Budget brush recommendations please.

[AimlessWanderer]

My Omega 10051 (not the green one) landed today. After soaking it and giving it a shampoo I decided to have a shave with it (much to the consternation of my Shavemac Silvertip 2-Band).

Here it is post-shave:
View attachment 897121

For a first shave it was superb! I'll definitely be using the orange one for a while.

Being mainly a face latherer I love a brush that has good (but pleasant) scrub and zero scritch. This is what the 10051 delivered more or less straight out of the box. I now love Omega brushes even more. Of course making a perfect lather goes without saying.

I wasn't sure about the handle, never having used one that shape before. But it passed the test* with flying colors.
* I didn't even notice it.

Excellent! Good to hear, Cal. It's on my shortlist.

 

[Cal]

It's on my shortlist.

 

[Yyragtoj]

+1 for Omega boars.
The 10051 @Cal suggested seems really nice. Don't think you can go wrong for the money.

 

[Clay S]

+1 for Omega boars.
The 10051 @Cal suggested seems really nice. Don't think you can go wrong for the money.

+2 for Omega boar 10051 , I would go with 10098, but to much loft for your taste

 

[Acmemfg]

Omega 11126. Great lather builder on hard soaps, wonderful feel, hasn’t shed hair one in years. Cost is about $20 USD
Another great choice is the Semogue 1305. Iconic brush, very popular within the community. Cost is also around $20 USD.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'll be finalising my decision and placing an order next week.

 

[albsat]

I would suggest the proraso boar brush, if you have 3 months of patience till you let it break in. Under 10 pounds I guess.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

I would suggest the proraso boar brush, if you have 3 months of patience till you let it break in. Under 10 pounds I guess.

Three months?!?! My last boar took about three shaves to break in.

 

[albsat]

Three months?!?! My last boar took about three shaves to break in.

I just used it although you could use cold water method to accelerate its breaking in process.
It took around 3 months to be completely broken in and the brush is awesome now. You will like it, I think .

 

[AimlessWanderer]

It looks very similar to an Omega. Is it a rebranded one?

 

[albsat]

Yes, it is made by omega.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks. I'll count that as another vote for an Omega boar

 

[Jut]

I do t think you can go wrong getting an Omega Pro 48.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. After much deliberation, I've ended up following Cal's lead and ordered the Omega 10051 in green. Everything looks spot on in terms of diameter, knot, handle, and of course price. It's actually a more compact knot than my last one, so it should be ideal. I'll try not to kill this one with stupidity like I did with the last one

 

[AimlessWanderer]

The 10051 arrived today, and first impressions are very good. There's more backbone to this than my first one had, and I can confidently lather with just the tips, knowing the skin is fully covered around the base of each hair. It lathered Wilkinson Sword blue bowl with ease. Size, feel, backbone, handle, are all ideal. Good call, @Cal

 

[Yyragtoj]

@AimlessWanderer photos?

 

[AimlessWanderer]

@AimlessWanderer photos?

Straight out of the packet

After first use

 

[Your Majesty]

does it stink when new?

 

[AimlessWanderer]

does it stink when new?

Not particularly. I've just had a sniff now, and it smells of shaving soap and shampoo.

 

[Your Majesty]

Not particularly. I've just had a sniff now, and it smells of shaving soap and shampoo.

ok, good to hear. Going to get a boar soon.