Brush question for soap men

[hdhaskell]

Soap men: what brush do you typically use?

Right now I am using both soaps and creams (following a chronic, relapsing case of SSAD and SCAD) but am beginning to prefer soaps. One problem: I use a Mason Pearson pure badger brush, and if anything, I would prefer a softer, less prickly brush. So here's my question: how many of you soap men use best/super or silvertip badger brushes, and how many use boar just strictly for the purposes of beating the heck out of your soap?

In other words, should I forsake soaps and make an honest woman out of creams so that I can continue to cohabit with my softest badger?

 

[Iakona]

I use an EJ BBB (probably not as soft as high end best hair) with soap. Sometimes I'll squeeze the base of the knot with my fingertips if I feel that I need more backbone to load more soap.

 

[Joe Edson]

I use both. I have a Grosvenor LE 2-band super that I love for soaps and face lathering and I love all my semogues as well. As Long as they have good backbone I like them for soaps and I usually face lather, so I like somewhat soft tips.

 

[sodajerk]

My softest badger works fine with all my soaps and all my creams. The amount of brush wetness at the start does make a differece, however. My black badger (stiff) didn't seem to work well with soaps but after getting the starting wetness right, it does equally well. If you're having problems (making lather, not the feel of the brush) experiment with the amount of water and see what happens.

 

[Slick Rick]

I use an EJ BBB (probably not as soft as high end best hair) with soap. Sometimes I'll squeeze the base of the knot with my fingertips if I feel that I need more backbone to load more soap.

+1

 

[Tha Baron]

Soap men: what brush do you typically use?

Right now I am using both soaps and creams (following a chronic, relapsing case of SSAD and SCAD) but am beginning to prefer soaps. One problem: I use a Mason Pearson pure badger brush, and if anything, I would prefer a softer, less prickly brush. So here's my question: how many of you soap men use best/super or silvertip badger brushes, and how many use boar just strictly for the purposes of beating the heck out of your soap?

In other words, should I forsake soaps and make an honest woman out of creams so that I can continue to cohabit with my softest badger?

Here are some suggestions for brushes with very soft tips, but make for great soap brushes...

Simpsons - generally any shorter lofted brush with the 2-band Super would work. The Chubby 1 is often regarded as 'THE' soap brush. The Persian Jar 2, Commodore X2, Colonnel X2L or even the Duke 3 would make for great soap brushes.

Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 in Super... Great value as they can be had for $75. Also the 3/1 is hailed as a great all-rounder...

Kent B&B LE 2008 or 2008... regarded as very soft, short lofted soap brushes.

I'm thinking a smaller knot shavemac could work as well. Perhaps a 21mm or 23mm, but I've only owned a 26mm.

And there is NOTHING wrong with the EJ Medium BBB... I still hang on to mine!

 

[Greglam]

In the soap department I am currently only using Col. Conk Bay Rum and Almond glycerins and my Col. Conk (Vulfix) pure badger (apprx. $28) brush does an excellent job with them. I am thinking/planning, tho, to move up to the Col. Conk Full Volume which I understand is awesome for all types of soaps, as well as creams. Not sure that helps at all.

 

[riooso]

CHUBBY 2, 2 banded!


Richard

 

[Ignatius]

Maybe look into a Simpson in best. Less expensive than Super, but very soft-tipped with lots of backbone.

 

[kevtex]

I kill my soaps with a Semogue 1305 (boar). Soft tips and very nice backbone.

 

[rsaltonstall]

I use a Simpsons Commodore X1 (best) with soap, and it lathers soap beautifully. It is just as good, if not better, at lathering soap than my Omega 10065.

+1 to the comments above regarding water and short loft.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Soft badgers for face lathering. Stiff badgers for face lathering. Broken in boars for face lathering. New boars for palm lathering.

The only brushes I'd say to definitely avoid are loosely packed boars and badgers with too much loft.

 

[cfriend]

Currently using a 3/1 in Super, and a Stubby 1 in Super. Even though I'm kind of a Rooney fanboy, I have also owned an enjoyed an X2L (Colonel) in Best. Currently looking at either a 2-Band Beehive 1, Simpsons Ehsan (an X2L, but with 2-Band Super instead of Best), or a 2-band Tulip 2 as my next brush.

 

[DSB]

I currently have three brushes in rotation for soaps: Simpsons Chubby 1 2-band super badger, Rooney 2/1 finest badger, and Shavemac D01 silvertip badger (20mm custom knot set at 47mm loft).

They are all great soap brushes, but my current favorite is the Chubby 2-band. There is something about that brush that has made it my go-to. Very dense, great backbone, and soft tips. The handle isn't for everyone, but I love it.

The Rooney finest is a phenomenal brush, but its tips are not quite as soft as the Simpsons. The Rooney's tips need to be wet before putting the brush on your face, in my experience. It has the most backbone of any of my brushes, but is not as dense as the Chubby. The Chubby 2-band hair is thicker than the Rooney 2-band finest, which gives the two brushes different characteristics. It is very easy to control the amount of water in your lather with the Rooney.

The Shavemac is the softest of the three brushes. It has a very luxurious feel on the face, and I tend to use it on my softer soaps. The Shavemac is great with SMN, for instance.

You can't go wrong with any of these brushes for soap, in my opinion. There are lots of great brushes out there that I have not tried, yet. Hence: SBAD.

 

[Uncle Erik]

There are two that I use:

Simpson Chubby 2 in best. This is a great brush that lathers amazingly well. A great value.

Rooney Heritage large Beehive. This is my favorite. A little smaller than the Chubby 2, but it lathers very well and is a joy to hold.

 

[SRock]

Oh man, I rotate through about a dozen brushes and with the exception of my 2006 B&B LE all of them are fantastic with both soaps or creams.

You can't go wrong with a two-band Super from Simpsons.

 

[beginish]

Currently using a 3/1 in Super, and a Stubby 1 in Super. Even though I'm kind of a Rooney fanboy, I have also owned an enjoyed an X2L (Colonel) in Best. Currently looking at either a 2-Band Beehive 1, Simpsons Ehsan (an X2L, but with 2-Band Super instead of Best), or a 2-band Tulip 2 as my next brush.

The small two-band Beehive is an absolute stud with soaps. I will also go out on a limb and suggest the Simpson Milk Churn and Keyhole, both in Best. They are less dense and have some flop, but they face and bowl lather very nicely. The Milk Churn whips up a bowl of MWF like no other brush I own.

 

[demaro]

I usually use either a Simpsons wee scot or a vulfix 374.Onnce in a while , a rooney 3/1

 

[Go West Young Man]

Any brush can lather any soap or cream in any medium (face/palm/bowl).
It's all about personal preference and taste.

 

[DanOK]

Looking at my shave log for the last month I find that there are three brushes I tend to use with soaps. I have listed them in order of most used.

1. QED Select Pure- 24mm
2. Savile Row silvertip 3124 - 24mm
3. C&E Travel Brush by Edwin Jagger

The C&E Travel Brush only beat my Omega Boar by one shave but I have been playing road warrior twice in the last month. The Select Pure was far away the winner. My conclusion is the Savile Row is my best all around brush but I prefer a stiffer brush on soaps.