Best brush for soaps $75 and under

[Wingfan13]

I searched through the first 8 pages of posts and couldnt find anything so forgive me because I am sure this is discussed often but I am looking to buy a new brush for $75 or less. I use soaps and would prefer one that comes with a stand if possible.

I appreciate any advice.

I would also appreciate a soap recommendation also. I like using soaps best but I am looking for the right scent. Most of the soaps I have used in the past smell nice but I would rather a "younger" scent if that makes any sense. I like the scents of regular shaving creams. I don't like floral.

Thanks in advance !

 

[DE Shaver]

I purchased a Classic Silvertip shaving brush from Fendrihan a while ago for under $55. You can purchase the Classic Silvertip shaving brush and stand for under $65.

http://www.fendrihan.com/classic-silvertip-shaving-brush-stand-black-handle-p-837.html

For a shaving soap, you can also purchase a custom scented, tallow based shaving soap from here...

http://www.mytimebathandbody.com/

Just select the scent you want and it will be custom made for you. Personally, I really like their soap and it has the consistency of "peanut butter" rather than being a cream or solid puck. It's easier to load up a brush when compared to using the more harder soaps.

 

[Sueto]

a lot of options there for $75 and under. Badger or Boar will be one of the questions faced. Your preference there. There are great quality boar brushes well under that price range. You just need to give them time to break in. I wouldn't rule the out. My experiences below are badger.

So I'll start off with the token Rooney in whatever style in a size 1 with super grade badger. I enjoyed that brush with soaps. I think I prefer style 3 more so than style 1 given the sizes. I felt the style 3 had a little better flow through and didn't hog the lather as much. The style one though was really nice with face lathering.

I have recently been using a Simpsons Colonel X2L Best badger brush. This one can be found under the price cap you mentioned as well. It been a really nice brush. Simpsons Best grade seems to be a bit better than most. This one has been able to lather cream or soap just fine. Feels good on the face and hasn't caused me any irritation.

For the soap, I would say that D.R. Harris Arlington has a light fresh scent to it. While it is labeled a classic english scent, I think it could fit the need. There are a few vendors here that sell their shave soaps and you might be able to find what you are looking for. Mama Bears, St. Charles Shave, Gentlemen's Best all have pretty good soaps. There is always the possibility of unscented soaps, Art of Shaving for example, and then rely on the aftershave to give you the scent you are looking for.

 

[Ignatius]

I'll echo what Sueto said. The Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 are the definitive soap brushes and are exactly $75.

Soaps...AoS, Trumpers, DR Harris, MWF, C & S, they're all good.

 

[insomniac]

Big +1 for the Rooney 3/1. My go-to brush for soaps.

 

[Wingfan13]

Thank you for all the replies. I am a newbie to DE shaving. I have been doing it on and off for about 2 years but just recently was able to finally give myself the best shave of my life and I feel like a pro now. I was simply using too much pressure and not letting the weight of the razor do the work.

I started with a gift from a member here giving me all the necessary tools and soaps to get started. I just like using soap pucks best.

So, whether I prefer badger or boar, I have no idea. I guess I just need to order a bunch of soaps and try them out.

 

[Wingfan13]

One last question....I see people mentioning 3/1 and I assume that is the size. When I go to this site

http://www.classicshaving.com/Rooney_Shaving_Brushes.html

I am not familiar with how the sizes work, what is 3/1 ?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

 

[insomniac]

One last question....I see people mentioning 3/1 and I assume that is the size. When I go to this site

http://www.classicshaving.com/Rooney_Shaving_Brushes.html

I am not familiar with how the sizes work, what is 3/1 ?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

3 refers to the handle style. 1 refers to the size; 1 is smallest.

There's also the hair grade, I think we are all referring to the Super which is $75 on Vintage Blades.

http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/home.php?cat=166

You can see how the 3/1 goes from this:

To this, after it's been broken in. It's the one on the left.

 

[dcrosso]

Instead of buying a new brush of any kind (like I have done many times) try to find a new or old,used Ever Ready or Burma shave brush. Usually they are boar bristles and pretty scratchy. At least the last three I bought are. Order a Golden Nib Finest, two band, silver tip knot ( Around $20 plus ship.) and install it in the handle. If you can find a better quality,different brand handle for a reasonable price that would be great. If you pay $10 for a brush handle and lets say $23 for the TGN finest knot, you would have $33 dollars in a brush that will last years and perform superbly with soaps or creams. I have done this three times and the resulting badger brushes compete with my Simpson, Eshan, my Rooney 3/1 and my Truefitt and Hill 3/1 that cost 2-3 times as much.

The past several months I had the opportunity to rescue two boar brushes, new in the box, for $5 dollars each. One Burma Shave and one Ever Ready. Both are these are the newer, barcode models of the older Ever Ready #150. The brush handles are not marked like the older #150 are. They are red on the bottom and beige on top. I really did not need them, but the price was reasonable. If anybody is interested, I will pass them on to a new wet shaver for what I paid for them, plus shipping (I think around $3-4 to ship.)

 

[bandit82ta]

For soaps I have found myself grabbing the cheapest brush I have. A boar VDH from the local convenience store. Works great once she gets completely broken in and I haven't and wont shed any tears when shedding ..haha.

 

[jrhudgins]

Rooney 3/1 Super. Love mine.

JR

 

[Eudjinn]

you guys are killing me with the 3/1 suggestions...

my 3/1 is arriving tomorrow!!!!!

 

[Sueto]

So, whether I prefer badger or boar, I have no idea. I guess I just need to order a bunch of soaps and try them out.

Boar brushes you can almost tack on to any soap order and not be out a whole lot. A few of the vendors have soap samples or you can come across travel sized soaps.

 

[DFrancis]

I'm going to chip in and suggest an Omega boar, you can get one for about ten bucks and they are a wonderful brush. I find them to be firm but still soft, my wife also uses an Omega boar and neither of us could imagine using anything else.

 

[elkaholic]

I'll echo what Sueto said. The Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 are the definitive soap brushes and are exactly $75.

Soaps...AoS, Trumpers, DR Harris, MWF, C & S, they're all good.

+1

Go with the Rooney from Vintage Blades

 

[Eudjinn]

Now that I have one, I would say a Rooney 3/1 or 1/1 would do the job very well with soaps and creams.

 

[DE Shaver]

I'm going to chip in and suggest an Omega boar, you can get one for about ten bucks and they are a wonderful brush. I find them to be firm but still soft, my wife also uses an Omega boar and neither of us could imagine using anything else.

Yes, an Omega boar brush is quite a bargain. When broken in, it lathers well and is great for hard soaps. They do take some effort, however, to break-in but eventually it will soften up.

 

[Wingfan13]

Placed my order yesterday for the Rooney 3/1, a stand that holds both the brush and DE and the Arlington Soap. It is supposed to be delivered on the 21st.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I can't wait for my order to arrive.

 

[moodymick]

spend just a little more and save on post by throwing in a Semogue Boar brush as well. Take a walk on the wild side!

 

[MAK]

Rooney, my favorite!