I really need help finding the right brush.

[Xezmer]

Let's say i've got $60 to spend. I'm not necessarily asking for a $60 brush, that's just my max.

I own:

2 x Omega Synthetic brushes
1 x Omega Boar
1 x VDH Boar
1 x The Body Shop Synthetic
1 x Tweezerman
1 x AoS $50 badger

So far, my AoS does me great but the bristles are a little too prickly for my taste.

The Omega synthetics speak for themselves if you've ever tried one. They're just not a go-to main kind of brush. They perform based on how much water is in them.

The Omega boar is entirely too stiff and rough.

The Tweezerman was excellent for the price but I feel like it won't bloom as nicely as my AoS did and it feels too dense for my taste.

I'm looking for a medium soft/prickly brush that will bloom nice and wide and doesn't need to be pressed very hard to have the knot "flower" entirely on my face or in a bowl. A gentle brush.

I hear silvertips are nice.. any suggestions gents?

I'm looking for something to put on my birthday wish list.

 

[Joe Edson]

For the best boar you could get a semogue SOC

for the best value at this point, look for a vintage restored brush with a TGN finest knot in it. Shouldn't run you more than $50 and the finest is a good knot.

 

[Klarion]

From all indications, I'd suggest a Semogue 830.

 

[RayH]

you can get a few Kent boar bristle brushes on Amazon for under $40. plus 3 Vulfix badgers for under $60. of course I'm just looking at your price range and at one online vendor. Simpson does have a few for under $60 at various vendors. I have the Body Shop synthetic and I'm not really impressed with it. doesn't lather as well as either a badger or a boar. My AoS is fine but my 2008 B&B LE by Kent is my go to. I sometimes use my Omega pure badger, I found that I prefer a denser knot. I have been looking at the Simpson brushes offered at the Superior Shave. http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html

 

[Drubbing]

For the best boar you could get a semogue SOC

Semogues boars are winning me over. I have the #620 and an SOC inbound.

It depends on what you want, $60 probably won't get a silvertip though.

I found Vulfix Best badger prickly, but devoid of backbone. I find Semogue has excellent backbone, but is very soft on the face. In comparison, my T&H Rooney now feels like a thick, fat, luxury mop. That's really what you're paying for, luxury and more expensive materials.

So, being completey biased, I'd spend $60 on two Semogues. Or save some money and try the SOC.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Semogue SOC for boar
TGN 24mm Short loft silvertip, 22mm Grade A, Super, or Finest in a turned or vintage handle for badgers.

 

[Xezmer]

I'm currently looking at these guys..:

25$ Badger

http://www.amazon.com/Bristle-Tourt...62S395NXGG8Z&s=generic&qid=1280728829&sr=1-37

35$ Badger

http://www.amazon.com/Bristle-Marbl...62S395NXGG8Z&s=generic&qid=1280728829&sr=1-36

60$ Silvertip badger

http://www.amazon.com/Silvertip-Bri...62S395NXGG8Z&s=generic&qid=1280728784&sr=1-13

I like the 25$ cause it's cheap.
I like the 35$ cause it's a big brush.
I like the 60$ cause it's a big silver tip brush.

 

[andrew98]

The $25 brush will probably also be prickly, like your AoS. The other two have wood handles that I wouldn't trust around water. You can get a Simpson Special with Best hair for less than $50. An Edwin Jagger Super may fit the bill, too. There's also Vulfix brushes to consider. The latter two will most likely be on the soft/floppy side, which sounds like what you're looking for.

-Andy

 

[ScYcS]

Are all your brushes properly broken in?? You say the Omega boar is too rough....to me that sounds very much like it's not broken in, because all Omega boar brushes i ever had, when broken in, were soft, very soft in fact (when soaked).

Make sure your brushes are broken in properly. For $60 or less you will have a hard time finding a better brush than the AOS or Tweezerman. Seriously.

PS: Tweezerman too dense? That's the first time i ever heard anyone use dense and Tweezerman in one sentence.

 

[Ignatius]

I'd lurk the b/s/t for a while. There are lots of good deals and you can get a lot of brush for $60.

 

[Xezmer]

I feel like I'm looking for a large and large bloom brush.
The AoS is a fan type and bloomed huge where the tweezerman was a bulb and wasn't as big. I guess I need to look around more.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

Keep browsing the B/S/T for a B&B Essential.