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Horsehair Brush

Style Pontifex

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After applying shoe cream and letting it dry, what are you supposed to do with the horsehair brush? Do you wipe/buff with a cloth before using the horsehair brush, or do you use a horsehair brush instead of using a cloth?
 

Imperator

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Originally Posted by Style Pontifex
After applying shoe cream and letting it dry, what are you supposed to do with the horsehair brush? Do you wipe/buff with a cloth before using the horsehair brush, or do you use a horsehair brush instead of using a cloth?

I have some brushes, but I have more success getting a high shine with a soft cloth.
 

aKula

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I use the brush before the cloth.
 

beasty

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Originally Posted by aKula
I use the brush before the cloth.

I notice if you use the brush before the cloth, you can see specks of left over shoe cream on the shoes. So I wipe off with cloth and use the brush.

I have to add I wonder whether there is a discernible difference between using a horsehair or synthetic hair brush.
 

jcc123

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Originally Posted by obiter dictum
Moist cotton balls. Mirror shine in ~10 minutes.

Sorry, I HATE spit shines. If I want my shoes to look like patent leather I'd go buy patent leather.

But to answer the OP, use horsehair brush to buff the shoes. Put some elbow grease into it. It will make the shoes look like you've just bought it from the store. If you notice that new shoes aren't shiny, it has more of a dull shine. That's what a horsehair brush will give you.
 

Steven Aver

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Originally Posted by jcc123
Sorry, I HATE spit shines. If I want my shoes to look like patent leather I'd go buy patent leather.

But to answer the OP, use horsehair brush to buff the shoes. Put some elbow grease into it. It will make the shoes look like your just bought it from the store. If you notice that new shoes aren't shiny, it has more of a dull shine. That's what a horsehair brush will give you.


Brushes are used to remove the excess polish, the cloth is used to buff afterwards.
 

jcc123

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Originally Posted by Steven Aver
Brushes are used to remove the excess polish, the cloth is used to buff afterwards.

What I'm saying is that you can skip the buffing part if you just use your brush to buff. Try it sometime.

BTW, I use only shoe cream. No shoe wax. Wax works both ways. It keeps your leather sealed from the elements but it also keeps it from breathing as it traps your sweat in your shoes. The salt in your sweat will build up overtime in the leather if you don't let it breath leading to cracking.
 

JayJay

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I brush then buff with a soft cloth.
 

Style Pontifex

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Originally Posted by jcc123
What I'm saying is that you can skip the buffing part if you just use your brush to buff. Try it sometime.

BTW, I use only shoe cream. No shoe wax. Wax works both ways. It keeps your leather sealed from the elements but it also keeps it from breathing as it traps your sweat in your shoes. The salt in your sweat will build up overtime in the leather if you don't let it breath leading to cracking.


Yeah, I only use conditioners and creams for my dress shoes. I do use wax for work boots, though.

Thanks for the info, everyone.

Oh, but someone did allude to an interesting question: synthetic vs. real horsehair bristles. Is there a difference?
 

Xiaogou

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Originally Posted by jcc123
What I'm saying is that you can skip the buffing part if you just use your brush to buff. Try it sometime.

BTW, I use only shoe cream. No shoe wax. Wax works both ways. It keeps your leather sealed from the elements but it also keeps it from breathing as it traps your sweat in your shoes. The salt in your sweat will build up overtime in the leather if you don't let it breath leading to cracking.


How does sweat get on the outside of the shoe?
eh.gif
 

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