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Michael

Dry Bristles from a Shaving Brush Right Side Up or Upside Down?

Link to my Etsy Store

Ok so what is the correct way to dry a shaving brush? Bristles up or bristles down? Does it really matter?There is no scientific research  to prove either theory. What almost everyone agrees with is that you should rinse, shake out the excess water, and store in an open dry area. If you follow these steps you should not have any problems with your brush.

Some men question what if water is  resting on the knot or gets between the knot and the wooden handle. If this is true then why do you never see any water on the tip of the bristles or a puddle of water under the brush?  Some may argue that the water wicks upward and evaporates anyway.

These should both dry if you rinse thoroughly. The main things that lead to knot damage or failure are manufacturing of the knot, the quality of the knot, and abuse of the brush handle and bristles. There is also a lot of epoxy or glue between the knot and the handle which should act as a barrier so that water does not enter between the knot and the handle. If you rinse and comb the knot with your fingers for brushes that tend to tangle and wipe around the collar of the brush where soap residue hangs out then your brush will have a long life.

It's your brush dry it how you want to. Census is it doesn't matter as long as you care for it rinse it and let it dry in an open area.

What Is The Purpose Of Bentonite Clay in Soap?

Where you ever wondering or heard of bentonite clay, but never knew what is was or why it is in some shaving soaps?

Here are a few facts that might demystify what bentonite clay is and why it is used. The one that I use in my soap is  Atzec Secret Indian Healing Clay. 

 

Bentonite - a light green clay It gives a slippery silkiness which makes it good in shaving soaps.

Bentonite clay is used to thicken lotions, emulsify oils and help hydrate skin. It is commonly used in shaving soaps to make the razor slippery to avoid cuts to the skin.  Add to shaving soap also to provide slip. 

Bentonite clay is sedimentary clay composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash. The largest and most active deposits come from Wyoming and Montana. Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an "electrical charge". Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. Bentonite clay's structure assists it in attracting and soaking up poisons on its exterior wall and then slowly draws them into the interior center of the clay where it is held in a sort of repository. 

Hope this was educational. If you want more info on other uses such as natural hair treatment, full body detox or DIY face mask just search on you tube for some interesting videos about bentonite clay.

Coronado Brewing Co -- Islander IPA -- Shaving Mug with Cedar Lavender Shaving Soap Puck

This listing is for a hand cut beer bottle that serves as a shaving mug from Coronado Brewing Co -- Islander IPA -- with a 3+ oz. puck of cedar lavender shaving soap. The soap is handmade by cold process. The beer bottle is sanded where cut for a smooth finish. 

This soap contains calcium bentonite clay which helps the razor glide across the skin during shaving due to it's slippery nature.


The soap contains: coconut oil, caster oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, shortening, lavender cedar essential oil, calcium bentonite clay, lye, and deionized water.

Beer Tricks You Won't Believe Actually Work (But Do!)

These are pretty cool tricks just thought I would share!

The Best Way to Cut a Glass Beer Bottle

They say there are more ways to skin a cat... well, there is more than one way to cut and break a bottle also. I have been trying to cut beer bottle for some time now. I have seen all the "tricks" on Pinterest and YouTube and all the other websites and blogs. I will tell you that none of them are going to work all the time, especially with beer bottles. I have had a lot of trouble with certain kinds of beer bottles also. Mostly Stone Brewing beer bottles are the hardest they have very brittle glass that cracks uneven and seems to split vertically when you want it to split diagonally. I'm sure the more professional sellers have tricks of there own, or they use an expensive glass cutting saw. The string soaked in acetone or lighter fluid that is tied around the bottle and set on fire and then put into cold water never worked for me. I tried the hot and cold water method also.  This is where you run boiling or very hot water over the score line of the bottle you are trying to cut and then rinse it with ice or cold water. Sometimes it would work and sometimes it would give me horrible results. I had the most luck with the candle and ice method, but again for those tricky bottles that crack in weird places I still had some problems with it not cracking or cracking the wrong way. If you want to try the above methods watch the video. I think the best method is in the second video below though.


The best luck I have had has been with a soldering iron. It does take some practice and again its not perfect but I have had way better results than the above mentioned methods of cutting beer bottles. Watch the video below to see how to do it. I'm trying to do this for my Etsy business of Shaving Beer Bottle Mugs, sold with shaving soap.

Red Stripe Beer Bottle and Lavender Cedar Shaving Soap

This listing is for a a beer bottle shaving mug with handmade lavender and cedar soap.

This is and idea I have had for a long time that came about from a combination of my wife making soap and me drinking beer. Her soap is awesome!

This listing is for an upcycled cut 11.2 oz. Red Stripe beer bottle with a sizable 3 oz. round bar of lavender and cedar shaving soap. The soap is handmade by cold process. The beer bottle is sanded where cut for a smooth finish. 


The soap contains: coconut oil, caster oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, shortening, lavender cedar essential oil, calcium bentonite clay, lye, and deionized water.https://www.etsy.com/listing/230204647/red-stripe-beer-bottle-shaving-mug-with?ref=listings_manager_grid