill the bowl with warm water. This is the same vinegar that can be used to clean out coffee makers, crusted shower heads and washing machines. And, you can put it on your salad and eat it so it is not toxic or harmful. In this bowl I soak my brush but I also move it around back and forth up and down several times; then let it stand for about 12-15 minutes. I then thoroughly rinse it several times. Then I fill the bowl up with warm water and put a very small drop of liquid dish detergent in it. Again, I soak the brush move it around back and forth up and down several times and let it sit for maybe 5 minutes. Once again I throughly rinse the brush flick it several times and let it dry.

However, I have learned that if I rinse my brush throughly cleaning does not appear to be necessary. Throughly to me means rinsing it several times under warm and then cold water, then soaking it in my bowl while I clean up the bathroom, brush my teeth, apply after shave balm and get dressed and then rinse it again. This process works for me. A while back I started smelling my dry brushes. If it had a neutral smell it was clean. If I could smell the fragrance of my last soap it was not rinsed properly.

To prove my theory to myself I did the following. I recently purchased PannaCrema, Nuavia Rossa and Blu. The first time I used Blu I used a Morris & Forndran 2 band silvertip brush. I have had this brush for almost two years and have never cleaned it. I made note of my lather performance. Then I cleaned the brush using the above procedure. Let it throughly dry for two days and used it for the first time with the Rossa. I experienced no difference at all. So, I will continue to throughly rinse my brushes which I believe is very important.

I have a question for everyone. Does anyone like to dry their brushes in the sun?

I have never done this and I would be a tad hesitant leaving brushes in direct sunlight for prolonged periods during the day, throughout many years.
As long as you allow your brushes to dry 1-3 days in an open area, you shouldn't have any problems.

Odd, in the 3+ years I've been DE shaving, I've never cleaned a single brush... Just haven't had to. I rinse them well when done and soak them before use (even the synthetics, but granted, only 10s or so - the rest for the duration of my shower). I have soft water and use a scuttle, so that may have an impact. 'Dunno.

Went looking for some info and found this OLD thread. Figured I'd revive it for 2023.

I'm thinking I need to clean my brushes, considering they've never had a cleaning. All are synthetics. I believe I do have hard water. My question... Can I just use dish detergent or should I get a brush cleaner? I see PAA and Zingari make one, fwiw.

Thanks folks.

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Went looking for some info and found this OLD thread. Figured I'd revive it for 2023.

I'm thinking I need to clean my brushes, considering they've never had a cleaning. All are synthetics. I believe I do have hard water. My question... Can I just use dish detergent or should I get a brush cleaner? I see PAA and Zingari make one, fwiw.

Thanks folks.

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Hey Paul. This is just my take on it, anecdotal only. I have slightly hard water, enough so that shave soaps made by artisans form soap scum in my sink. Commercial soaps (hand, hair, or shave gels) do not do this. My thinking is that for scents, baby shampoo or mild dish detergent is the right idea. But for build up, a different approach is needed. 

At the time last year that I decided I needed to remove possible build up, I was unaware of the Zingari Man cleaner. I purchased the PAA one. I have recently cleaned all my brushes with it, as I have embarked on using only distilled water to soak or wet the brushes in prior to building and applying lather. I sill rinse the brush under running tap water. So far, things are going very well. I should note, though, that I wasn't seeing any drop in performance with synthetics or badgers, but only in boars. Between using the PAA cleaner (follow the directions for best results!!) and using distilled water for the soak, the boars have greatly improved and now hold lather for 3 passes, whereas prior to cleaning I had to return to the puck for every re-lather. 

Is scum still forming on the bristles, since I am using tap water to rinse? Maybe, but it would have to be slight. It does make me think that maybe I should do an after rinse dunk in the distilled water just for the reason of that water having no "hardness" to be left on the bristles. 

Hope that can help!