Space_Cadet
I don't have a funny description.
I was wondering what is the reasonable limit on shaving brushes cost. Do you have some sort of a limit or is it only quality that matters?
Expensive brushes - yes or no? Poll.
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Owen Bawn
Garden party cupcake scented
I've considered it but have never done so. I've had great luck buying expensive brushes on sale or on offer. The secret is patience. If I want something and I want it NOW I risk paying full price. But if I'm willing to wait and watch I can usually get a good deal. Simpson's have a couple of excellent price reductions on select items each year, and most of my Simpsons have come this way or by way of occasional discounts offered at WCS or The Superior Shave. Paladin's "Barely Seconds" are another place where I've bought expensive brushes with at least a little money taken off.
One of the few exceptions to this was when Simpsons offered special edition M7 synthetics 2 years ago. For several years I asked Mr Watterson to make some M7 synths every time I ran into him on social media. When they finally made a few in 2018 I immediately bought a couple at full price, and it's a good thing that I did as I haven't seen another one since.
One of the few exceptions to this was when Simpsons offered special edition M7 synthetics 2 years ago. For several years I asked Mr Watterson to make some M7 synths every time I ran into him on social media. When they finally made a few in 2018 I immediately bought a couple at full price, and it's a good thing that I did as I haven't seen another one since.
I've considered it and I've spent it. Those brushes are still in my den.
To answer your question, the only "reasonable limit" is the limit you impose upon yourself. If you're contemplating spending a tidy sum of money on a shaving brush that will negatively affect your quality of life, then it's worth taking a step back and evaluating if it's really worthwhile.
As Owen mentioned above, you can find sales and markdowns on high end badger brush makers such as Paladin and Simpson at the end of the year.
To answer your question, the only "reasonable limit" is the limit you impose upon yourself. If you're contemplating spending a tidy sum of money on a shaving brush that will negatively affect your quality of life, then it's worth taking a step back and evaluating if it's really worthwhile.
As Owen mentioned above, you can find sales and markdowns on high end badger brush makers such as Paladin and Simpson at the end of the year.
As someone who had never spent more than $30 on a brush, I just spent money on a Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic and also a Rudy Vey Silvertip.
Are the brushes nice? Yes.
Are they better than my two sub $30 Yaqi's? For sure.
Are they worth the extra money? See below.
If I had to rank the importance of shaving components to me (assuming your technique is sound), I would say:
1. Soap
2. Blade
3. Razor
4. Brush
If you look at shaving as a hobby and fine with spending the extra $ then I would say go for it. But if you are on a budget and still trying to figure out (1), (2) and (3), I would say that is more important than the brush and should be where the $ should go.
Just my 2c.
Are the brushes nice? Yes.
Are they better than my two sub $30 Yaqi's? For sure.
Are they worth the extra money? See below.
If I had to rank the importance of shaving components to me (assuming your technique is sound), I would say:
1. Soap
2. Blade
3. Razor
4. Brush
If you look at shaving as a hobby and fine with spending the extra $ then I would say go for it. But if you are on a budget and still trying to figure out (1), (2) and (3), I would say that is more important than the brush and should be where the $ should go.
Just my 2c.
I have spent for Simpson's Chubby 2 Manchurian. I have not regretted.
I do enjoy my Omegas, Semogues, Yaqis etc, but my Shavemac and most of all my Simpsons, are really the best.
I do enjoy my Omegas, Semogues, Yaqis etc, but my Shavemac and most of all my Simpsons, are really the best.
I spent about that on my Rooney Finest... It's unquestionably the best brush I've ever used.
I've also tried a half dozen other $300 brushes, and mostly, No... I wouldn't consider them much better than a $50-$150 brush. The Finest is the exception to the rule... that said, an exception exists, so I've got to vote yes.
If I ever sold my Finest, and then the Rooney Finest somehow came back into production and was the same as before... I'd drop $300 replacing it in a heartbeat.
I've also tried a half dozen other $300 brushes, and mostly, No... I wouldn't consider them much better than a $50-$150 brush. The Finest is the exception to the rule... that said, an exception exists, so I've got to vote yes.
If I ever sold my Finest, and then the Rooney Finest somehow came back into production and was the same as before... I'd drop $300 replacing it in a heartbeat.
The most expensive - and best - brushes I own are Paladins. All are below $300.
Voted "No" although HELL NAW! would've been another nice option to have.
Personally, I see no reason to spend that much when I can get @Rudy Vey brushes with a variety of badger and synthetic knots mounted in a variety of great handles for much less than $300.
Others may find the $300 or more to be money well spent and that is up to them.
Just my opinion.
Others may find the $300 or more to be money well spent and that is up to them.
Just my opinion.
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- #10
Space_Cadet
I don't have a funny description.
Rooney Finest? What exactly is that?
I have a brush that looks like this, I think it is called "Rooney Heritage Collection Stubby 3 Super Badger" if I'm not mistaken.
Is that what you mean or something else?
Until Roughly 2010 Rooney had an extremely high end two band offering they called "Finest". The hair is a stiff, scrubby 2 band with extremely white tips and a ton of backbone, and the knots were packed as dense as any brush has ever been packed.
Here's a review of the smallest of the line (1/1) from 2008:
www.classicshaving.com
Here's a review of the smallest of the line (1/1) from 2008:
Rooney Style 1 Size 1 Finest Badger
Rooney brushes are well known among wet shavers for their quality. Like Simpsons, Rooneys are made with a much denser knot than most traditional brushes. I only recently started adding Rooney to my collection and have been surprisingly impressed with how well these brushes perform.
- Thread starter
- #12
Space_Cadet
I don't have a funny description.
Oh, I see. Sounds incredible. If you ask me Rooney was the finest brush maker on the market, and it's a tragedy that they have gone out of business.
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- #13
Space_Cadet
I don't have a funny description.
I have a couple of Paladins myself. Folks at Paladin make magnificent brushes.
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- #14
Space_Cadet
I don't have a funny description.
I had one of those. It was very soft whey dry, but when it was wet, the hair felt like barbed wire on my skin, the most scritchy, prickly brush I ever had. Sold it within a short time. My favorite Rooney brush that I still have is the two-band Super badger, it came out when the made the first Stubby's with the double ring, probably also around the 2010 time or about. This one is superb, very soft (even when wet) and densely packed with a good backbone.Until Roughly 2010 Rooney had an extremely high end two band offering they called "Finest". The hair is a stiff, scrubby 2 band with extremely white tips and a ton of backbone, and the knots were packed as dense as any brush has ever been packed.
Here's a review of the smallest of the line (1/1) from 2008:
Rooney Style 1 Size 1 Finest Badger
Rooney brushes are well known among wet shavers for their quality. Like Simpsons, Rooneys are made with a much denser knot than most traditional brushes. I only recently started adding Rooney to my collection and have been surprisingly impressed with how well these brushes perform.
This.
The most expensive ones I have are a few Varlet brushes and a couple Black Eagle HT1 brushes. Recently the prices seem to have increased a bit more to where they are now approaching or even surpass the $500 mark. I though it was insane to pay three something for a brush so, I'm glad that I have what I do, as I won't be buying any more of these.
Are the better? Yes, they definitely are, but they are not several hundred dollars better.
Are the better? Yes, they definitely are, but they are not several hundred dollars better.
$100 is probably my limit, even for an artisan brush.
Theres just so many great, inexpensive brushes out there that I see no reason to spend more than $100.
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Theres just so many great, inexpensive brushes out there that I see no reason to spend more than $100.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
If you DIY there are savings to be had. The satisfaction of doing it. Custom knot setting when you do it yourself.
The two boar handles were $22.37, two boar knots $27.00 the two band $40.41 the silvertip $52.88 blue acrylic handle $26.57 chubby acrylic handle $39.86 total $209.09 cad or $148.04 usd which is a nice price for four brushes.
The two beautiful Zenith brushes I purchased were more than the four knots and handles. I love the Zeniths and would never part with them. I love the look of expensive brushes and handles. I have another two band knot on the way. I guess I’ll never own an expensive brush.
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I was buying some stuff from Gifts & Care over in Spain. They asked if I wanted to try this 20 something dollar brush. I bought three so I could try one, and make two starter kits for friends.
They are synthetic, and they are my absolute favorites now. I don’t think I’ll ever buy an expensive brush again.
They are synthetic, and they are my absolute favorites now. I don’t think I’ll ever buy an expensive brush again.
