Shaving Brushes

Well old fart,

  Think about catching up with modern ideas.

As good as the old brush is, there is the inherant problem of the brush holding old water / soap product and could be considered a harbourer of potential legionella.

Now when you link that to the old fart  status, that migh put you in the high risk group category to such spores.

Might be worth updating

scared to ask how you know this feeling !!!!

Highly unlikely.

Exposure to legionella occurs through breathing airborne droplets of water containing the bacteria (not spores). Skin exposure does not present a risk.

If you're concerned about legionella disease, the most likely source is the electric hot water heater (depending on design), while the main exposure route is through showering.

Most electric water heaters (the ones sold here anyway) have a heating element that sits above the floor of the heater. This design allows water to remain under the element at a temperature conducive to growth of legionella. 

IIRC the OSO brand of electric hot water heaters do not present this problem, nor do gas heaters. The solution is to heat the water directly from the bottom of the tank and keep water temperature above 60 C.

More useful information here :

http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/legionella.htm

Speaking of Legionnaires, apparently the Roman ones used pumice to remove facial hair.

Be a man

The new brush I bought only cost 60p!  I've been using my old one for 10 years.  Cost me £20 IIRC.  Don't ask me to remember what the bristles are made of (beaver? badger?).  I'll see what the new brush is like, and if no good then I will investigate the ones suggested.  Thanks

Speaking as a retired doc, the infection risk is actually very low if a little common sense is applied. Most likely bug would be probably be staphylococcus aureus, not Legionella

John

More than you might want to know here :

I like their closing statement :

" Don't underestimate the importance of the brush in the overall process - a poorly functioning brush will result in a poor quality shave and a less than enjoyable experience. If the reason you use a brush, mug and quality razor is to get the best possible shave, why handicap the outcome for the sake of a few dollars."

I have one made of lower belly Yeti fur and only £15,000, I do have a second one in my other property in Syria.

I'm simply shocked that with such credentials you have slipped to number 2 position here. Who has taken the top spot now?

AMAZON

Search for a firm called ....KENT BRUSHES.....i use their hand made combs,wont use anything else.

Order online and you dont even have to get out your armchair !!

Mista h

PS....Google the Kent brushes website,it shows their full range of products

Chaps

If you want to really find out everything about shaving - go to this site :-

http://badgerandblade.com/

This will tell you everything you need to know.

If you really want a good shave without irritation, you do the following.

1. Scrap the can of foam and replace it with a good brush and a good shaving soap. The foam will dry out your skin (thanks to the alcohol content) whilst the shaving soap will moisturise it and also lubricate better.

2. Scrap the expensive multi blade razor and replace it with a double edge razor, the sort your father probably used. The single blades are very cheap and give a smoother shave. I bought an Edwin Jagger DE89 razor and 7 0 clock blades. They gave me a much better shave than the Mach3 I used previously.

If you really want to score 10/10, get yourself a straight / cut throat razor but that is a topic in itself.

Finally if you are a lazy bugger and don't mind looking older than your time, you can always grow a beard.

Regards

Mick

I have a Kent, a Rooney, a Trufitt & Hill Super Badger brushes, all in the $150 - $250 range and a $6 Omega boars hair.  The cheap Omega works for me when using shaving soap, but I use Mr Taylor's Rose shaving cream for a most luxurious shave with the Badger brushes !

My everyday shaver is a set of three Edwin Jagger Safety (double-edge) razors, but have a number of straight razors too, Le Grelot and Dovo.

The old fashion methods have been very good to my facial skin.

Badger & Blade is an excellent resource.

btw using the D-E razors I do a five-pass shave / \, then \ / down ward stroke, then the same pattern in the upward stroke, then a left-right.  I now only need to shave once or twice a week.  Closest shave ever.

Tried the cheapo Wilko brush this morning.  Useless.  Felt like a scrubbing brush, and immediately went back to my okd brush.  Have looked at the various options and have ordered an Edwin Jagger silvertip brush.

EAROTICA

Get thee to youtube and do a search for traditional shaving, Edwin Jagger, shaving soaps etc. There is enough stuff there to keep you occupied for hours.

Regards

Mick

look up five pass shaving method, closest shave you can get.  Closer than a straight in my opinion.  You tube is a great resource too ...

My shaving experience is enjoyable now, unlike the old Gillette Mach III turbo or even Phillishave.

I use Japanese Feather razor blades.  Cheap when bought online bulk ...

+1 for Kent Brushes. Trumper's Sandalwood Shaving soap is very good too.

For razor blades you could try Merkur Platinum Coated Stainless Steel blades - expensive but last for ages.

Le Grelot full hollow 6/8 blade - whiskers, pah! Full on pampery effect with Martin de Candre soap - silver tip badger hair brush

Works for me

Just don't call me scarface

I used to use Kent brushes until I discovered Taylor's of Old Bond St about 10 years ago. I bought my first replacement brush last year. Fine badger bristle and you get a fine shave. They aren't cheap but you get what you pay for. Their shaving soap is also very good and more economic than foam. They do sell on the Internet. Look them up.

From one old doc to another.

I use alovera liquid soap, which I lather in my hands.

Then I use a Co-op disposable to do the job. As alovera is a natural anti-septic I only have to swill with cold water.

Simple and cheap.

No brush involved, and two or three times a weeks is all that is needed to remain civilised. New blade per week ...

ATB from George

PS: A Co-op six pack of disposables is to be had for less than £2.

quote:

It will feel like rubbing your face will a pair of old underpants.

Just had my 6/8th 1/4 grind Le Grelot re-sharpened a few weeks ago ...

Where did you have it re sharpened and what did it cost?

I bought them online originally from Martin Neuberg from Rasupur.  The one Le Grelot got dinged and he re-established the edge, I also sent him two other straights to sharpen and he charged me 20 euro each.

He's a top guy and excellent to deal with ...

Seconded. Martin knows his blades. Just don't look at the Japanese razors he has.