Bloom = Splay?

[john parker]

In my never-ending search to vicariously determine which brush I want, I have another question. What I want is a cream brush that pushes back (softly) and doesn't splay as much as my C&E BBB when I face lather. And I believe I have been looking at pictures of bloomed brushes and, if they bloom broadly, concluding that that brush will splay/not be so dense. Tonight I began to question that assumption. So my question is - does amount of bloom indicate amount of splay? Thanks for putting up with me!

 

[Blondie]

I would say no. My BBE has a big bloom, and does not over-splay. Bloom has to do with density, which has to do with firmness/backbone. Also, after my brushes dry, the bloom goes down, so some of it is also water retention, I think.

 

[Greybeard]

To add to what Phil has said, it can also depend on the type of hair and the loft of the brush.

A Shavemac and a Rooney in the same knot size are both very dense. Because the hair is more flexible in the Shavemac, it blooms much more than a Rooney. However, the Shavemac is denser and the hair has more backbone than your C&E BBB and won't splay nearly as much. The same can be said of a Saville Row. The tips of these brushes will also feel much softer than your BBB even though they have more backbone and don't splay as much.

A brush with a taller loft will bloom more than the same type of knot with a shorter loft. A Rooney 2/1 will bloom more than a Rooney 3/1 because the loft is higher. Even though it's the same knot, the 3/1 will be denser, scrubbier and more of a lather hog. The 2/1 will have better lather flow and feel a little softer on the face, but splay more. It will still splay a lot less than your BBB.



- Peter

 

[SRock]

If you want super soft but not floppy or prone to opening up I suggest you give a Two-Band Super a try from Simpsons.

 

[john parker]

Phil, I forgot to mention in my post that I also have a BBE. Read your post and used it this morning. You are right; it doesn't splay as much as my C&E IF I remember not to push too hard!
Peter, I have been looking at the Rooney 3/1 in finest and the custom Shavemacs that folks have been getting. That is a possibility that I will remember.
Rob, looked at the Colonel X2L in the two-band, but that is more than I want to pay for a brush at this point. Wonder about the X2L in best.

Also thinking that perhaps a Semogue boar would be a possibility. Have asked several people about the 830 and 620; waiting to hear.

Thanks for your views! Think you have me looking down the right road!

 

[wilsondude]

To add to what Phil has said, it can also depend on the type of hair and the loft of the brush.

A Shavemac and a Rooney in the same knot size are both very dense. Because the hair is more flexible in the Shavemac, it blooms much more than a Rooney. However, the Shavemac is denser and the hair has more backbone than your C&E BBB and won't splay nearly as much. The same can be said of a Saville Row. The tips of these brushes will also feel much softer than your BBB even though they have more backbone and don't splay as much.

A brush with a taller loft will bloom more than the same type of knot with a shorter loft. A Rooney 2/1 will bloom more than a Rooney 3/1 because the loft is higher. Even though it's the same knot, the 3/1 will be denser, scrubbier and more of a lather hog. The 2/1 will have better lather flow and feel a little softer on the face, but splay more. It will still splay a lot less than your BBB.



- Peter

Very informative -