Honeycomb Help
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Thanks for all the responses. I’ve done a pretty decent job of wearing for an extended time (at least 2 months) before first wash so I feel like the creases are pretty set. I did go a little ape shit when I found Iron Heart and bought a pair of two too many to properly wear with enough consistency. My most worn and washed pair are 666S-18’s. I’ve worn them a ton and they are fading nicely. I’ve worn some 777S-21’s a lot as well. Maybe I need to add a leg day to fill out my knees. Or when I walk do a little “heel to ass” kick? Hmm or just be patient [emoji107]
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A former forum member (with awesome ‘comb’s on multiple pairs of 634’s), swore by doing a cold soak when new then wearing while damp. He felt this set very sharp creases, and as Giles says, it is meaningful creases that create the best combs.
Another well known ‘comb creator is cycling. Personally, my best combs come when I use jeans for physical work.
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Where on either Saber's or mine what that previously stated @Matt ? Am I missing a "that's what she said" joke?
As much as I hate shit like what @neph93 just suggested (KISS: soak, dry, wear, wash when dirty is the way I roll… sitting in a tub or going to the beach and all that crazy shit makes no sense to me) it could work. But it could also make the front of the knee baggy.
Filthy's starch idea sounds a bit easier to me and makes a lot of sense without the hassle or potential risk of wearing them soaking wet.
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Another well known ‘comb creator is cycling. Personally, my best combs come when I use jeans for physical work.
I’ve been so paranoid about washing them, or not washing them rather, that I don’t always wear my jeans when I’m doing physical labor. Afraid I’ll have to wash them too much. I need to get over that I suppose.
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I was just being dicky @mclaincausey We we’re typing the same thing at the same time and you got in first.
I think the XHS is really starchy out of the bag so if you’re going to spot treat with starch I’d make sure they’re properly washed first. The heavy fabric makes for more intense abrasion from friction. The creases on these can become holes before you know it. Most of these that are older (mine included) have holes forming in the creases where they are cuffed. My crotch creases (ew) get them too with this denim. I’d just wait them out if I were you.
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@SKT:
Another well known ‘comb creator is cycling. Personally, my best combs come when I use jeans for physical work.
I’ve been so paranoid about washing them, or not washing them rather, that I don’t always wear my jeans when I’m doing physical labor. Afraid I’ll have to wash them too much. I need to get over that I suppose.
I share @mclaincausey attitude. K.I.S.S: give them a soak if necessary (when the denim is partially or fully unsanforised, wear hard, wash when dirty, repeat. Whatever the result of that is will be good. It might not be what you saw on IG, but it will be good.
As for babying denim to avoid washes to create fades vs. wearing hard to create fades, Occam’s razor suggests the road to fades is the solution with the fewest entities. «Hard wear = fades» wins over «careful wear + limited washing = fades.
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I’m a fan of simplicity, so my denim regimen so far follows all your advice. Wear daily when new for at least a couple months, cold gentle wash, hang dry, repeat when dirty. I have 4 types of IH denim but no XHS (yet). 142, 18, 21L and 21. My oldest are the 21L but I “outgrew” them for a bit during the pandemic and they’ve never been washed (ew again).
I am definitely going to quit shying away from wearing my jeans when doing yard work, etc.
Thanks to everyone for the help!
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Sorry @Matt I am slow
@neph93 nailed it. I think a combination of hard wear (the most important factor) and some of those babying practices together would maximize fading (hard wear) and contrast (babying the denim) because any time you soak or wash I would think there's a uniform removal, however slight, of indigo, where abrasion from hard wear will remove indigo less uniformly, and more in folds, creases, and any other areas of high wear. But I don't think impractical measures to eke a little more contrast out are worth it for me personally.
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@SKT:
you can tell my knees take a beating with the dog and kids.
Oh dude! Those look like they're well on their way!
The 18oz is my favorite denim that IH makes because of the fading capabilities (exl. the XHS, and the others coming down the pipeline) and "slubbyness," compared to the other IH jeans.
Honeycombs fades should start being more obvious after a few more weeks of regular wear. You can see them peaking through around your inseam already
