When you get a new brush it’s all crispy and perfectly shaped. A new brush is a wonderful thing. It dawned on me one day that I should try emulating that new brush feeling after I wash my brush.
Before my current method it took me a lot of trial and error: cleaning with soap, cleaning with turps, soaking in oil, wrapping in cloth after any of the prior or the latter, or never washing at all.
This is how to extend the life of your brushes:
Dirty Brush
Washed brush, notice the loose shape.
First I thoroughly clean my brush. Usually I do this with a bar of soap and hot water. A light milking motion (base to tip) will get rid of deep saturated pigment.
After I wash the brushes I apply the miracle product…
Best damn glue like hair gel ever. Or at least thats what my brushes tell me.
A three dollar bottle of hair gel. My brand of choice is L.A. Looks.
Um 10+
Strength? Mega X-Treme Hold 10+ of course.
The loose brush from before after a light hair gel application.
Apply enough gel to lightly coat and shape the brush
When the brush dries it will maintain that new on-the-shelf brush shape.
This will extend the life of the brush and help it retain its optimal shape for controlled paint application.
Three dollars worth of gel lasts me about a year, and saves me hundred’s of dollars in brushes.
This has been a Painter’s Public Service Announcement.
