The mistakes beginners make most easily—read this before breaking in Rudraksha (large). When beginners break in Rudraksha (large), they most easily make a few mistakes; make one, and your mala (prayer beads) takes a longer detour. Before breaking-in (patina process), take a look at these mistakes and avoid them, and your mala (prayer beads) can take fewer detours.
Mistake 1: Handling it before prepping the base
Mistake 1: Handling it before prepping the base. If you start breaking-in (patina process) as soon as the new mala (prayer beads) arrives, the alkaline bloom gets sealed in the crevices, the color becomes patchy, and matching the color later is very troublesome. The correct approach is to brush first, then break-in (patina process): brush away the alkaline bloom, brush the crevices thoroughly, and only then handle it. With a good base, everything goes smoothly afterward.
Mistake 2: Only breaking-in (patina process) without brushing
Mistake 2: Only breaking-in (patina process) without brushing. Thinking that breaking-in (patina process) just means rubbing it with your hands, sweat and oil pile up on the surface, and the color turns dull and muddy. The correct approach is to combine breaking-in (patina process) with brushing: brush after every session, spread the sweat and oil evenly, brush the crevices thoroughly, and only then will the color be even.
Mistake 3: Applying oil frequently
Mistake 3: Applying oil frequently. Wanting the mala (prayer beads) to change color faster, you apply oil frequently, but the result is a dark, fake-looking color; the oil seals the crevices, and the more you break-in (patina process), the dirtier it gets. The correct approach is not to apply oil, but to rely on sweat, oil, and time to slowly develop a natural color. The mistakes beginners make most easily—read this before breaking in Rudraksha (large): handling it before prepping the base, only breaking-in (patina process) without brushing, and applying oil frequently. Avoid these three mistakes, and breaking-in (patina process) will go smoothly.
Avoid these mistakes before breaking-in (patina process), and your Rudraksha (large) can take many fewer detours and be a pleasure to break in.
