Badger brush types

[Razorsharp1986]

Hi guys,
i've been using best badger brushes for the last few months, but was thinking to try one of the more premium badger brushes.
My question is, will I feel the difference moving up to a super badger, or should I get Silvertip in order to really feel any difference at all.
What do tou guys think or recommend?

 

[.soap.]

What type of feeling do you desire? Angel kisses that leave lather behind or an army of scrubby hairs that exfoliate your skin til it's new?

Whose brand of "best" are you using now? Some brands of "best" actually rival other brands of "silvertip", etc...

Share some more info and we'll likely be able to help you out

 

[ChiefBroom]

Hi guys,
i've been using best badger brushes for the last few months, but was thinking to try one of the more premium badger brushes.
My question is, will I feel the difference moving up to a super badger, or should I get Silvertip in order to really feel any difference at all.
What do tou guys think or recommend?

Others may disagree, but the terms "Super Badger" and "Silvertip" don't have clear, comparative meaning to me outside the context of a particular manufacturer's product line, and even then it can get murky.

The first distinction I tend to make is between 2-band and 3-band hair. In my limited experience, some Simpson Best brushes come very close to the feel (both dry and in use) of some Simpson 2-band brushes. But generally, I prefer 2-band over Best in Simpson. Best has a greater tendency to feel a bit scritchy to me. Some prefer that. I don't.

As between 2-band and 3-band, say in Simpson, Rooney, or M&F brushes (which make up for almost all my experience), most days I reach for 2-bands, but there are some days I want a 3-band's softer, more luxurious feel (e.g., when my face is a little raw or the day after a too-close or uncomfortable shave). 2-bands typically have more backbone and provide more scrub than 3-bands (all else being equal, which it never is), which is why 2-bands often come closer in comparison to typical Best than do 3-bands.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Thanks for the replies.

I used a Thiers Issard Best Badger brush and an Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush. I think they're both great, but was thinking to try something a little more... Luxurious!

As far as 2-band vs. 3-band.... I've got no clue as to what it means. How do I tell the difference?

all help is much appreciated!
any recommendation to a good manufacturer of brushes?

cheers!

 

[celestino]

Two-band brushes look like this:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/27730

Three-band brushes look like this:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/3642

Most two-band brushes have more backbone and softer tips than the Pure, Best and Three-band brushes.

Good luck.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Most two-band brushes have more backbone and softer tips than the Pure, Best and Three-band brushes.

Good luck.

Generally agreed, although I'd say 2) while 2-band should generally have softer tips than Best, there is a wide range of characteristics in terms of softness among knots classified as 2-band, and 2) I experience most of my 3-band brushes as softer in use than my 2-band brushes despite the fact 2-bands might seem to have softer tips when dry.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Hmm...
looks like my Edwin Jagger is a 3 band and my TI is a 2 band. I'll look into it. May post pictures once I get home.
hmm... I think I am more confused than ever, though! Lol
so I've got two Best Badger brushes, one 2-band and a 3-band. I honestly didn't notice any difference, though.
Maybe I should hold off and not get anything for the time being, then, and just wait till I have more experience and can tell the difference.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Hmm...
looks like my Edwin Jagger is a 3 band and my TI is a 2 band. I'll look into it. May post pictures once I get home.
hmm... I think I am more confused than ever, though! Lol
so I've got two Best Badger brushes, one 2-band and a 3-band. I honestly didn't notice any difference, though.
Maybe I should hold off and not get anything for the time being, then, and just wait till I have more experience and can tell the difference.

Instilling thorough confusion is a rite of passage.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Instilling thorough confusion is a rite of passage.

I hear ya! I think that this is exactly what I'm going to do. I mean, eventually I'll get enough experience and will learn to appreciate the differences. For the meanwhile, I'm not ready, I guess...

thanks for all the help guys. You rock!

cheers!

 

[ChiefBroom]

I hear ya! I think that this is exactly what I'm going to do. I mean, eventually I'll get enough experience and will learn to appreciate the differences. For the meanwhile, I'm not ready, I guess...

thanks for all the help guys. You rock!

cheers!

You have a terrific attitude, and it's great to have you join us. I think the only way to gain an understanding and appreciation (exactly the right word, BTW) of the differences is through personal experience. For one thing, much about experience of brushes is subjective. On the other hand, actually experiencing the brushes you already have before rushing to buy and try one of everything (which isn't possible anyway, as each and every brush is unique) is sensible. There is a balance somewhere, maybe, although I should confess it eluded me.

I suspect you're probably ready for another brush, but I also think you're going about figuring out what it might best be in a smart way. Ultimately, though, I'd bet you're going to have to try a representative high quality 2-band and a representative high quality 3-band.

Do this. Post photos of what you have. Tell us how you use them (e.g., soaps, creams, bowl-lather, face-lather, some/all of the above). And try to describe your likes/dislikes based on experience so far. That will help us formulate specific suggestions. They'll almost certainly be all over the place. But if nothing else you can sit back and have a good laugh over the shared confusion. Many here have all the answers. They just aren't all the same.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

You have a terrific attitude, and it's great to have you join us. I think the only way to gain an understanding and appreciation (exactly the right word, BTW) of the differences is through personal experience. For one thing, much about experience of brushes is subjective. On the other hand, actually experiencing the brushes you already have before rushing to buy and try one of everything (which isn't possible anyway, as each and every brush is unique) is sensible. There is a balance somewhere, maybe, although I should confess it eluded me.

I suspect you're probably ready for another brush, but I also think you're going about figuring out what it might best be in a smart way. Ultimately, though, I'd bet you're going to have to try a representative high quality 2-band and a representative high quality 3-band.

Do this. Post photos of what you have. Tell us how you use them (e.g., soaps, creams, bowl-lather, face-lather, some/all of the above). And try to describe your likes/dislikes based on experience so far. That will help us formulate specific suggestions. They'll almost certainly be all over the place. But if nothing else you can sit back and have a good laugh over the shared confusion. Many here have all the answers. They just aren't all the same.

awesome idea!
i will take photos, post them, and share my methods as soon as I get home from work, or tomorrow the latest.
I really enjoy reading other peoples' opinions and would not fear to take one's advice.

I really appreciate all the good things you said. I really like this place (B&B). Lots of good people and lots of good advice!

thanks again.

 

[Mick]

Others may disagree, but the terms "Super Badger" and "Silvertip" don't have clear, comparative meaning to me outside the context of a particular manufacturer's product line, and even then it can get murky.

The first distinction I tend to make is between 2-band and 3-band hair. In my limited experience, some Simpson Best brushes come very close to the feel (both dry and in use) of some Simpson 2-band brushes. But generally, I prefer 2-band over Best in Simpson. Best has a greater tendency to feel a bit scritchy to me. Some prefer that. I don't.

As between 2-band and 3-band, say in Simpson, Rooney, or M&F brushes (which make up for almost all my experience), most days I reach for 2-bands, but there are some days I want a 3-band's softer, more luxurious feel (e.g., when my face is a little raw or the day after a too-close or uncomfortable shave). 2-bands typically have more backbone and provide more scrub than 3-bands (all else being equal, which it never is), which is why 2-bands often come closer in comparison to typical Best than do 3-bands.

Hope this makes sense.

Then toss in the Anatol (Turkish) badger that is used by Da Vinci and you have to start defining all over again

 

[Big Jim]

You may benefit from reading the Wikipedia article on shaving brushes. You will learn more here on B&B, but the Wikipedia article builds a good foundation.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Ok. Here are my two brushes. Please, help me figure them out!
Supposedly, both are best badger. Not sure if 2 or 3 bands, though.

 

[brybry642]

Both look like 3 band brushes to my eye.

 

[tomcj2]

That EJ brush is perhaps the first one that I have seen that has a logo that indicates the brush should be hanging.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

That EJ brush is perhaps the first one that I have seen that has a logo that indicates the brush should be hanging.

Interesting!
It actually came with the stand. Maybe that's why.

 

[Ralph Nord]

A velvet cloud soft Super 2-Band: Get a Thäter
A rough firm Super 3-Band: Get a Thiers Issard

Best combo is probably a 3-Band Simpson Chubby 2 in Best Hair - pretty soft tips, densely packed, nice solid backbone - a very high quality brush IMHO
Best bang for your buck is to get a custom made Shavemac in 3-Band regular Silvertip or even cheaper get the Shavemac 3-band Finest hair, which should be a mix of pure and silvertip hair, but in reality rivals Simpsons Best hair with regards to quality of hair for best value.


Silvertip and Super are basically the same hair type - just used by different OEM's to describe their sofytest & finest badger hair.

 

[Ski-Patroller]

Simpsons "Best Badger" is a very good grade. Plenty of backbone, and just a little skritchy. I have several of them an like them better than some of the more expensive, or supposedly higher grades such as Silver Tip. YMMV

 

[ChiefBroom]

Simpsons "Best Badger" is a very good grade. Plenty of backbone, and just a little skritchy. I have several of them an like them better than some of the more expensive, or supposedly higher grades such as Silver Tip. YMMV

This is a wonderfully concise -- and I think perfectly accurate -- description of Simpson Best Badger hair grade. It isn't my favorite because I'm sensitive to scritch, the experience of which doesn't correlate with great shaves for me. But mileage varies. And I'd guess that many to ventured to try a blinded test would find that they like high quality Simpson Best as well if not better than any other Simpson grade of hair.

It's worth noting; however, that even individual mileage with Simpson Best can vary. I.e., not all Best is necessarily created equal.