How to Use a Shaving Brush

Many men are discovering the benefits of using an old-fashioned shaving brush to improve the quality of their morning shave. A high-quality shaving brush, usually made from badger hair, mixes shaving cream with water, allowing moisturizers to penetrate the skin more easily, resulting in a superior shave.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Shaving brush made from badger hair
• Glycerine-based shaving cream
• Hot water
• Sharp razor

1. Soak the bristles of the shaving brush in hot water before you start to shave. You only need a second or two for the brush to absorb enough moisture to react with your shaving gel.
2. Use hot water to soak your face in order to moisturize your skin and soften your facial hair. The best time to shave is right after you've stepped out of the bath or shower.
3. Allow the brush to drain itself of excess water by holding it upside-down over the sink. Just tip it over until the water starts to drip in an even, steady manner.
4. Dip the shaving brush in the glycerin-based shaving gel of your choice, and swirl it around until you gather just enough lather to cover the tips of the bristles. Avoid cheap foams or gels that reek of perfumes or colognes that can irritate your skin. A high-quality glycerin-based gel will lubricate and moisturize your skin more effectively, resulting in a superior shave.
5. Move the shaving brush in an up-and-down pattern throughout your beard, working up a respectable lather in the process. The bristles of the brush should gently exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells. Ensure that the lather is evenly applied and thick enough to completely obscure the skin beneath.
6. Use a sharp, non-disposable razor with multiple blades to achieve the closest, most comfortable shave possible. Continue to splash warm water on your face to keep your skin wet and lubricated during the entire shaving process. Feel free to re-lather your face with the shaving brush as needed.
7. Rinse the shaving brush in cold water after you are done. Be sure to store it on its handle, with the bristles facing straight up. This will ensure that your shaving brush will offer many years of service.

Tips & Warnings

• Shaving brushes come in all shapes and sizes, with upscale models that use only the neck hair of badgers costing hundreds of dollars. Badger hair is preferred for shaving brushes due to their bristles' ability to gently exfoliate the skin before shaving.