Having trouble picking first badger brush.

[Username Goes Here]

Hello,

I have been wet shaving for about a month now, and while the VDH boar brush has worked sufficiently, I would like to make the leap to a nice starting badger brush soon. I've done a fair amount of research on the site, yet I can't seem to narrow down what particular brush or even brand that I should consider getting.

For example:

Do I get one of the EJ ones that is already made, or do I get one from whippeddog.com so that I can pick the diameter of the plug and base (I would likely just go with a resin handle as I have a perpensity to drop stuff - RIP Nivea Aftershave Balm!). For the custom ones like the latter, is there any concern about the two parts seperating, or is it actually a better choice than the premanufactured ones for some reason I don't yet know?

And how much does the diameter really matter? I would like one fuller than the VDH boar brush I have now, as it doesn't cover a great area, yet I'm not sure what the diameter of this brush is.

This would be my first badger brush, and my budget is $30-40 for a good starting badger brush. I use mainly creams, and I bowl lather. I'm hoping for something a bit more luxurious and that applies lather better than the boar brush as I don't seem to be able to massage the lather in so much as have to sort of paint it on at the moment. And I will admit, there's something oddly alluring about seeing a fully bloomed silvertip brush although is it worth sacrificing the allegedly superior exfoliating capabilitiest of a best badger brush?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[celestino]

Ryan, if you want exfoliation, a good Semogue boar will do the trick and when fully broken in, will be quite soft and will fit your budget quite easily and might be better than any badger brush within the price range you have set; just my opinion.
It you are set on a badger at that price, then i would go with Whippeddog. Good luck.

 

[Dozer]

I was encouraged to get the EJ BBB Medium. It's a little floppy which is perfect for bowl lathering creams. I've had it for over a year and it's still my go to brush. You won't be disappointed. I paid about that much for it (maybe a little more). Those are my two cents!