Hello everyone, I've been lurking for a while but I think it's time to get involved and I signed up. Here is the obligatory brush questionnaire to get me started:
1. What existing brushes do I already own.
None. I'm a complete newbie to wet shaving and would like to get my first brush.
2. Soap or creams.
I don't use soap or creams... yet. Up until now I've been taking my mach3 (5 blade) into the shower, cranking up the heat, and shaving directly under the water stream without any shaving cream. The couple times I messed with shaving cream in a can ended up with a less smooth shave. With that said, I've been reading everyone's experiences with a real lather and I'm interested in giving it a try. I have my eye on some Tabac soap and I just recently impulse purchased some l'Occitane cream to jump start the wet-shaving attempt.
3. What you want from your next brush?
My next brush will be my first brush so I'm looking for an entry level brush that I can learn the ropes with. It should also be decent enough that I won't be disappointed down the road and have to go out and upgrade again. If I do upgrade later on, I would like it to be a decision based on luxury rather than necessity.
4. Brush aesthetics.
I don't know the pros or cons of the various materials, but I am a huge fan of the way Brazilian rosewood looks. I've also liked some of the solid black and horn styles I've seen. For a little while I was thinking I might build my own brush and came up with this design and the actual size paper mache prototype. Since I have never held a a real brush in my hand before I have no idea whether that shape is any good or not, but I think it looks nice.
5. Budget.
I thought $50 might be a good budget but it is entirely artificial. I am hoping you guys might tell me what is reasonable for an intro brush. I'm not looking for the brush to end all brushes. Lets aim for a good bang-for-your-buck type brush.
6. Size.
I have no idea. The prototype brush handle I linked from #4 felt a little 'fat' in my hand but it's hard to say without being able to use it in an actual lathering situation. I would guess my hand size is medium.
7. Brushes that have already piqued your interest.
Based entirely on the opinions I've read from this forum, I've had an interest in the EJ Best Badger (in imitation horn) and the Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 brushes. Being a newbie, I could be entirely off target here so don't let me steer you guys into steering me wrong. Feel free to tell me what I need.
8. Please don't forget to tell us that this will be your last or only brush, and that "SBAD hasn't really gotten ahold of me." We need a good laugh.
The voice on my shoulder says I'll invest in a good starter brush and call it quits. I already have enough expensive hobbies so I'm hoping this won't be another. What is SBAD?
1. What existing brushes do I already own.
None. I'm a complete newbie to wet shaving and would like to get my first brush.
2. Soap or creams.
I don't use soap or creams... yet. Up until now I've been taking my mach3 (5 blade) into the shower, cranking up the heat, and shaving directly under the water stream without any shaving cream. The couple times I messed with shaving cream in a can ended up with a less smooth shave. With that said, I've been reading everyone's experiences with a real lather and I'm interested in giving it a try. I have my eye on some Tabac soap and I just recently impulse purchased some l'Occitane cream to jump start the wet-shaving attempt.
3. What you want from your next brush?
My next brush will be my first brush so I'm looking for an entry level brush that I can learn the ropes with. It should also be decent enough that I won't be disappointed down the road and have to go out and upgrade again. If I do upgrade later on, I would like it to be a decision based on luxury rather than necessity.
4. Brush aesthetics.
I don't know the pros or cons of the various materials, but I am a huge fan of the way Brazilian rosewood looks. I've also liked some of the solid black and horn styles I've seen. For a little while I was thinking I might build my own brush and came up with this design and the actual size paper mache prototype. Since I have never held a a real brush in my hand before I have no idea whether that shape is any good or not, but I think it looks nice.
5. Budget.
I thought $50 might be a good budget but it is entirely artificial. I am hoping you guys might tell me what is reasonable for an intro brush. I'm not looking for the brush to end all brushes. Lets aim for a good bang-for-your-buck type brush.
6. Size.
I have no idea. The prototype brush handle I linked from #4 felt a little 'fat' in my hand but it's hard to say without being able to use it in an actual lathering situation. I would guess my hand size is medium.
7. Brushes that have already piqued your interest.
Based entirely on the opinions I've read from this forum, I've had an interest in the EJ Best Badger (in imitation horn) and the Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 brushes. Being a newbie, I could be entirely off target here so don't let me steer you guys into steering me wrong. Feel free to tell me what I need.
8. Please don't forget to tell us that this will be your last or only brush, and that "SBAD hasn't really gotten ahold of me." We need a good laugh.
The voice on my shoulder says I'll invest in a good starter brush and call it quits. I already have enough expensive hobbies so I'm hoping this won't be another. What is SBAD?
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You made a brush handle out of paper mache??? 
The original plans involved a nice dark grained wood and a 24mm UK-silvertip knot from thegoldennib.com.
