this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
4 points (100.0% liked)

WetShaving

694 readers
9 users here now

This is a community of enthusiasts, hobbyists and artisans who enjoy a traditional wet shave: brush, soap, and safety or straight razor. We are a part of the WetShaving community found on Reddit, Discord, and IRC.

New subscribers welcome!

Please visit our wiki, which is always and forever a work in progress.

Our sister Mastodon instance is https://wetshaving.social.

Community Rules

Rule 1 - Behaviour and Etiquette
Rule 2 - Content Guidelines
Rule 3 - Reviews and Disclosure
Rule 4 - Advertising
Rule 5 - Inappropriate Content
Rule 10 - Moderator Discretion

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

This is the place to ask beginner and simple questions. Some examples include:

  • Soap, scent, or gear recommendations
  • Favorite scents, bases, etc
  • Where to buy certain items
  • Identification of a razor you just bought
  • Troubleshooting shaving issues such as cuts, poor lather, and technique

Please note these are examples and any questions for the sub should be posted here.

top 7 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Does anyone find synthetic knots get worse over time? I've now had a couple go from super soft to quite soft but slightly scratchy like the very tips of the fibres break off leaving a subtly harsh contact surface. They still lather fine, just less pleasant to use.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you clean them from time to time? Normally, fibres breaking is a sign that something is wrong.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mostly just rinse them out but now and then use something stronger (sal suds, roughly equivalent to a concentrated dish soap but I prefer the scent).

The fibres aren't breaking in a way I can visually see, I'm just speculating that my perception of synths getting scratchier over time is perhaps due to the very tip breaking off. I prefer smaller brushes, my 22mm Yaqi Tuxedo with a short loft was my first synth but at some point (3ish years?) became unpleasant so I upgraded to a 23mm Muhle STF which, after two years, is starting to feel a bit scratchier. I have a larger Yaqi Tuxedo that I use very rarely and it's noticeably softer so I was wondering if this is maybe just how synths are?

...or maybe I'm just imagining it on the STF, the larger brush is just a bit softer and I must have scrubbed the poor little Tuxedo to an early death by not being sufficiently gentle with it?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I clean mine from time to time with a diluted vinegar solution. Afterwards, I have the impression that the brushes become considerably softer. Especially if you have hard water, you may want to try this.

I haven't noticed any deterioration in my synths.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've only been wetshaving for 3 years, so my oldest synth is 3 years old and doesn't get used all the time. Still, with all my synthetic brushes I haven't noticed any change over time.

Do you bowl lather?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the feedback. I face lather most of the time.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have just a simple Maggard synthetic brush and I don't think it's even the slightest bit scratchy. But I don't have a newer synthetic brush to compare it to so it's possible that if what you say is true then I just haven't realized changing slightly over the years.