So, I have been wet shaving right around a month and have a question about brushes. I have a Bellus badger brush that I purchased on amazon for $9.00. I like the handle size and it is nice and soft, but, it sheds like crazy. I would like to get something better, but, I am an unemployed, full time student and father of two. So, needless to say money is tight. Can anyone recommend something for me that won't break the bank? I am a face latherer who uses soaps, if this helps. I have looked around and there are so many brands, types, colors, knots, sizes and animals... I have no idea where to even begin. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Overwhelmed Newbie!
- Thread starter HOUS3Y
- Start date
Well you could always just get a knot (the hairy part of a brush) and put it in your current one.
Whipped dog sells them and their shipping is super cheap to not break your budget
http://whippeddog.com/products/find/brushes-knots
But if you do reknot your own brush and make a mistake, looks like you're out of a brush (as it's your only one?)
But you say you're a face latherer and you are into soaps. I think boar brushes are up your alley(being that I am a face latherer and soap man myself) They're also usually significantly cheaper than badger brushes.
Semogue and Omega are probably the two most revered entry level boar brush companies. I think for a starter you would want to check out Omega because they're cheap and offer a great product.
Feel free to PM me for any further questions.
Whipped dog sells them and their shipping is super cheap to not break your budget
http://whippeddog.com/products/find/brushes-knots
But if you do reknot your own brush and make a mistake, looks like you're out of a brush (as it's your only one?)
But you say you're a face latherer and you are into soaps. I think boar brushes are up your alley(being that I am a face latherer and soap man myself) They're also usually significantly cheaper than badger brushes.
Semogue and Omega are probably the two most revered entry level boar brush companies. I think for a starter you would want to check out Omega because they're cheap and offer a great product.
Feel free to PM me for any further questions.
+ 1 on Semogue and Omega boar brushes for the fraction of the price of a good badger brush.
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The best bang for the buck by far Is Whipped Dog. For $6.00 more than a bare knot you can get the whole brush. You want Silvertip, and last I looked, he was out of stock, so you may need to wait a few weeks until he gets more in. It is worth the wait!
For face lathering, I tend to like a shorter loft (50mm or less) brush. Boar brushes tend to be stiffer but after using them the tips will split and become soft. Badger brushes are usually softer all around. Two good brushes in the $30 range are the Vintage Blades Finest (badger) and the Semogue 830 (boar). Both should work well for face lathering soaps. If you want to go even cheaper, pick up an Omega boar for around $10 or so. The handles are cheap plastic but the knots are very good.
For boar brushes... Yep, what Jim said! I have two. Well made, super dense knot, breaks in and softens nicely. $20. You can also get a very nice Omega for around $10-$15 or a superb Semogue from Vintage Scents for about $20.
For badger brushes... +1 on Whipped Dog. The best badger value on the planet for about $30 -$35.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I an rocking my Virginia Sheng 28mm Silvertip. Don't remember what I paid for it but it was cheap. Huge brush. Lather Monster. Ebay can be your friend sometimes. Oh, and it doesn't shed.
I have used the Shea Moisture black badger. Another big brush. It was dirt cheap and well, it shed a little but not much. Shedding doesn't really hurt anything except it is one less hair left in the brush and the brush isn't growing any new ones. A little pricly if you are used to a silvertip but not prickly like a boar. Before it is broken in well, a boar can be pretty prickly. You have to be patient with a boar and USE it. Wetting and drying cycles and fairly vigorous use will split the ends of the bristles and give it a more comfortable feel, and it will even hold more water and soap, though never what a similarly sized badger will hold. Unfortunately Target no longer seems to carry the Shea Mosture black badger brush. I think it was only like $9 or something like that.
A lot of guys used to favor the Frank Shaving badgers but Ian went way up on his prices and left a bunch of us in wide eyed shock to desert en masse for Lijun, another interesting Chinese brand of budget badgers.
Cheap badgers can be a nightmare of funk and shedding, or they can be pretty good. You takes yer chances. But the VS seems to be great to me. And Larry's Whipped Dog brushes are a good value. You could re-knot your existing brush with a TGN or a Whipped Dog knot, maybe.
Boar? I am not a fan. I did my time with boars and I will never go back. They work, yeah, and all things equal they are a few bucks cheaper, especially the premium boars vs the premium badgers, but they aren't for me. Rather have a budget badger. A "Budger"? LOL.
I have used the Shea Moisture black badger. Another big brush. It was dirt cheap and well, it shed a little but not much. Shedding doesn't really hurt anything except it is one less hair left in the brush and the brush isn't growing any new ones. A little pricly if you are used to a silvertip but not prickly like a boar. Before it is broken in well, a boar can be pretty prickly. You have to be patient with a boar and USE it. Wetting and drying cycles and fairly vigorous use will split the ends of the bristles and give it a more comfortable feel, and it will even hold more water and soap, though never what a similarly sized badger will hold. Unfortunately Target no longer seems to carry the Shea Mosture black badger brush. I think it was only like $9 or something like that.
A lot of guys used to favor the Frank Shaving badgers but Ian went way up on his prices and left a bunch of us in wide eyed shock to desert en masse for Lijun, another interesting Chinese brand of budget badgers.
Cheap badgers can be a nightmare of funk and shedding, or they can be pretty good. You takes yer chances. But the VS seems to be great to me. And Larry's Whipped Dog brushes are a good value. You could re-knot your existing brush with a TGN or a Whipped Dog knot, maybe.
Boar? I am not a fan. I did my time with boars and I will never go back. They work, yeah, and all things equal they are a few bucks cheaper, especially the premium boars vs the premium badgers, but they aren't for me. Rather have a budget badger. A "Budger"? LOL.
Boar: Omega Pro 49 - $11 plus shipping
Badger: Whipped Dog silvertip 22mm set to 49mm - $30 (looks like prices just increased! Still the best silvertip value out there.)
Either one will serve you well. I have thinned down my brushes, and these 2 seem to be all that's left.
Badger: Whipped Dog silvertip 22mm set to 49mm - $30 (looks like prices just increased! Still the best silvertip value out there.)
Either one will serve you well. I have thinned down my brushes, and these 2 seem to be all that's left.
The Van der Hagen DELUXE brush is a nice boar brush for under $9 ... it has a white handle, and is only available at CVS drugstores that I know of. If they have several in stock, open each one and examine the knots and the handles, and pick the one that appears to be the best quality. Don't get the VdH brush with a green or blue handle, these are much poorer quality and will leave you back at square one wanting a better brush. Get the white handle, at CVS.
Keep in mind that no matter which boar brush you choose, there is a break-in period of a month or two before it will deliver its best performance. There are numerous threads here on B&B that describe break-in techniques. Don't try and rush it, you'll be rewarded for your patience.
Keep in mind that no matter which boar brush you choose, there is a break-in period of a month or two before it will deliver its best performance. There are numerous threads here on B&B that describe break-in techniques. Don't try and rush it, you'll be rewarded for your patience.
As a fellow face lather guy the B&B essential for $20 + s/h from WCS is one sweet brush. I have it and it's my favorite so far. Now after researching another good boar brush for face lathering I came upon the Semogue 610 & ordered it. If you order from Vintage Scent you can get the 610 or several other nice boar brushes for under $20 shipped from Europe (google for the VS discount code). I have personally found I prefer a 22mm diameter knot with a loft of 50ish for face lathering...my experience is limited to boar brushes only so far.
Stick with boar...inexpensive, durable, excellent face-lathering soap destroyers.
Omega Pro 10049 - $9 brush that punches way above it's price point.
Semogue 1470 - $13.50
Semogue 1438 - $17 A little stiffer than the 1470, but has a more ergonomic handle (ymmv) that is painted
Omega Pro 10049 - $9 brush that punches way above it's price point.
Semogue 1470 - $13.50
Semogue 1438 - $17 A little stiffer than the 1470, but has a more ergonomic handle (ymmv) that is painted
