Best brush for face soap lathering - Badger

[Florken]

Belgium and new to this site and very happy to find it.

Currently I have an Omega boar brush but I`m planning to get my first top of the line badger brush. I want a soft brush which is perfect for soap face -lathering. It also has to absorb water very well and have enough backbone.

Budget is about 125,00 euros

Which type do you recommend ? Knot Size ? Loft length ? Brand ?

Rooney ? Shavemac ? Semoque ? Simpson ? Muhle ? ... please specify type

Thx in advance

 

[djh]

Your budget is adequate to purchase a wonderful brush. I may be a little biased, but I would suggest looking at Simpson's brushes with Super 2-Band hair. There are many different handle styles and hopefully one will appeal to you.
I have a couple of Simpson's in 2-Band and am looking to pick up at least one more in the near future.

Pictured are a Chubby2 and an Emperor1 both in Super 2-Band.

 

[Joe Edson]

A custom shavemac D01 2-band in extreme flat top may be in your budget depending on the handle you choose.

Probably could get a 20-22mm knot with a 44-46mm loft in your price range.

I've used over 30 brushes and for face lathering soaps, this is the best brush I've ever used. Super dense, scrubby with tons of backbone, but the silkiest soft tips of any brush I've ever used.

I could use this brush and no other in my rotation and be perfectly content for a long time.

I prefer it over any simpson's I've ever used. The only brush close to this is a Rooney 1/2 Finest, but those are no longer in production and probably out of your price range.

I'm biased towards Shavemac's though as Simpson's brushes have too much of a bulb loft for my liking for face lathering.

 

[Loric]

+1 on a Simpson Chubby and the Shavemac D01. I have two of each and all are outstanding.

Most people seem to like a face lathering brush in 22mm. I however go a little bit against the grain and like something 24-26mm in size. Whatever you get you want a shorter loft mid 40mm to mid 50mm at most.

 

[binowatch]

There was just another thread about this subject you may want to check out. I agree that a large brush is counterproductive for face lathering. Recently I've been using to Simpsons, the Wee Scot and Harvard 1 (small size). Both feel great, make and hold a good, voluminous lather and are easy to manipulate around your face. I have a Rooney 2 and it is also great. - key thing seems to not be too large and have just enough firmness for face lathering while still soft enough for that luxury feeling.

 

[grump]

The 2 band finest is fantastic!

 

[Florken]

So far 2 brushes seem to stand -out a bit:

- Simpson Chubby - Price is about 150,00 euros for CH1 with 23m knot
- Shavemac D01 - Price is 123,00 euros for 22mm knot, loft 47mm

best choice would be ...... ?

 

[Loric]

So far 2 brushes seem to stand -out a bit:

- Simpson Chubby - Price is about 150,00 euros for CH1 with 23m knot
- Shavemac D01 - Price is 123,00 euros for 22mm knot, loft 47mm

best choice would be ...... ?

What grade of hair would you be getting the chubby in? They are all good, but it would make a difference.

No matter what grade the D01 will have the most backbone, and be in a tie for third softest with a well broken in Chubby in two band or best.

Chubby in Super three band will be the softest and a little bit denser than the D01.

Chubby in two band - Will take a while to break in, but have a very cottony feel to the face with the second best backbone.

Chubby in best - Will be the cheapest, but still be an all round great performer. It just wont have a stand out quality to it. Good backbone, soft tips, and dense.

 

[Florken]

What grade of hair would you be getting the chubby in? They are all good, but it would make a difference.

No matter what grade the D01 will have the most backbone, and be in a tie for third softest with a well broken in Chubby in two band or best.

Chubby in Super three band will be the softest and a little bit denser than the D01.

Chubby in two band - Will take a while to break in, but have a very cottony feel to the face with the second best backbone.

Chubby in best - Will be the cheapest, but still be an all round great performer. It just wont have a stand out quality to it. Good backbone, soft tips, and dense.

Chuuby in Best

D01 in Silvertip 2 band

 

[Loric]

Chuuby in Best

D01 in Silvertip

Go with the Shavemac hands down. I like it better, and you can pick out a custom handle to go with it. Bernd is a pleasure to work with. The Chubby in best really only had the advantage of being cheaper (at least in the states) and while its a really good brush the Shavemac D01 is an amazing brush.

 

[mdevine]

If you can find one, the Simpson Eagle G3 in Best is an awesome face lathering brush.

 

[Peto]

I'd go for current New Forest 2211 brush. Buy it before Fido will sell them out. I think you can't go any better in terms of quality/price ratio.

 

[Rossmeister]

I'd definitely go for a Mühle. The design on those babies are second to none, in my opinion. Loads more on the website of course, just showing some examples!

And this one is what I use. Haven't got a silvertip yet

 

[blugill]

I find that an Omega Pro 48 and 49 in Boar Bristle work great ! I don't have any experience with any high end brushes as I don't find it necessary to spend that kind of money to upgrade when these brushes do such a damn fine job in making lather with any type soap you may use with them. They have plenty of backbone and are very soft on the tips. That's my honest opinion ! YMMV though.

 

[JeffM]

Simfix Grovsenor LE 2-Band. The last brush you will ever buy. (Unless you buy another one

 

[Hodari D.]

Simfix Grovsenor LE 2-Band. The last brush you will ever buy. (Unless you buy another one

i could've posted that! i just bought my 2nd one.

 

[jpakstis]

I find that an Omega Pro 48 and 49 in Boar Bristle work great ! I don't have any experience with any high end brushes as I don't find it necessary to spend that kind of money to upgrade when these brushes do such a damn fine job in making lather with any type soap you may use with them. They have plenty of backbone and are very soft on the tips. That's my honest opinion ! YMMV though.

I agree! I face lather MWF, and I've gone on a rampage this year, trying a Chubby 1 (best), 2 (best), 3 (two-band), Tulip 2 (two-band), Persian Jar 2 (two-band), Shavemac 26mm (super), 23mm (super), and now a Duke 3 (best), and finally the Omega Pro 49. Of all of those, I find that all the Shavemacs and Simpsons release a really nice amount of lather on the first pass, and get substantially thinner as I go (hence all the different brushes). Only the Pro 49 gives more and more lather per pass. Its pretty astonishing.

The other upside? It was only about $10 (although, with my year of SBAD, its almost a downside because I want to spend a lot on my brush). The downside is the stinkiness and the break-in period.

 

[blugill]

The downside is the stinkiness and the break-in period.

This brush amazes me at the amount of perfectly made lather it holds, I can easily get two full face passes that are full of rich lather, and I'm sure with very little more work it would hold three ! The Pro 49 is a damn fine brush, as for the smell there is a post on cleaning your brush here that works great !

 

[jpakstis]

This brush amazes me at the amount of perfectly made lather it holds, I can easily get two full face passes that are full of rich lather, and I'm sure with very little more work it would hold three ! The Pro 49 is a damn fine brush, as for the smell there is a post on cleaning your brush here that works great !

Yeah, I read that, and the smell is finally gone. But, yikes! what a stink when it had it.

 

[wimbouman]

I'd definitely go for a Mühle. The design on those babies are second to none, in my opinion. Loads more on the website of course, just showing some examples!

And this one is what I use. Haven't got a silvertip yet

Nice, nice. nice!

The Muhle was my first brush.
It still is king of the den.
Amongst some Simpsons and New Forests, of course - but: a great brush!