Black Badger
- Thread starter Xezmer
- Start date
Super, Finest and Silvertip vary from maker to maker in their meanings. The only universal truth (as far as I know) is that they're all a step up from Best.
Black is about equal to pure in my experience, but has more backbone.
Two band is hard to classify. Some manufacturers (plisson) consider it equal to their three band (what others might call silvertip). Some probably consider it better. Some consider it a step down (Vulfix)
I believe Plisson just calls it two band White/HMW. Vulfix calls it Two band Super. TGN calls it Two Band Finest.
My experience with two band is that it has much more backbone than three band hairs but is not as soft. Which in MY book puts a ranking (not of quality, but rather of softness)
Black < Pure < Best < Two Band < Three Band
This isn't an absolute rule as grading is whatever the maker decides it is and no doubt there is some dyeing going on among makers, especially the no name ones.
Black is about equal to pure in my experience, but has more backbone.
Two band is hard to classify. Some manufacturers (plisson) consider it equal to their three band (what others might call silvertip). Some probably consider it better. Some consider it a step down (Vulfix)
I believe Plisson just calls it two band White/HMW. Vulfix calls it Two band Super. TGN calls it Two Band Finest.
My experience with two band is that it has much more backbone than three band hairs but is not as soft. Which in MY book puts a ranking (not of quality, but rather of softness)
Black < Pure < Best < Two Band < Three Band
This isn't an absolute rule as grading is whatever the maker decides it is and no doubt there is some dyeing going on among makers, especially the no name ones.
If you mean the black badger from TGN is is probably at the bottom of the scale in softness and near the top in spine. I have three vintage handles I've fit the black badger in and I love them, absolutely love them.
I recently got back from a three week camping vacation where I took one of my black badgers and a tube of Erasmic and my Gillette. The brush worked wonderfully and seems to be softening up a bit from breaking in. It doesn't bloom overly much and applies the lather with precision.
I like a firm brush and I face lather with soaps usually. I don't find the black badger to be overly scritchy, but some would I suppose. But it lathers like a fiend and gives a wonderfully exfoliating, stimulating massage as you are working the lather in.
I have one or two of almost every knot TGN sells and I would put the black badger at the top of my list, perhaps coequal with the two band finest with extra stuffing.
Soaps, creams, it does it all and looks cool to boot. Been trying it with a puck of AOS soap I just got and it is perfect for that too, although I think you could lather nicely with a toothbrush with that soap. In contrast I have an expensive UK silvertip that I just can't get any satisfaction from despite its beautiful color and bloom. Give the blackie a try, you may like it.
I recently got back from a three week camping vacation where I took one of my black badgers and a tube of Erasmic and my Gillette. The brush worked wonderfully and seems to be softening up a bit from breaking in. It doesn't bloom overly much and applies the lather with precision.
I like a firm brush and I face lather with soaps usually. I don't find the black badger to be overly scritchy, but some would I suppose. But it lathers like a fiend and gives a wonderfully exfoliating, stimulating massage as you are working the lather in.
I have one or two of almost every knot TGN sells and I would put the black badger at the top of my list, perhaps coequal with the two band finest with extra stuffing.
Soaps, creams, it does it all and looks cool to boot. Been trying it with a puck of AOS soap I just got and it is perfect for that too, although I think you could lather nicely with a toothbrush with that soap. In contrast I have an expensive UK silvertip that I just can't get any satisfaction from despite its beautiful color and bloom. Give the blackie a try, you may like it.
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Usually the hair is rated by it's rarity which usually coincides with its qualities so the black is pure badger which is at the bottom and traditional two band is the rarest though the newer stuff is very different than the old.
I've been using 1 of Tony's BB for several weeks and I love it, my Silver Tips have been getting increasingly floppy over time and I prefer a firm brush.
Only time will tell how these hold up.
Only time will tell how these hold up.
I owned two EJ medium badger brushes. One in black and one in super. I much preferred the black, but basically for the sole reason that I face lather. The super was super soft, but also super floppy. The black is the complete opposite. Super stiff bristles and a little scritchy.
Sold them both awhile ago, but am going to pick up a TGN black with my next order to get one back.
Sold them both awhile ago, but am going to pick up a TGN black with my next order to get one back.
I tried the black...quite scritchy and not for me. Very similar in scritch to an Omega pure that I had...but with more backbone...
I have a TGN black that I'm going to install into my shedding VdH handle. Just from feeling it, (dry) against my face, it reminds me of a Tweezerman on steroids. I can't wait to use it.
Or, maybe I'll turn a handle for it from some 1-3/4" diameter white Delrin rod I have.
I can easily see coming down with a case of TGNKAD.
I also have one of their 22mm UK cream boar knots and 2 of their 24mm overstuffed boar knots.
I also face lather a lot. I use my VdH and Godrej shave pucks just like I use my Arko shave sticks.
Or, maybe I'll turn a handle for it from some 1-3/4" diameter white Delrin rod I have.
I can easily see coming down with a case of TGNKAD.
I also have one of their 22mm UK cream boar knots and 2 of their 24mm overstuffed boar knots.
I also face lather a lot. I use my VdH and Godrej shave pucks just like I use my Arko shave sticks.
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