Hello all, I have a noob question. I currently have an AOS Pure Badger that I purchased from the Navy Exchange. I have only been shaving DE traditional (brush/soap instead of gel) for a month and I am loving it. My question is: what advantages are there to a Fine or Silvertip Badger over the Pure? The pure does a good job with my VDH, so far, with no noticeable hair loss. Thanks for any info.
Badger brush grades
- Thread starter binoy
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Finer brushes in the badger line are softer at the tips buy will not always have the backbone of a pure badger. Depending upon what software (soap, cream or croap) you are using, each brush serves a purpose. For example, a harder soap like MWF would be better served when lathering with a pure Badger. While creamier soaps like Cella and all creams can be lathered with no problems with finest and silver tips.
Also, some folks (like me) prefer the softer bristles on the face as opposed to some who prefer the exfoliating properties of a stiffer brush.
YMMV issue for sure.
Frank
Also, some folks (like me) prefer the softer bristles on the face as opposed to some who prefer the exfoliating properties of a stiffer brush.
YMMV issue for sure.
Frank
All brush makers use a different system. But general scale is Pure, Best, Silvertip.
Here is the wiki link - http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Shave_Brush_Hair_Grades
Here is the wiki link - http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Shave_Brush_Hair_Grades
In my experience the difference is marginal if noticeable. That's just my experience. I'm more concerned with size, how it fits in my hands, and quality of knot construction regardless of hair type. But that's just me.
Face latherers tend to want a little stiffer brush to help exfoliate the skin and to infiltrate the soap into the beard. I think they prefer pure or best badger, although I do have a couple of Silvertips which have decent backbones and can do the job.
The other side of that argument is that one doesn't necessarily want to be building lather and scrubbing one's face with a stiff/scritchy brush. YMMV here as in most things wetshaving!
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I face lather and I prefer a large silvertip, though I have used blacks, pure, and finest, with success. The main thing for me is I don't like diddling around with a teeny weeny brush.
In my case I can compare one silver tip to one pure badger. Both are small brushes and seem about the same density. The pure is soft compared to boar, but there is a little bit of scratchiness. Not enough to really matter, but it's there. The silver tip on the other hand is the softest feel you can imagine. Performance wise I can't tell a difference.
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Thanks to all for your input. This forum is really great for getting an education!
Welcome to B&B! Nice to hear that you found wet shave stuff at the exchange!
often i I will take the AOS pure for travel or shave at the gym. It does great job, very close to the costlier silvertips.
And it will get even nicer as you break it in.
If you get nearby to an AOS store or such, you can 'feel' the different grades. I think you'd be hard pressed to pick the silvertip in a blind test.
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You can't feel the difference very well with a dry brush. Where the difference really shows up is when it is wet and full of lather.
I keep answering this question and haven't seen a really great comparison yet, so I made this:
Your backbone classification would not always be correct. My firmest brush is a Finest (High Mountain). I have a couple of Silvertips that are firmer than everything else on the shelf except for the one Finest. Firmer than a Whipped Dog Black Badger and a Franks Shaving Best Badger. Also, not all Silvertips are really dense either.
Every company has different grades (names) for their hair, and comparing grades between companies is often not possible. However, "Pure " is for most companies the lowest grade. Generally speaking, there are three main differences in the hair: the number of bands.
Pure is mostly a hair in the same color, grey or black, with no distinctive bands. Then there is the two-band hair, often called Super, Finest or Silvertip-2-band. The third type of hair is the three band hair, often called silvertip or Best.
Pure is mostly a hair in the same color, grey or black, with no distinctive bands. Then there is the two-band hair, often called Super, Finest or Silvertip-2-band. The third type of hair is the three band hair, often called silvertip or Best.
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