Need help picking a brush!

[Toothpick]

I've been wet shaving for bout a year now and I've always used the first cheap boar bristle brush I bought at the local Walgreens. It was cheap and I wanted to get started quickly. But now I feel like I deserve a major upgrade and that brings me trying to choose a badger brush but I'm finding it a hard decision to make. So here is my shave set up: Merkur HD 34C, Astra blades, Bigelow shave cream and of course the boar brush. And here is what I want: a badger brush under $50.

Now I know there are different knot sizes (20mm, 24mm) no idea what they are for or what one I should get. I just need help!

 

[celestino]

The knot sizes are usually to hold more lather and for more bristles in the brush to apply the lather and scrub the face. Different folks like different brush sizes.
Are you bowl-lathering or face-lathering as that will help determining a brush, also?
Here is one from a gent who makes some nice one and you can browse for more there:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Silvertip-Ba...268?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41580be30c
Simpsons Berkeley and Commodore X1 are nice.
Good luck to you.

 

[goatee]

if you want something while you decide....? tweezerman is $13 and perfectly acceptable.
i buy knots online and put them in my own handles.

 

[Deano]

I have only one badger and its a Parker pure black. I havnt had it too long and its breaking in nicely. They are under $30 on Amazon.com.

 

[NexlevMM]

^^^ +1, Look at the badger hair brush labeled Parker brush tortoise handle on Amazon. Great first brush!

 

[Anonymous]

My first badger brush was a Heinrich L. Thater fine badger brush. 6 months later and it is still the best brush I own by far. It's very affordable too, about $38 from SRD.

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks for all the great info! I do use a bowl. I've seen the tweezerman but I just assumed for $13 it can't be that great. I'll be sure to keep an open mind here. Thanks!