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Brush cleaning soap

fhalden

fhalden

"Like BarberDave… I make my own fun”
So I found this stuff on The Superior Shave online store. It purports to be brush cleaning soap. Has anyone ever heard of this stuff?
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I have never used a brush cleaning product. I rinse my brushes THOROUGHLY (more like excessively) after every use and have not observed any soap build-up. However, I imagine I will want to clean and condition them "properly" at some time,... whatever that means.

Zingari Man makes this one:
Zingari-Man-All-Purpose-Brush-Cleaner-Artisan-4oz.jpg
 
Granite.Glasser said:
I have never used a brush cleaning product. I rinse my brushes THOROUGHLY (more like excessively) after every use and have not observed any soap build-up. However, I imagine I will want to clean and condition them "properly" at some time,... whatever that means.

Zingari Man makes this one:
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That's good to know! Thanks!

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Brew said:
There's soap to clean the soap from your brush? That's great!! But is there a soap to clean the soap from your brush that cleans the soap from your brush? That would be even better, if not critical, imo. And now that I think about it, . . . .
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Now we're talking rabbit holes!!

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I'm in the "what's the problem"? camp. I've never had any build-up on any brushes. Or if there is, it's not noticeable so why create a problem where there isn't one?
 
I rinse all my brushes thoroughly when they are in rotation and I haven't noticed any build up. New to me brushes get a couple soaks in warm water and Dawn Ultra anti-bacterial dish soap. I then palm lather with some more Dawn and rinse and let dry. Brushes look like new and I have had no issues with any of mine whether badger, boar or synthetic.
 
CBL makes a great brush & hone cleaning soap.

Many soaps are superfatted to give good post shave feel. Some of these non-Saponofied fats can get stuck in your brush, especially if you rinse in cold water. Also if you have hard water, mineral deposits can build up in your brush.

I can’t speak to the others, but Chris’ soap is made with only coconut oil, and would be a little harsh to shave with, but is great for stripping all that other stuff out of the brush.

Also, if you get a vintage or a used brush you really want to make sure it’s clean before using it. This takes care of that as well!

If I’ve said something that wasn’t accurate here, or if there’s more to it, maybe @CBLindsay can elaborate.
 
Spider said:
CBL makes a great brush & hone cleaning soap.

Many soaps are superfatted to give good post shave feel. Some of these non-Saponofied fats can get stuck in your brush, especially if you rinse in cold water. Also if you have hard water, mineral deposits can build up in your brush.

I can’t speak to the others, but Chris’ soap is made with only coconut oil, and would be a little harsh to shave with, but is great for stripping all that other stuff out of the brush.

Also, if you get a vintage or a used brush you really want to make sure it’s clean before using it. This takes care of that as well!

If I’ve said something that wasn’t accurate here, or if there’s more to it, maybe @CBLindsay can elaborate.
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Ditto my thoughts but as usual stated better by KJ. I don't use it often but when needed, it's good stuff from CBL.
 
I think ULTA or Sally beauty has one that is good for cleaning makeup brushes. Should work for us too.

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Spider said:
CBL makes a great brush & hone cleaning soap.

Many soaps are superfatted to give good post shave feel. Some of these non-Saponofied fats can get stuck in your brush, especially if you rinse in cold water. Also if you have hard water, mineral deposits can build up in your brush.

I can’t speak to the others, but Chris’ soap is made with only coconut oil, and would be a little harsh to shave with, but is great for stripping all that other stuff out of the brush.

Also, if you get a vintage or a used brush you really want to make sure it’s clean before using it. This takes care of that as well!

If I’ve said something that wasn’t accurate here, or if there’s more to it, maybe @CBLindsay can elaborate.
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It is true, I do/did make a brush cleaning soap that is made with just Coconut oil and potassium hydroxide lye. I have also made a version with some sodium hydroxide so its a little harder (but the truth is a coconut/KOH soap that is cooked down can be quite hard). Coconut oil soap made with KOH is quick to foam up and is very cleansing so it is very good at cleaning AND rinsing whatever is in your brush bristles out. Even if you don't have a lot up oil or mineral build up it can be a good way to wash out strong scents that are common these days. I think there is room to improve upon the basic concept, making the cleaner more like a super cleansing shampoo with some minimal conditioning properties rather than JUST a cleansing soap. BUT an advantage the coconut oil KOH soap has is that if you have a difficult to lather soap you can swirl on the "brush cleaner" first then load on the difficult to lather soap and I guarantee (in my best french cajun voice) you'll get lather...because coconut oil soap makes a fast, bubbly lather that will kick start the lather of that difficult soap.

If you don't have a brush cleaning soap and wish you did I have two suggestions. One is to get/use a simple puck of Williams mug soap to clean your brushes. The soap is really basic and capable of stripping most oils from your brush, especially if you kick it up a notch by adding a pinch of citric acid to the water you use to lather and rinse with. Williams mug soap and citric acid will work to remove oil and mineral build up just about as good as you'll ever need. The other option is to grab one of the simple shampoo bars offered by Stirling. Aside from the scent, the soap is more cleansing than a shave soap and made to wash out the stuff you put into your hair every day so why wouldn't it work on your brush. You could use a LNHC shampoo bar too but i don't think your brush will fully appreciate the complexity of oils and herbs.

If you are absolutely DYING to get your hands on some coconut oil soap to wash out some serious brush funk I might be able to hook you up with a slice. I have a small batch of soap I made for personal use (dog washing, virus prevention and stuff like that) that is done drying, I can cut some discs and slip some in the mail. It won't be the exact same as the KOH version in the tub but it will do the same thing.

And yes @sgrdddy I have seen powdered mix at salon supply (probably Sally's) that says brush cleaner. I don't know if it is a cleaner that is meant to clean residue and junk or a cleaner that is meant to sterilize but I saw the words "brush cleaner" on the package. I think I have a pack in a drawer at home I can dig out and see what it really is (I got it in a box of stuff I was given from a local barber who knows I collect and refurbish old stuff).
 
CBLindsay said:
It is true, I do/did make a brush cleaning soap that is made with just Coconut oil and potassium hydroxide lye. I have also made a version with some sodium hydroxide so its a little harder (but the truth is a coconut/KOH soap that is cooked down can be quite hard). Coconut oil soap made with KOH is quick to foam up and is very cleansing so it is very good at cleaning AND rinsing whatever is in your brush bristles out. Even if you don't have a lot up oil or mineral build up it can be a good way to wash out strong scents that are common these days. I think there is room to improve upon the basic concept, making the cleaner more like a super cleansing shampoo with some minimal conditioning properties rather than JUST a cleansing soap. BUT an advantage the coconut oil KOH soap has is that if you have a difficult to lather soap you can swirl on the "brush cleaner" first then load on the difficult to lather soap and I guarantee (in my best french cajun voice) you'll get lather...because coconut oil soap makes a fast, bubbly lather that will kick start the lather of that difficult soap.

If you don't have a brush cleaning soap and wish you did I have two suggestions. One is to get/use a simple puck of Williams mug soap to clean your brushes. The soap is really basic and capable of stripping most oils from your brush, especially if you kick it up a notch by adding a pinch of citric acid to the water you use to lather and rinse with. Williams mug soap and citric acid will work to remove oil and mineral build up just about as good as you'll ever need. The other option is to grab one of the simple shampoo bars offered by Stirling. Aside from the scent, the soap is more cleansing than a shave soap and made to wash out the stuff you put into your hair every day so why wouldn't it work on your brush. You could use a LNHC shampoo bar too but i don't think your brush will fully appreciate the complexity of oils and herbs.

If you are absolutely DYING to get your hands on some coconut oil soap to wash out some serious brush funk I might be able to hook you up with a slice. I have a small batch of soap I made for personal use (dog washing, virus prevention and stuff like that) that is done drying, I can cut some discs and slip some in the mail. It won't be the exact same as the KOH version in the tub but it will do the same thing.

And yes @sgrdddy I have seen powdered mix at salon supply (probably Sally's) that says brush cleaner. I don't know if it is a cleaner that is meant to clean residue and junk or a cleaner that is meant to sterilize but I saw the words "brush cleaner" on the package. I think I have a pack in a drawer at home I can dig out and see what it really is (I got it in a box of stuff I was given from a local barber who knows I collect and refurbish old stuff).
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Thanks for the info and advice on substitutions!

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Still have Chris' Brush cleaner and use it at the shop and at home. If you are looking for a deep cleaner this comes in granulated and Liquid form and the best stuff I have ever used and is rated for Shop use as a disinfectant and santitizer

Ship-Shape | Cleaning Products
 
August West said:
When my brushes are no longer a use to me, I summon the servants to prepare the horse and carriage. With much pomp, I ride through the forgotten side of town and toss them unceremoniously at peasants.
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I like this solution...it’s better than a solution made of Borax and warm water which is also quite effective, particularly if funk isn’t what you are wanting to rid yourself of. Say you took your brushes on a ride in the carriage and decided to keep one rather than toss it at the unworthy. It would no doubt come back with a stank so foul you would have no choice but to soak said bristles in Pinaud’s lilac vegetal OR defunk with de-borax.
 
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