#1

Member
Northern NJ
(This post was last modified: 02-24-2018, 11:13 PM by Marcos.)
I always dry my brushes the same way after a shave. Thorough rinse. Gently a single squeeze and then shake a few times to remove bulk excess water from the knot. Then towel strop a few times to finish the job. I can’t help but think that over time towel stropping may have an influence on softening the tips but no way of telling for sure...what do you think?
#2
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2018, 03:31 AM by jar.)
I have some that I treated that way for well over a half century. I have not noticed it changing the brush characteristics but I do think it has helped with longevity.

Hondo likes this post
To be vintage it must be older than me!
The last razor I bought was the next to last razor I will ever buy!
#3
It's what I do, too. My brushes are all Omega boar, and they've been going strong for 6+ years, so I'm sticking with a good thing. Wink
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Viseguy
#4

Posting Freak
Canada
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2018, 11:07 PM by celestino.)
I highly doubt drying brushes on a towel with back and forth motions will soft the tips of the knot. I have never noticed any significant changes in my knots and I have been utilizing fairly vigorous back and forth motions after my shaves, each morning for the past seven years.
Celestino
Love, Laughter & Shaving  Heart
#5

Member
Northern NJ
It’s hard to tell. Before I got into Shaving I would have never believed that linen or leather could be used to influence the edge of a metal straight razor so I guess anything is possible.
#6

Vintage Shaver
Seattle, WA
I too doubt that it has much effect on the hair tips. However, I do it because it seems to restore the bloom of the knot, which I like better than the "new" unused look.

Steve56 likes this post
John
#7

Member
Northern NJ
I adopted the towel strop to be more gentle on my knots. In the beginning I used to squeeze them out way too tight and shake them way to hard and for too long. I have dislodged knots before. The towel strop is gentle yet effective.

Matsilainen likes this post
#8

Member
Las Vegas, NV, USA
I recently saw a video on YouTube about soaking a new boar brush in water in the refrigerator for three days, and taking it out daily to strop it against a towel for 10–15 minutes to speed up the breaking in. I don’t know if that works, but that’s the one situation where I could definitely see towel stropping making a difference — speeding up the splitting of boar bristle ends.

Who knows — over time, perhaps there’s some small, gradual effect with other kinds of bristles, as well.

Marcos likes this post
Whenever I go to shave, I assume there’s someone else on the planet shaving, so I say “I’m gonna go shave, too.”
– Mitch Hedberg
#9
To be candid, it's all irrelevant to me. I've always enjoyed my boar brushes immensely, starting from shave #1 -- and after that it only got better. Boar bristle rules! Rolleyes

Marko, Matsilainen and WildShaver like this post
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Viseguy
#10

Member
Los Angeles
(This post was last modified: 03-06-2018, 10:22 PM by Tidepool.)
I have been flicking my brushes until there is no residual water remaining. I gently wipe it on a soft terry cloth towel only once or twice. Then I stand it upside down to dry. I have been doing this procedure for years. I am no expert but, if you use a brush on your face with a tuff beard and the brushes are not damaged how can A soft towel effect a brush? You should gently wipe the brush on the towel once or twice.

Rebus Knebus likes this post


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