2 month DE newbie here. I'm not familiar with types of brushes and the purposes of the hair. Please help me understand because so far, my cheapo AOS synthetic brush has been doing the job. But since I haven't experienced anything else, I don't know how other brushes feel or what they do. I don't know if this is right but, I like the stiff hairs from my cheapo brush hitting my face while I'm lathering up. It feels like its exfoliating my face. So...what should I get? Budget: $125. Thanks!
Help me choose new Brush
- Thread starter mvillezcas
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Don't spend $125 until you really do know what you prefer*, would be my advice. You can get excellent boar brushes for $22 and under; you can get excellent badger brushes for around $35 and a little bit under.
There are differences that make more of a difference when it's new -- or you're new to lathering with a brush. Like I found it easier to load hard soaps with a stiffer brush at first. Now that's sort of true, but it's almost irrelevant. (I don't like a truly "floppy" brush at all, but I can lather hard soaps with relatively floppy brushes just fine. Couldn't do that a year ago).
There are differences in how much water -- and how much lather, then -- a brush will hold. There are differences in the softness of the tips, in the "backbone" (the tendency of the hairs to resist flexing when pressed to yer face), differences in density. There are differences in how easily a brush will release the lather it is holding (which may be related to the density). There are differences in how fast a brush will dry.
Some people talk readily of this "exfoliation" you mentioned, but I'm no help here at all. Skin cells are scraped away very well with a blade on all the areas you'd be applying a brush to, so if you shave every day, or almost every day, you're getting plenty of exfoliation. I think. Like I said, some people talk readily about it, and they may well know something I don't.
All that said.... get a Whipped Dog Silvertip brush with the "knot drilled deeper" -- that is, if the knot is set deeper into the handle, the brush will have a lower loft, and therefore more backbone and a tendency to splay less (a smaller "bloom" after it's used a few times). The tips will be same softness, though. These (Whipped Dog) brushes are a great bargain; the proprietor of Whipped Dog, Larry, is a great person to do business with and will coach you through you various options if you have questions.
You may decide you like something else. Bigger or still smaller loft. Two-band badger, or boar, or horse, or a better synthetic. You may find you want a "heritage" brush, a name-brand with a history. You may want a different style or different size or shape of handle. Etc. etc.
At that point you can start talking about spending $125.00.... or find yourself talking about how much you love a $15 boar.
This is totally me just throwing out a "what the heck" suggestion -- at some point you want to know about a good badger brush. And you could spend a lot more and do a lot worse in that regard.
*(of course none of this should be construed as my telling you actually not to do anything from any sort of position of assumed authority. Do what you like. I'm trying to be helpful, rather than authoritarian, and just can't be troubled to write better!)
There are differences that make more of a difference when it's new -- or you're new to lathering with a brush. Like I found it easier to load hard soaps with a stiffer brush at first. Now that's sort of true, but it's almost irrelevant. (I don't like a truly "floppy" brush at all, but I can lather hard soaps with relatively floppy brushes just fine. Couldn't do that a year ago).
There are differences in how much water -- and how much lather, then -- a brush will hold. There are differences in the softness of the tips, in the "backbone" (the tendency of the hairs to resist flexing when pressed to yer face), differences in density. There are differences in how easily a brush will release the lather it is holding (which may be related to the density). There are differences in how fast a brush will dry.
Some people talk readily of this "exfoliation" you mentioned, but I'm no help here at all. Skin cells are scraped away very well with a blade on all the areas you'd be applying a brush to, so if you shave every day, or almost every day, you're getting plenty of exfoliation. I think. Like I said, some people talk readily about it, and they may well know something I don't.
All that said.... get a Whipped Dog Silvertip brush with the "knot drilled deeper" -- that is, if the knot is set deeper into the handle, the brush will have a lower loft, and therefore more backbone and a tendency to splay less (a smaller "bloom" after it's used a few times). The tips will be same softness, though. These (Whipped Dog) brushes are a great bargain; the proprietor of Whipped Dog, Larry, is a great person to do business with and will coach you through you various options if you have questions.
You may decide you like something else. Bigger or still smaller loft. Two-band badger, or boar, or horse, or a better synthetic. You may find you want a "heritage" brush, a name-brand with a history. You may want a different style or different size or shape of handle. Etc. etc.
At that point you can start talking about spending $125.00.... or find yourself talking about how much you love a $15 boar.
This is totally me just throwing out a "what the heck" suggestion -- at some point you want to know about a good badger brush. And you could spend a lot more and do a lot worse in that regard.
*(of course none of this should be construed as my telling you actually not to do anything from any sort of position of assumed authority. Do what you like. I'm trying to be helpful, rather than authoritarian, and just can't be troubled to write better!)
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Excellent advice given by wagstaff. If you want a specific brush to fit the $125 budget I would recommend the Da Vinci 293. Amazing all around brush. I really like the idea of getting a good boar brush and a less expensive badger to see what you like in a brush. Semogue or Omega make great boar brushes for not a lot of money and whipped dog gets plenty of love around here (I have never used one). You could get two brushes and still be well under $125.
The Gents above, are right, but if you want something more Luxurious than boar, in Best Badger or Silvertip , in the range price of $23 to $ 53 or even up to $ 125 as you mentioned, i will be glad to assist you. Sent PM for Links.
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Thank you guys. Great advice. Love this place
