Item Description
I must say that this is one of the most interesting brushes I have purchased in my wet shaving career. It is really its own thing, so to speak, and is quite unique in a number of ways.
Here it is:
First of all, Simpsons variablity in badger hair is fairly well known. In the "super" grade, in which the Tulip is only available, the bundle is either of the "two band" kind as shown here, or the "three band", as in my PJ3 super, shown with the Tulip below.
By bands, I am referring to the number of color variations from the base of the knot to the tips. There doesn't seem to be any way to predict which hair you will get, so this is a case where looking before you buy is important, since the two types behave quite differently.
The Tulip wants to hold its shape more than any other brush I have encountered. There has been almost no bloom whatsoever since I have been using it. The bristles are extremely stiff in the shafts, and the tips are medium-soft. It produces a very firm scrubbing sensation while lathering. Originally, I didn't care for this, but I have become quite fond of it over time. The knot is about 23 mm, and it comes across as on the small side due to the lack of bloom. Here is a picture with the PJ3 and the C&E best badger, a popular model around these parts, so you can see the size differences:
The handle is what really attracted me to this brush. It is a squat, curvaceous beauty, with the unique "gutter" at the base of the bristles. The pictures don't do it justice, but the luster of the handle material and its shape are really lovely. As you can see, that infernal Simpsons sticker is still holding on, though I haven't gone out of my way to make it stick. Here is a picture showing the "gutter:
As for lathering, it is a machine on soaps due to its firmness. It is no slouch on creams either. I find the knot size just right for me- not too large or too small.
This has become a good friend. I am not sure it is worth the price tag (in the vicinity of $200 depending on where you get it), but I will never allow my brush shelf to be devoid of its beauty.
This review is being discussed here.
Here it is:
First of all, Simpsons variablity in badger hair is fairly well known. In the "super" grade, in which the Tulip is only available, the bundle is either of the "two band" kind as shown here, or the "three band", as in my PJ3 super, shown with the Tulip below.
By bands, I am referring to the number of color variations from the base of the knot to the tips. There doesn't seem to be any way to predict which hair you will get, so this is a case where looking before you buy is important, since the two types behave quite differently.
The Tulip wants to hold its shape more than any other brush I have encountered. There has been almost no bloom whatsoever since I have been using it. The bristles are extremely stiff in the shafts, and the tips are medium-soft. It produces a very firm scrubbing sensation while lathering. Originally, I didn't care for this, but I have become quite fond of it over time. The knot is about 23 mm, and it comes across as on the small side due to the lack of bloom. Here is a picture with the PJ3 and the C&E best badger, a popular model around these parts, so you can see the size differences:
The handle is what really attracted me to this brush. It is a squat, curvaceous beauty, with the unique "gutter" at the base of the bristles. The pictures don't do it justice, but the luster of the handle material and its shape are really lovely. As you can see, that infernal Simpsons sticker is still holding on, though I haven't gone out of my way to make it stick. Here is a picture showing the "gutter:
As for lathering, it is a machine on soaps due to its firmness. It is no slouch on creams either. I find the knot size just right for me- not too large or too small.
This has become a good friend. I am not sure it is worth the price tag (in the vicinity of $200 depending on where you get it), but I will never allow my brush shelf to be devoid of its beauty.
This review is being discussed here.
