Fan or Bulb

[Teddyboy]

Can anyone explain what the difference is in effectiveness and/or feel between the fan and bulb configurations? I have, and use, both quite happily. However I do not understand why one would choose or prefer one over the other.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Marco]

I don't think one shape is superior to the other in terms of performance or lather making ability. To me it's just an esthetic subject.

 

[ackvil]

I don't think one shape is superior to the other in terms of performance or lather making ability. To me it's just an esthetic subject.

I agree. Some like a "flat top," some a bulb, and some a fan shape. For me the shave is the same but since I started shaving with a bulb I tend to have more of those. However, if the shaving soap is in a smaller container I do prefer the bulb.

 

[Jarick]

I just got a couple fans and am comparing them. With only a couple shaves down, the fans definitely put more hair on the face at once so they feel like a bigger brush. They also feel a little more floppy compared to bulbs because they don't have smaller hairs on the side reinforcing the middle hairs. Lather seems to flow through them easier as there isn't as much hair near the bottom of the knot, but on the flip side they don't seem to store as much lather in the knot for the same reason. I've found the bulbs seem to splay easier, which is counter-intuitive for me. Perhaps it's because the tip of the bulb splays easily, then the rest of the hairs give way, but with the fan you need to get all the hairs to splay at once.

Ask me again in a month

 

[mizzle576]

I have been waiting to get a bulb brush for some time now. I had the opportunity to try a thater bulb brush and I thought the feel was a tad different. Possibly due to me having multiple brushes but for me, the brush was more sturdy "stiff."

 

[rotto66]

I agree with Marco that it is more a matter of esthetics than anything else. I also think it depends on the loft you are setting the knot at. Here is a link to a thread by Rudy Vey that shows what each type of knot looks like at different lofts.