Does towel stropping soften brush tips?

All of my badgers have softened over time while still being usable immediately. My thought was that it was the effect of not only the soap and all the lathering action on the knot but the mechanical action of the brush hairs moving across a surface with some resistance. That’s all... We’re not talking about anything serious here... just inquiring as to wether people feel the mechanism of stropping on a towel may influence tip softness over time. I feel like it may have an influence but if it does it’s hard to quantify.

If you live in an area with high humidity running a brush back and forth over a towel can help speed drying, but I doubt it will affect the bristles. Having said that, if you enjoy the process, by all means do it.

I vigorously dry all of my brushes by stropping them on a terrycloth towel 10-20 times after every shave. I suspect that that the effect on the bristles is negligible -- only because I've never noticed any effect, positive or negative. But it does help get them dry, which is why I do it. Having recently discovered synthetic brushes (RazoRock beehive, with a tuxedo on the way), I see less of a need to do it, but I still do. Old habits die hard.... The synths definitely dry faster, though.

yes, the friction from the towel will 100% soften brush tips. It's no different than breaking in your brush when you apply lather to your face. However if you are just lightly drying the brush after use, the effect is minimal because there isn't much friction. If however you go to town with a new boar, it will break in within 30 minutes. No need to wait through months of use. Badger will also soften but it will be hard to notice because the hairs are already very fine/soft.

If towel stropping softens shave brush hair it should do the same with the ones on our heads too. Don't think that's the case....


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If towel stropping softens shave brush hair it should do the same with the ones on our heads too. Don't think that's the case....


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That is assuming you have any hair on your head...

If towel stropping softens shave brush hair it should do the same with the ones on our heads too. Don't think that's the case....


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That is assuming you have any hair on your head...

Ha ha....in my case there is not much. That was a very good guess btw....?


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If towel stropping softens shave brush hair it should do the same with the ones on our heads too. Don't think that's the case....


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That is assuming you have any hair on your head...

Ha ha....in my case there is not much. That was a very good guess btw....?


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LOL, I was referring to my own situation.

It’d be hard to tell on our heads since we keep cutting the tips.

It’d be hard to tell on our heads since we keep cutting the tips.

Hmm...correct....but there is a twist. I don't know how many of us have pointy hair strands. While rubbing our head it's just not the tip of the hair that comes in contact with the towel...


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