Hi folks -- I thought I should start a thread to "show & tell" these three brushes. I ordered all of them recently and none of my expectations for how each might be in person were met -- most of this is very positive; other parts (mildly) negative.
In short, I expected the "Keyhole" to be smaller in overall height. I had intended this to be my new travel brush. I couldn't find a handle height measurement posted anywhere (while the IB site showed the loft to be 57mm), but I can say the the total height on mine is 105mm. I was hoping for closer to 95mm (< 100cm) so it would better fit my "travel case" (ahem, a 40-gram pill bottle), but alas I'll just keep my Simpson Commodore X2 in there instead and give this one to my teenager. The feel of the brush is good and it does it's job. At the price these sell for, it was well worth it either way.
As for the "Hive 24 Mokasoft HD" -- well, this one isn't my cup of tea. I honestly had the highest expectations for this one, but I think I'm so used to lathering with my "best badger" and badger bristle brushes that its softness was a bridge too far. I only have "swirled" it in my palm so far, but I can tell it's going to end up with someone else. The brush itself is beautiful and return shipping to IB in Canada makes sending it back a chore. I can say that if anyone is looking for a very soft brush, this might be your perfect face-painter.
Finally, the "BC Silvertip" (synthetic) brush. This one was a last minute add to my cart. I wasn't sure I cared for the look of the handle and I was primarily shopping for a brush with a shorter handle. Still, the price was right so I took the plunge -- I am so very glad I did. This is easily my favorite of the bunch. This is a nearly perfect face-lathering/painting brush. The only demerit I give it is that it's a bit more "springy" than my well-used badger-haired Simpson, so it tends to fling lather if I'm rushing things. The feel of the brush itself is VERY nice and everything about the brush looks far better in person than the photos on the RR/IB webpage. This one's a keeper...(and if anyone wants to part with theirs, I have a Hive 24 Moka' that I'd happily swap for it.)
In short, I expected the "Keyhole" to be smaller in overall height. I had intended this to be my new travel brush. I couldn't find a handle height measurement posted anywhere (while the IB site showed the loft to be 57mm), but I can say the the total height on mine is 105mm. I was hoping for closer to 95mm (< 100cm) so it would better fit my "travel case" (ahem, a 40-gram pill bottle), but alas I'll just keep my Simpson Commodore X2 in there instead and give this one to my teenager. The feel of the brush is good and it does it's job. At the price these sell for, it was well worth it either way.
As for the "Hive 24 Mokasoft HD" -- well, this one isn't my cup of tea. I honestly had the highest expectations for this one, but I think I'm so used to lathering with my "best badger" and badger bristle brushes that its softness was a bridge too far. I only have "swirled" it in my palm so far, but I can tell it's going to end up with someone else. The brush itself is beautiful and return shipping to IB in Canada makes sending it back a chore. I can say that if anyone is looking for a very soft brush, this might be your perfect face-painter.
Finally, the "BC Silvertip" (synthetic) brush. This one was a last minute add to my cart. I wasn't sure I cared for the look of the handle and I was primarily shopping for a brush with a shorter handle. Still, the price was right so I took the plunge -- I am so very glad I did. This is easily my favorite of the bunch. This is a nearly perfect face-lathering/painting brush. The only demerit I give it is that it's a bit more "springy" than my well-used badger-haired Simpson, so it tends to fling lather if I'm rushing things. The feel of the brush itself is VERY nice and everything about the brush looks far better in person than the photos on the RR/IB webpage. This one's a keeper...(and if anyone wants to part with theirs, I have a Hive 24 Moka' that I'd happily swap for it.)
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