How long until you make a final judgment on a brush?

[Teddyboy]

In your experience how long would you have to use a brush before you are clear enough to write a review on it? In other words, how much use before you come to a solid, well-formed conclusion about the pros and cons of a badger brush? I know boars require longer break-in period.

I am finding that with more experience I seem to require more time to determine if a brush is a keeper, or whether it is BST bait. Seems that I would zero in on the attributes of a brush faster than I used to; but in reality it is the opposite.

 

[Rockminer]

I would guess 10-15 shaves would be good. By then you would be able to get uesd to it. I do think a brush "breaks in" over time, so if you were going to review the softness of a brush, you may want to wait a bit longer.

 

[texaninkc]

I'm getting better at figuring out if I DON'T like a brush. A handful of uses is usually how much it takes and I throw my easiest combinations at it. I've grown to like certain types of brushes, and with those, the more I use them the better I am at giving them a good review.

 

[Mick]

If I think that I might review something I like to write down my initial impressions but I find that it takes me 2 or 3 weeks of using it along with my other brushes to decide how I feel about it and how it fits in with the existing "herd"

Outside of a Tweeserman brush I bought to put in a beginner kit I sold some time ago, I don't think I have sold a brush so I guess they have all been keepers for me. Oh no, I did sell a Semogue LE brush too... So maybe they're not all keepers I guess.

 

[beginish]

I give them about a month.

 

[Teddyboy]

Thank you for your input. I also expect constant use for about 2-3 weeks should do it, except for Shavemac D01 2-band, which needs a longer breaking-in period.

 

[edgerunner]

I've misjudged brushes before. I think about 5 uses are enough to get an initial impression from a brush. What works for me is after these initial uses, I leave it aside and use other brushes for awhile, then use it again 2-3 times to finalize my opinion. Sometimes, my opinion about the brush changes a lot on this second round.

 

[Mick]

I've misjudged brushes before. I think about 5 uses are enough to get an initial impression from a brush. What works for me is after these initial uses, I leave it aside and use other brushes for awhile, then use it again 2-3 times to finalize my opinion. Sometimes, my opinion about the brush changes a lot on this second round.

When I first got my Duke 2 I was not satisfied. I even had the BST photos taken to pass it along to another B&B member. Luckily I forgot to add my B&B screen name to the shots so I did not put it up and took it back in for another try....

Since then, it has bested every other brush I have put up against it.

Now you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands to get it away from me

 

[takeshi]

About a month. Maybe a little less for badgers.

I am finding that with more experience I seem to require more time to determine if a brush is a keeper, or whether it is BST bait. Seems that I would zero in on the attributes of a brush faster than I used to; but in reality it is the opposite.

It could be that you're hitting the limit on gains (i.e. hitting the steeper part of the performance curve) with the brushes you're considering.

 

[global_dev]

use a couple times, put it away... if you aren't jonesing reaching for it, that's a good indicator... put it away, try it again... if you still aren't feeling it, then that's when it's best to retire it for a couple of months or get rid of it.. i tend to hold on to brushes for a while thinking my opinion might change, but it really hasn't over the last 2.5 years.

I think what causes "confusion" are the rave reviews by others and the gotta have it in your stable threads...

 

[celestino]

Two weeks, at least, for me to be honest about it!

 

[craig94yj]

I think a large percentage of your opinion is formed the first time you use it. Like the saying goes; " you never get a second chance to make a first impression." That being said, I would think at least two weeks of daily shaving would be enough information to confirm or change your initial impression. YMMV

 

[Teddyboy]

When I first got my Duke 2 I was not satisfied. I even had the BST photos taken to pass it along to another B&B member. Luckily I forgot to add my B&B screen name to the shots so I did not put it up and took it back in for another try....

Since then, it has bested every other brush I have put up against it.

Now you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands to get it away from me

This is probably the one brush that I loved the minute I put it to soap-no gestation period required. Wish they were all that easy.

 

[JeffOlson]

When I received my M&F brush, I suspected it was perfect before even using it! My first use confirmed my suspicion.

When I received my first Vie-Long 13061, I wasn't as convinced, partly because of the smell. However, after dozens of uses, it became a winner.

Being a newbie, however, I would not feel qualified to write a review. But I do know what I like!