Are expensive brushes really that much better?

[duotone]

Reading Coreys blog post http://shaveblog.com/?p=155 the other day and from my own personal experiences with shaving brushes, it got me thinking. Are they?

Personally my Men-U (£9) works as well as my more expensive brushes and produces an equal quality of lather.

How good are these Plissons? Simpsons Super Badger? and how do they compare to the easily available & much cheaper Kents/Vulfix's?

 

[CzechCzar]

I went to my family's house for Christmas, and left my Rooney finest at home, choosing instead a $20 C&E travel brush to take with me. I was stunned by how notably different the experience was. It felt cheaper because the hairs had less backbone, were less densely packed, and were much scratchier.

Is it worth it? To me, yes. It is a hefty price tag though...

Reading Coreys blog post the other day and from my own personal experiences with shaving brushes, it got me thinking. Are they?

Personally my Men-U (£9) works as well as my more expensive brushes and produces an equal quality of lather.

How good are these Plissons? Simpsons Super Badger? and how do they compare to the easily available & much cheaper Kents/Vulfix's?

 

[bythbook]

Nice try.

...ain't gonna bite.


see: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105552

 

[duotone]

Nice try.

...ain't gonna bite.


see: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105552

Apologies, 32 pages Damn!

 

[English]

A good shaving brush is a good shaving brush and all the makers you have mentioned make good shaving brushes.

You really need to look at and handle a range of brushes to understand the reason the prices cover such a large range. There is a lot more to it than just the quality of the badger hair.

One of them will one day I am sure rock your boat and then the price will not be the question at the forefront of your mind.

Are the expensive brushes worth the extra. Well clearly they are to some guys, because they are often out of stock with a long waiting time to get hold of one.

 

[Tha Baron]

IMO... you get diminishing returns from a brush after the $75-80 price point. After that point I just assume youre paying for name, "upgraded" badger hair, or luxury handle materials. I do have brushes that cost around $150+, but I maybe would rather have two Rooneys in it's place.

Do the expensive brushes produce a noticeably better lather?? Probably not... but think of it this way: Does the Bus (public transit) get you from point A to point B any different than an S-class Mercedes? Not really, but the ride is a whole lot better.

 

[LittleJon]

I have a VDH boar ($5) and it gets lather on my face. I am researching and have been for awhile in the Rooney line of brushes.
The VDH is fine for now, but I want to upgrade down the road.... I am just trying to control myself, those Plissons are beautiful.

I figure a Kia and Mercedes will both get you to from point A to B, but there's a heck of a difference in ride.
I guess it's all in what you are looking for and want out of your hobby. YMMV

 

[Tha Baron]

I have a VDH boar ($5) and it gets lather on my face. I am researching and have been for awhile in the Rooney line of brushes.
The VDH is fine for now, but I want to upgrade down the road.... I am just trying to control myself, those Plissons are beautiful.

I figure a Kia and Mercedes will both get you to from point A to B, but there's a heck of a difference in ride.
I guess it's all in what you are looking for and want out of your hobby. YMMV

Woah... the crazy thing is that I changed "Kia" to "Bus" just before I submitted my post. That's kind of nuts!

 

[maurerc]

You can get a reasonably stiff backbone with a super-expensive badger or a modestly priced boar. I have had comfortable tips with expensive badgers, a cheap badger, and a modestly priced board. I have had prickly tips on a medium-priced badger. All in all, a lot of money does not buy a lot of comfort.

 

[LittleJon]

woah... The crazy thing is that i changed "kia" to "bus" just before i submitted my post. That's kind of nuts!

lol.

 

[blantyre]

Of course they aren't. That is not why people buy them. They are a great pleasure to use, they look nice, they provide entertainment.... It is not about absolute value anymore than mechanical watches, fountain pens, decent cars are - it's a hobby. In terms of making and applying lather a $10 drugstore brush is about as good as an ivory - handled HMW or whatever you fancy.

It's also not necessary to have more than ONE shaving brush, razor, soap/cream. Colognes are completely unnecessary if you have access to a shower or bath occasionally.

 

[dpmtherrien]

The only one who can tell for sure is you. Everyone is different and what works for one might not work for another. I've found that a better grade of badger, other than pure, works the best IMHO.

Having said that I have several brushes ranging from best to silvertip. I've found that the ones I use most, probably 9 out of 10 shaves, are my super badgers. Not that stiff, but not at all floppy. I know one of my favorites is a Vulfex super badger 22mm. I got it from Classic Shaving for around $65.00. I find it to be a great brush, and I find I use it more than my silvertips.

 

[Bertilak]

IMO... you get diminishing returns from a brush after the $75-80 price point. After that point I just assume youre paying for name, "upgraded" badger hair, or luxury handle materials. I do have brushes that cost around $150+, but I maybe would rather have two Rooneys in it's place.

I had a couple of $150 brushes I sold and settled in on a Rooney 1/1 Super at about $75. I didn't settle on the Rooney because it was cheaper.

 

[Tha Baron]

I had a couple of $150 brushes I sold and settled in on a Rooney 1/1 Super at about $75. I didn't settle on the Rooney because it was cheaper.

+1... that was the point I was going for!

 

[Antique Hoosier]

There is not for me a substantial advantage or even enhanced satisfaction to the really high dollar brushes over a suitable and moderately priced badger brush. Some of my all time favorites have been midrange priced offerings. In fact if pressed I would keep my Vulfix #41 I purchased on the BST for $70 shipped. I love that brush!

 

[Drubbing]

This is also a question thrown at my other interest; headphones. At a certain price point, there is a sweet spot where sound quality and value crossover. Personally, I feel this is around $400AUS. But many people can find something that will make them more than happy for half of that.

Whatever the $ sweet spot figure, it's widely accepted that diminishing returns kicks in steeply after that. People pay for ever decreasing differences, nuances, materials etc. For some people getting an extra few % of something they desire, despite it costing them far more than that % is worth, is beside the point.

Having had a $40 vulfix and now a T&H Rooney 1/2, the difference in performance and quality of materials is pretty clear. I would suggest that $80-100 is the sweet spot for brushes. Paying anything over that is for more subjective (or compulsive!) reasons.

 

[texbilly]

Nice try.

...ain't gonna bite.


see: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105552

Now excuse me while I finally order my Rooney Finest......

 

[tlanning]

I have wanted a Kent BK4 for over 2 years and since I have more time than money have researched it for about 2 years. I just unexplainable wanted that brush! Now this is an exaggeration but I researched it to the point of almost being able to tell you how many hairs are in it! (I dislike using exclamation points but in this case appropriate). This Christmas, I bought one from a member here used he said, (looked brand new) for $57. Received 2 more new ones from a friend and my wife. And I can honestly say it to me is the perfect all around brush. Creams excellent, soaps, (which I use mainly) outstandingly excellent. The only thing it won't do is scrub your face.

My point is I don't think theres a brush made today that has to much on the BK4 and its not that highhh if you look around. I think 60, 65 dollars new.

 

[beginish]

For me, yes. I read Corey's article several years ago and picked up the same Vulfix brush. It did a fine job, but in hindsight, was very floppy. Fast forward, and I purchased a Rooney Heritage as my first upgrade brush. It outperformed the Vulfix in every way, and I enjoyed my shave more. That makes it worth it to me.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

The Kent BK4 is such a fine brush I have owned it on no less than 4 seperate occassions. Seriously. (not currently).

Memo to original poster... Those old shaveblog writings are humorous but please remember, Corey was writing that prose in the early days of the wet shaving explosion... The experienced B&B collective has come light years in experience and valued thought since those days.