Breaking-in with sweaty hands
I have been playing with Rudraksha for several years. Is it good to break-in Rudraksha with sweaty hands? Today, I have compiled my experience over the years to remind friends who are just starting out, so that they don't take detours like I did.
Thinking back to when I first started, I didn't know anything. I just started breaking-in the mala as soon as I got it. As a result, it turned out dark and patchy. I ruined several malas before I slowly figured things out. These experiences were bought with real money, and I hope they will be helpful to everyone.
Experience of breaking-in Rudraksha with sweaty hands
First of all, it's about the base coating. When you first get the Rudraksha, you must first do the base coating, clean the alkaline bloom residue on the surface and deep in the grain, and then start breaking-in. The base coating takes at least a month, brushing for twenty minutes every day, until the surface of the beads shows a warm matte finish.
Then there is the breaking-in process. In the early stage, brushing is the main focus, and breaking-in is secondary. Brush for twenty minutes and break-in for ten minutes every day. After three months, when the glossy sheen appears, you can break-in more and brush less. When breaking-in, your hands should be clean, with slight sweat. Don't break-in vigorously with heavy sweat. After breaking-in, wipe it with a dry cloth.
There is also maintenance. Rudraksha is afraid of wind, water, and large temperature differences. When not wearing it, put it in a sealed bag. Don't put it in the air conditioner vent or in direct sunlight. When sweating a lot in summer, wipe it more often. Don't let sweat accumulate in the grain.
Common problem handling
Common problems during the breaking-in process include alkaline bloom, cracking, color difference, and turning black. If there is alkaline bloom, brush more, focusing on the deep grain with a hard brush. It will recover after a week of persistence. If there is a small crack, it will gradually become less noticeable after continued breaking-in and patina formation; if the crack is relatively large, it is recommended to replace it.
Color difference is the most common problem, and almost every mala will encounter it. Don't worry. Put the lighter beads in the middle and break-in them more, and break-in the darker ones less. After one or two months of persistence, the color difference will be reduced. If it turns black, wipe it more with a clean cloth, reduce the breaking-in time, brush more, and it will slowly recover a bit.
A little insight
Actually, breaking-in Rudraksha is simple and difficult. The simple part is that as long as the method is right and you have patience, anyone can break-in a good mala; the difficult part is that many people are eager for quick success and always want to turn it red and form a patina quickly, but end up taking detours.
The thing about cultural play is that it's all about the process, and you can't rush it. I hope everyone can break-in a mala that they are satisfied with and enjoy the process.
