I bought a drug store brush...

[mudbug]

I need a stiffer brush. I am 2 months into DE shaving, and I need a little more body in my brush. My current pure badger has a little too much flop, and flattens out a bit much when I try to lather my face. I am currently bowl lathering with cream. This is my starter brush, made by Vulfix.

 

[mudbug]

So then I happen to be in Cvs and I picked this up, and I like it. Any recommendations on a badger that would have some body, and a little more scratch on my face? I feel like I am cheating because this Boar brush cost $8.

 

[branford]

Do you have a budget?

You will likely be well-served by a quality boar or denser silvetip with a shorter loft.

Another member made a similar inquiry today. You can find my advice and suggestions here.

Don't hesitate to ask further questions and good luck!

 

[aihpcfl]

I have given that CVS brush a try two or three times. It starts out shedding a couple bristles each shave, then a few more, until, the bristles start coming out in clumps.

If you got one that doesn't do that, my advice is break it in and enjoy it. You won't find a badger brush of any kind that is similar in feel. I like badger, and I like boar, but they are different.

 

[branford]

So then I happen to be in Cvs and I picked this up, and I like it. Any recommendations on a badger that would have some body, and a little more scratch on my face? I feel like I am cheating because this Boar brush cost $8.

If you like that brush, you'll adore a higher-quality offering. A Semogue boar with a shorter loft (e.g., Model 1460) or a two-band badger such as an eponymous Vintage Blades brush should meet and easily exceed your preferences at a very reasonable price.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I'd vote for a Semogue or Omega boar. They start at $8. My broken-in boar has great backbone and still has nice soft tips. I ordered a 2nd boar within a month.

 

[mudbug]

I dont mind spending $50-75 on a brush. The Vulfix lacks backbone while trying to mug lather. While applying the lather to my face, its a bit floppy. My theory is a stiffer brush will help exfoliate my skin, and tame a few ingrown hairs.

 

[RVshave]

I've come to find out in badgers I like dense short lofts and 22-24 knots for face lathering, think about a Whipped Dog silvertip, you can get one for about $35 shipped. Larry can tell you what loft based on your likes. I would suggest knot at 48mm loft. If I get another one from WD. It'll be a 24 knot at 45 loft, but that's me.

 

[Croulebarbe]

I dont mind spending $50-75 on a brush. The Vulfix lacks backbone while trying to mug lather. While applying the lather to my face, its a bit floppy. My theory is a stiffer brush will help exfoliate my skin, and tame a few ingrown hairs.

Well, if it's backbone you want, you want a boar brush, end of story. Teppanyaki had it right on, and I personally would advise you try one of the Omega "first price"-range boar brushes; the knot is just as good as their more expensive models, it just has a plastic handle. Particularly with boar brushes it seems like the biggest factor in the price is the construction of the handle, so there's no sense in shelling out for a horn or tortoiseshell handle just to try it out.

I've been breaking a 6€ Omega brush in over the past week or so, and once I got the wet dog smell out it's gone from good to better to great. I personally have never tried one, but Semogue users do seem to be quite evangelical about their choice of brushes so I imagine there's something to that.

 

[dave1029]

Don't sell short that VDH boar and don't feel like you are cheating because of price. I have a Semouge and a couple of Omegas and still use my VDH when face lathering from time to time because I love the loft size and knot(I don't know the measurments) that can't be readilly found in a better quality Omega and certaily not in a Semouge.

Being new to this you need to experiement lower priced items to get a feel for what you want. Actualy I find through I like face lathering with my Omega 20107 and 31020 far better than my shorter loft Semouge 1470 and Omega 10275 but every one says shorter lofts are better for face lathering. I find that a large 25mm to 27mm boar knot and a loft around 55mm to 60mm when put just a little bend in the tips when applying the lather to you face gives me a warm, scrubby feel on my face and well a hydrated lather than my shorter lofted boars.

 

[Jimmyinkedup]

I love my Omega Boar (10065 i think). Although I have to say I recently picked up a Franks Shaving pur tech synthetic on the BST for a very reasonable $30 and I really really like it. It is a large knot (28mm i believe) but man I have used it twice and it performs fantastically! Funny I had posted not thaat long ago that I had no interest in a synthetic as art of the reason I enjoy this hobby is the nostalgia but I am eating my words!