First impressions on the Manchurian D3 in swirl faux ivory.
Most of my Simpson brushes are 2 Bands. Over the last year I acquired around a dozen or so once I discovered that the 2 band hair Simpson was using had changed (according to Mark Watterson they started single sourcing the hair providing more consistency to its attributes). Important for me are VERY soft tips paired with the backbone and resilience of the 2 band hair. I have significantly reduced the amount of 3 band brushes I owned once I got focused on 2 bands.
Reviews of the first "Manchurian" brushes offered by Simpson discouraged me to try this different batch of 2 band hair. it seemed more course and less soft at the tips, providing more scrub paired with some scritch according to some. Furthermore, Simpson charged a significant premium for the "Manchurian" hair. So I stayed away.
This changed with the Jubilee. I liked that brush design so much that I decided to take a plunge and try the hair. The Jubilee feels great! Tips are still soft (not as soft as regular 2 Band though) and due to density (less) and loft (more) the brush flexes quite a bit one the face providing a gentle scrubbing experience.
So when I went for my next custom order of 2 Bands I decided to add to the mix a more serious Manchurian brush and chose a Duke 3 in a faux ivory swirl handle… THis one I put to the test…
The brush is a 24/47mm knot. Thus, a bit shorter loft than typically for a D3 (48-50mm) but within normal variations for Simpson brushes. Palm lathering showed no significant difference in the feel of the tips but the brush s VERY densely packed. Today I face lathered with Tabac and that led to some more observations:
The brush eats hard soaps and creates lather quickly. The hair is noticeable thicker than the regular 2 Band hair and has more backbone. The tips are NOT as soft. Due to the D3's density and short loft creating lather in circular motion provided some noticeable scritch. Paint motion is very comfortable. Flow through of the brush is excellent and will likely improve further with use and the knot will open up more.
It is certainly too early to cast full judgement on this brush. The tips may soften more with use. For me it is clearly preferable to use this brush with pain motions for now. With use this may change over time.
Is it worth the premium over "regular" 2 Band? YMMV depending on your preferences. The Manchurian is a different kind of hair for sure. it will not become my favorite hair grade from Simpson - that safe is reserved for the regular 2 Band - but I am keen to see how this brush will develop over time…
And isn't the handle a stunner?!!!!
Below some pics: D3 Manchurian, next to the Jubilee, in-between D3 in Super (left) and 2 Band (right)
Most of my Simpson brushes are 2 Bands. Over the last year I acquired around a dozen or so once I discovered that the 2 band hair Simpson was using had changed (according to Mark Watterson they started single sourcing the hair providing more consistency to its attributes). Important for me are VERY soft tips paired with the backbone and resilience of the 2 band hair. I have significantly reduced the amount of 3 band brushes I owned once I got focused on 2 bands.
Reviews of the first "Manchurian" brushes offered by Simpson discouraged me to try this different batch of 2 band hair. it seemed more course and less soft at the tips, providing more scrub paired with some scritch according to some. Furthermore, Simpson charged a significant premium for the "Manchurian" hair. So I stayed away.
This changed with the Jubilee. I liked that brush design so much that I decided to take a plunge and try the hair. The Jubilee feels great! Tips are still soft (not as soft as regular 2 Band though) and due to density (less) and loft (more) the brush flexes quite a bit one the face providing a gentle scrubbing experience.
So when I went for my next custom order of 2 Bands I decided to add to the mix a more serious Manchurian brush and chose a Duke 3 in a faux ivory swirl handle… THis one I put to the test…
The brush is a 24/47mm knot. Thus, a bit shorter loft than typically for a D3 (48-50mm) but within normal variations for Simpson brushes. Palm lathering showed no significant difference in the feel of the tips but the brush s VERY densely packed. Today I face lathered with Tabac and that led to some more observations:
The brush eats hard soaps and creates lather quickly. The hair is noticeable thicker than the regular 2 Band hair and has more backbone. The tips are NOT as soft. Due to the D3's density and short loft creating lather in circular motion provided some noticeable scritch. Paint motion is very comfortable. Flow through of the brush is excellent and will likely improve further with use and the knot will open up more.
It is certainly too early to cast full judgement on this brush. The tips may soften more with use. For me it is clearly preferable to use this brush with pain motions for now. With use this may change over time.
Is it worth the premium over "regular" 2 Band? YMMV depending on your preferences. The Manchurian is a different kind of hair for sure. it will not become my favorite hair grade from Simpson - that safe is reserved for the regular 2 Band - but I am keen to see how this brush will develop over time…
And isn't the handle a stunner?!!!!
Below some pics: D3 Manchurian, next to the Jubilee, in-between D3 in Super (left) and 2 Band (right)
