Help me pick a new shave brush

[DJPoop]

Hey folks, I'm sure this is the 10 billionth thread asking this, but I've been out of the game for a while, so some recommendations would be great.

As an FYI, I fell down the wet shaving rabbit hole about 10 years ago. Tried different several razors, a million different blades, and a few brushes. Not to mention all of the creams, soaps, aftershaves, etc. This went on for a few years, but since then my go to has been a Semogue 620, a vintage Gillette Slim Adjustable, and a rotation my favorite blades and products.

Lately, I've been thinking I should treat myself to a new brush, but being out of the game for so long I have no idea where to begin. Here are my criteria:
1. Open to natural or synthetic.
2. Good for face lathering.
3. Not too soft, not too stiff.
4. Makes great lather.
5. A bigger loft, but not gigantic.
6. Something pretty nice in terms of quality and appearance.
7. Under $100.
8. Bonus if available on Amazon, but not strictly necessary.

Thanks all!

 

[Phoenixkh]

Hmmmmmm.... @ the $100 upper limit, I'd suggest a Zenith Manchurian badger (27.5mm) with your choice of handles... I have one with a 506 copper handle that I just love... I do bowl lather, but I also scrub in the lather so it's close to your situation. At the moment, I only use badger brushes. The aforementioned Zenith Manchurian is rotated with two other brushes for applying pre-shaves and 5 SV brushes are used to lathering.... the SV brushes are above your price limit.

One other possibility for you to consider would be the Semogue Pegasus Mistura mixed badger and boar... They are right at $100 and I love mine. It's one of the Pre-Shave brushes I rotate.

I am planning on buying a synthetic brush soon..... the Omega Elite with the 1920 classic handle.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807292645782.html

I had an Omega Evo Original that I loved but I moved away from synthetics and I gifted it to a great gentleman here. My wife is using my other remaining two synths: A Rudy Vey amboyna burl handle with a STF 25mm knot and a FB group buy Alpha Shaving G5 something knot... Steve called it a G5"D" at the time. At one time, I had 21 synth brushes.... Only 3 remained after I culled the herd.

 

[DJPoop]

Thank you sir. You trust Aliexpress? I know there are tons of fake products on there, so I'm always weary to order from them.

 

[Alex Jr]

2. Good for face lathering.

Semogue SOC

3. Not too soft, not too stiff.

SOC

5. A bigger loft, but not gigantic.

Semogue owners club…. SOC

6. Something pretty nice in terms of quality and appearance.

Oh yeah… definitely SOC

 

[Albert V]

I can recommend the cheap and cheerful Omega 10049 boar brush. 26mm knot, can be broken in within a few days (if you know the boar breakin tricks), and only costs $10 on Amazon or many other places like Maggards. Available in 3 colors, black, red, and white. Despite being a large knot boar brush I find the tips rather soft once broken in, and has good backbone. At $10 you really cannot afford not to try one.

Omega Model 10049 Pro 49 Professional Boar Shaving Brush in Red, Black, or White, 26mm

100% Boar bristle shaving brush, great for beginners! Choose from Red, Black, or White handle.Measurements May VaryTotal Height 123mmLoft 59mmKnot 26mmHandle Height 64mmHandle Waist 36mm Give that new brush a proper home, check out our selection of brush and razor stands here.

maggardrazors.com

Note: if interested, I am selling my Semogue 1800 boar brush, along with a Perfecto Badger brush and a pack of Perma Sharp blades for $18 in here FS - Semogue Boar and Perfecto Badger Brushes - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/semogue-boar-and-perfecto-badger-brushes.654826/

 

[Phoenixkh]

Thank you sir. You trust Aliexpress? I know there are tons of fake products on there, so I'm always weary to order from them.

I've never had an issue with Aliexpress.... Several people here have ordered one of the Omega Elites from them.... I chose the 1920s handle.... but as you see, there are quite a few options.

 

[shave/brush]

I would suggest a Muhle STF 25 mm. They are on Amazon for $102.00. This is a very popular brush. Here is a link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ATV43..._r=3422c582-8191-4869-88b5-d4540b4f2478&psc=1

 

[willk93]

@shave/brush Maggard Razors and the Muhle site have the XL even cheaper, listed from $87-$91

 

[Phoenixkh]

Or get Rudy Vey to make you a handle you will love... even if it's a few dollars more... He does excellent work and is a fine gentleman to boot. He has other knots available as well... ShaveMac badgers for one... He's re-knotted 3 handles for me with ShaveMac Two-band badger knots that I just love.

 

[nemo]

Simpson Duke 2 best badger, $90 (Pasteur Pharmacy free ship)
Duke 3 on Amazon for $120

Stick with a classic.

 

[helicopter]

...
3. Not too soft, not too stiff.... 5. A bigger loft, but not gigantic.
...

3. I am not sure there is consensus on this part. You may need to elaborate on this. The softest brush is going to be a super soft synthetic, and the stiffest is going to be nylon or low grade boar. There is a lot in between and the Goldilocks range is something that varies depending on the person.

5. So, like 24-26mm?

 

[helicopter]

Semogue SOC


SOC


Semogue owners club…. SOC


Oh yeah… definitely SOC

This is probably right, but which knot is the one that is not too soft and not too stiff? I can never remember what we all agreed on for that.

 

[Alex Jr]

This is probably right, but which knot is the one that is not too soft and not too stiff? I can never remember what we all agreed on for that.

How could I forget the most important part?! I must be out of my mind!

Sorry, 3am report time.

It’s the boar, piggy, oink oink!

 

[Phoenixkh]

This is probably right, but which knot is the one that is not too soft and not too stiff? I can never remember what we all agreed on for that.

In my limited experience, boars always end up somewhat floppy after they are broken-in.... They don't seem to hold their backbone as well as a badger or mixed bristle brush (Mistura). The knots themselves don't seem to retain a set form. The bristles tend to go every which way...... I do think this varies somewhat by brand. I don't have a lot of boar experience but I'm fond of Zenith boars. Synthetics do break-in, but not all that much, again, in my limited experience. Badgers do break in.... but often retain their backbone.... The tips just get a bit softer. There are quite a few varieties of badger knots. I've only used Manchurian two-bands.... some are referred to as Two-band Silvertips...without being "Manchurian"... My SVs are High Mountain Manchurian Two-bands... But the descriptions vary depending on the manufacturer....

 

[thombrogan]

Get a Titanium Fan or G5C fan in this baby or wait for the Titanium UHD to come back in stock and ask Andrew to set it low so acts like a fan.

 

[helicopter]

With your budget, I would start with badger that is one step up from the lowest grade. I think you will have the highest probability of being happy with that.

Pasteur has the SOC in butterscotch and finest badger for $67 on sale right now, so get that.

With a bigger budget, I would recommend a big Simpson in best, but Captain 2 best is $136

At TRC, you could get a big 26mm Manchurian AP Shave co or TRC within the budget as well. I have one of the TRC ones. It is very nice.

Choice among these is mostly aesthetic.

 

[DJPoop]

Many thanks to all for the suggestions! I'm going to look into all of these and see which one I settle on. Will try to remember to update the thread once I get it. Thanks again!

 

[DesertIguana]

Will say it again, Yaki Blemisg, or Second are cheap, great.

 

[KW Driver]

Semogue SOC


SOC


Semogue owners club…. SOC


Oh yeah… definitely SOC

And this unbleached Zenith is comparable in all tech specs but better than a SOC with a normal boar break in cycle. My SOC ran a year to get to its fully broken in, final form. They’re great brushes with a well earned reputation, but the Zenith is just a bit better at a way lower price point.

For the OP, any number of Omegas will give good scrub. In my experience, Omegas are generally denser feeling, offer more backbone and less splay until pushed, than most Semogues. Still great boars, and generally a bit cheaper than Semogues as well.

I had a SOC 2-band, and it was soft, with just enough backbone to not want to get rid of it.

I picked up a Mistura and it’s wonderful. Great badger feel with about perfect backbone and face feel for me. The Torgas with a shorter loft should be stiffer.

At a $100 cap you could get several different brushes to see what else you like. Plenty of people love their synths, but I never really have liked them. They feel off.

And for cold weather, warm lather for face lathering, nothing holds heat like a badger. If that’s a factor for you, it could be a consideration since “Winter is coming”

But badgers are luxurious feeling when you get a good enough one.

I haven’t tried a pure badger I like because they’ve felt prickly too me.

Horse was too scritchy and tangled with enough swirling on lather.

 

[KW Driver]

And this unbleached Zenith is comparable in all tech specs but better than a SOC with a normal boar break in cycle. My SOC ran a year to get to its fully broken in, final form. They’re great brushes with a well earned reputation, but the Zenith is just a bit better at a way lower price point.

For the OP, any number of Omegas will give good scrub. In my experience, Omegas are generally denser feeling, offer more backbone and less splay until pushed, than most Semogues. Still great boars, and generally a bit cheaper than Semogues as well.

I had a SOC 2-band, and it was soft, with just enough backbone to not want to get rid of it.

I picked up a Mistura and it’s wonderful. Great badger feel with about perfect backbone and face feel for me. The Torgas with a shorter loft should be stiffer.

At a $100 cap you could get several different brushes to see what else you like. Plenty of people love their synths, but I never really have liked them. They feel off.

And for cold weather, warm lather for face lathering, nothing holds heat like a badger. If that’s a factor for you, it could be a consideration since “Winter is coming”

But badgers are luxurious feeling when you get a good enough one.

I haven’t tried a pure badger I like because they’ve felt prickly too me.

Horse was too scritchy and tangled with enough swirling on lather.

Forgot the Zentih to insert…

ZENITH unbleached bristle chrome handle 2000 C XSE

This barber shaving brush is made of unbleached natural bristle hair Its hair is thicker and stronger than badger hair but not as flexible as this, so it can be considered a daily use brush suitable for all types of soaps and shaving creams, but where it behaves best is with the hardest soaps...

yourshaving.com