Hello,
I am a DE shaver about six months in. I'm beginning to settle in with effective tools for razor (39C, Slim, Flaretip, Tech, HD, NEW) and soaps. I rarely get burn or nicks (except when rushed or trying sampler blades). I didn't really get SBAD until recently... I would like your advice on a first higher-quality brush or two.
My existing harem of badgery beauties!
(L to R) Omega Pro 48 boar, HIS synthetic, Omega Syntex (nylon?), Vulfix 660
I bought the Omega to try boar. It's ok but poor water retention means sometimes poor lather. I don't like the stiffness (it is broken in) and the size is too tall. The HIS is good some days, some days not. I like the softness but it is really too soft. Someone on B&B described it as a "wet mop" and while I laughed at the image, it kind of struck truth. I like the size and handle shape of the HIS, but it is almost too tall also. The Syntex is a cheapie for travel. I am satisfied with it for that (no worries if lost, or if no time to dry it). I fly out for 3-7 days maybe 6-8 times a year. I'm not in love with any of these three.
The Vulfix is quite scritchy. I like to face lather and use hard soaps primarily, so some scritchiness is good but this is a bit too much. It is a low grade badger I am sure- the cost was less than $35 as I recall. I do NOT like the size, it is way too small for me. I do like the traditional aspect of badger hair very much and I definitely want a better quality, in badger, for my next brush(es).
My lathery leanings I use hard soaps 80+% of the time. I face lather 100% of the time.
What I want from your next brush I want a higher grade badger. Probably a silvertip. I will be ordering a silvertip from Whipped Dog shortly to stick my toe in the water and see what I like/don't like about silvertip. I'm a little hesitant at spending $150-200 sight unseen. I do get to Merz in Chicago a few times a year and will be handling their silvertips to see what they feel like. I like the Persian Jar or Simpson Harvard shaped handles. I also like the Simpson Emperor and Shavemac (177, 944, 280, and 444140) handles. I guess that doesn't narrow it down too much! Shape? Probably bulb (maybe fan, definitely not flat top).
In summary, I want a bulb silvertip medium size (not too small) with enough backbone for hard soaps and face lathering, but keeping some of the wonderful softness silvertip is famous for.
Brush aesthetics I like ebony or ivory handles, bigger handle, Persian jar shape but willing to consider others. I'm probably most interested in Shavemac, Rooney, Simpson (not necessarily in that order).
Budget. Again, I am a little leery of paying a lot for something I have never touched. I realize most of my choices are $80-170. I would like to spend somewhere in the middle of that range- say $125-140 or so (or less than that).
Size matters I'm in kind of a Goldilocks situation now, the Omega and HIS are definitely the upper limit of size that I would even consider for the new brush. The Vulfix is way too small. The Syntex is about right. Most of the brushes wish-listed below are 90-110 mm so that would seem about right.
Brushes that have already piqued my interest I like the Persian Jar or Simpson Harvard shaped handles. I also like the Simpson Emperor and Shavemac (177, 944, 280, and 444140) handles. I guess that doesn't narrow it down too much!
I am looking at:
Rooney Super Silvertip
--3/1 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=484&cat=156&page=1
--3/2 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=490&cat=157&page=1
--or 2/1 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=481&cat=165&page=1
Also Simpson Best
--Duke 2 or 3 http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#D2B
--or Harvard 4 http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Harvard-H4-Best-Badger-Shaving-Brush_p_765.html)
Also Simpson Super
--PJ 2, PJ3 http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#PJ2
--or Emperor 2 band http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Emperor-2-Super-2-Band-Badger-Shaving-Brush-E2_p_497.html).
In Shavemac I like the country of origin. In silvertip I have looked at:
--177 http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Shavemac-177-23mm-Silver-Tip-Badger-Shaving-Brush_p_348.html
--280 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...rush-hand-bound-silvertip-faux-ivory-280.html
--and 444140 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...ng-Brush-44140-Handmade-Silvertip-Badger.html
--Ihave also looked at the 944 in DO1 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...44-Handmade-Extra-Silver-Tip-Quality-D01.html. I worry from some comments I see on the board that the DO1 will be too stiff and not too soft.
Frank Shaving is interesting on the basis of price but it seems good brushes are available domestically and inexpensively (Whipped Dog, TGN) so I probably don't want a Franks.
My sincere thanks. Sorry for a looong post that is all over the map. No doubt you'll tell me that they are all great, and that I should buy them all. And no doubt I will want to!
Cheers!
I am a DE shaver about six months in. I'm beginning to settle in with effective tools for razor (39C, Slim, Flaretip, Tech, HD, NEW) and soaps. I rarely get burn or nicks (except when rushed or trying sampler blades). I didn't really get SBAD until recently... I would like your advice on a first higher-quality brush or two.
My existing harem of badgery beauties!
(L to R) Omega Pro 48 boar, HIS synthetic, Omega Syntex (nylon?), Vulfix 660
I bought the Omega to try boar. It's ok but poor water retention means sometimes poor lather. I don't like the stiffness (it is broken in) and the size is too tall. The HIS is good some days, some days not. I like the softness but it is really too soft. Someone on B&B described it as a "wet mop" and while I laughed at the image, it kind of struck truth. I like the size and handle shape of the HIS, but it is almost too tall also. The Syntex is a cheapie for travel. I am satisfied with it for that (no worries if lost, or if no time to dry it). I fly out for 3-7 days maybe 6-8 times a year. I'm not in love with any of these three.
The Vulfix is quite scritchy. I like to face lather and use hard soaps primarily, so some scritchiness is good but this is a bit too much. It is a low grade badger I am sure- the cost was less than $35 as I recall. I do NOT like the size, it is way too small for me. I do like the traditional aspect of badger hair very much and I definitely want a better quality, in badger, for my next brush(es).
My lathery leanings I use hard soaps 80+% of the time. I face lather 100% of the time.
What I want from your next brush I want a higher grade badger. Probably a silvertip. I will be ordering a silvertip from Whipped Dog shortly to stick my toe in the water and see what I like/don't like about silvertip. I'm a little hesitant at spending $150-200 sight unseen. I do get to Merz in Chicago a few times a year and will be handling their silvertips to see what they feel like. I like the Persian Jar or Simpson Harvard shaped handles. I also like the Simpson Emperor and Shavemac (177, 944, 280, and 444140) handles. I guess that doesn't narrow it down too much! Shape? Probably bulb (maybe fan, definitely not flat top).
In summary, I want a bulb silvertip medium size (not too small) with enough backbone for hard soaps and face lathering, but keeping some of the wonderful softness silvertip is famous for.
Brush aesthetics I like ebony or ivory handles, bigger handle, Persian jar shape but willing to consider others. I'm probably most interested in Shavemac, Rooney, Simpson (not necessarily in that order).
Budget. Again, I am a little leery of paying a lot for something I have never touched. I realize most of my choices are $80-170. I would like to spend somewhere in the middle of that range- say $125-140 or so (or less than that).
Size matters I'm in kind of a Goldilocks situation now, the Omega and HIS are definitely the upper limit of size that I would even consider for the new brush. The Vulfix is way too small. The Syntex is about right. Most of the brushes wish-listed below are 90-110 mm so that would seem about right.
Brushes that have already piqued my interest I like the Persian Jar or Simpson Harvard shaped handles. I also like the Simpson Emperor and Shavemac (177, 944, 280, and 444140) handles. I guess that doesn't narrow it down too much!
I am looking at:
Rooney Super Silvertip
--3/1 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=484&cat=156&page=1
--3/2 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=490&cat=157&page=1
--or 2/1 http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=481&cat=165&page=1
Also Simpson Best
--Duke 2 or 3 http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#D2B
--or Harvard 4 http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Harvard-H4-Best-Badger-Shaving-Brush_p_765.html)
Also Simpson Super
--PJ 2, PJ3 http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#PJ2
--or Emperor 2 band http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Emperor-2-Super-2-Band-Badger-Shaving-Brush-E2_p_497.html).
In Shavemac I like the country of origin. In silvertip I have looked at:
--177 http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Shavemac-177-23mm-Silver-Tip-Badger-Shaving-Brush_p_348.html
--280 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...rush-hand-bound-silvertip-faux-ivory-280.html
--and 444140 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...ng-Brush-44140-Handmade-Silvertip-Badger.html
--Ihave also looked at the 944 in DO1 http://www.shavemac.com/products/Sh...44-Handmade-Extra-Silver-Tip-Quality-D01.html. I worry from some comments I see on the board that the DO1 will be too stiff and not too soft.
Frank Shaving is interesting on the basis of price but it seems good brushes are available domestically and inexpensively (Whipped Dog, TGN) so I probably don't want a Franks.
My sincere thanks. Sorry for a looong post that is all over the map. No doubt you'll tell me that they are all great, and that I should buy them all. And no doubt I will want to!
Cheers!
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