thater after 5 shaves...4 shaves with lord (egypt) , palmolive lime(india),lea (spain) prorasso (italy) creams,and one shave with valobra semi-soft(italy)...gillette tv d2,british rocket,e.j.chatsworth barleycorn,1963 adjustable gillette,and a schick krona..blades used were sputniks (russia)..ALL the shaves were great,smooth and sweet....the thater bloomed nicely,works well with all kinds of creams and soaps ,and loves a face or bowl lather...the tips are like home made whipped cream with a hint of organic vanilla ..creamy....so creamy...plenty of backbone ! you can just barely feel the tips !,this tells your brain to add pressure,don't do it !! let the tips get a few rpms,and the lather expands like mad...just great...not one wayward hair,the handle is very easy to hold,generous size and is not slippery at all...la crem de la crem....no...I do not own a shavemac do1 or a high white mountain plisson,,so I cannot compare them....I would like to see this thater go mano a mano with the $600 plisson...bottom line...great brush !!!!