Under $50 Badger for Soap?

[wintermute2]

I'm a newb looking for my first badger brush and having difficulty finding which one to use. I stopped by C&E the other day and they no longer carry the Edwin Jagger best badger. BUT, I found an on-line source for the EJ BBB (look, I'm getting the acronyms down ). But then, on reading reviews on this site, that brush might be too floppy for soaps? GAH! It's driving me nuts What does everyone recommend?

 

[Texas Don]

I recommend that you don't divest yourself of a lot of hard earned funds until you've had a chance to try a few different options to see what you like. I purchased my first really good badger brush off flea bay. Search for a seller who sells brushes labeled Frank Shaving. You can obtain a nice, plump pure badger for less than $20.00 delivered. He offers a better grade for under $30.00 but I can find nothing to complain about with my $20.00 one. It makes mounds of lather and is soft and pleasant against my skin. You get a free brush stand with it even.

 

[mikromicke]

I've heard some good stuff about penworks so you might want to check them out:

http://www.penworks.us//index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25_73

 

[Wingnut]

Another option for you is to think about getting a boar brush instead of badger. Omega offers very good quality boar brushes for less than $15.00, and I find them to be on par with all but the finest quality badger brushes (once they have been properly broken in). Semogue also offers boar brushes in various grades and price points - PM B&B member Leon for details, as he is a vendor of them.

BTW, I have been using high-end badger brushes for more than 30 years - I'm exclusively a face latherer and use both soaps and creams, so this opinion is not just manufactured out of thin air. Once broken in, a good boar is every bit as soft and luxurious as even a silvertip badger, and at just a fracton of the cost. When I got my Omega Pro 49, I was truly surprised!

 

[rosborne]

I'm a newb looking for my first badger brush and having difficulty finding which one to use. I stopped by C&E the other day and they no longer carry the Edwin Jagger best badger. BUT, I found an on-line source for the EJ BBB (look, I'm getting the acronyms down ). But then, on reading reviews on this site, that brush might be too floppy for soaps? GAH! It's driving me nuts What does everyone recommend?

I have an EJ BBB in medium. It works soaps PERFECTLY as well as creams. Even does a great job with MWF. And for $35, it can't be beat. Go ahead and jump on it.

 

[taffy]

Another vote here for thinking about a boar brush, I have a omega that compares to my badgers, also don't be put off by the cheaper badgers out there, my first badger was from the shaving shack, their own brand for £15, and now I have had a few badgers I have to say it was a goodie,

 

[DanOK]

It depends on what you are looking for in a brush. Boars are a good start and for $20 to $30 you can get a great one, soft to the face when broken in and lots of backbone. I enjoy a stiffer badger brush for use with soaps and my favorite soap brush is a QED Pure (starting at $49.50).

I would consider all the other suggestions good starter brushes. My first badger brush was a Tweezerman which I paid $10 for and which I still use sometimes. Having a budget is exactly the right way to start. It will take you a while to find the best brush for you and being a little frugal now will pay off later.

 

[cswann1]

Parker has several models of pure badger for under $30 on Amazon.

For under $20 Omega has some really nice Boar brushes that are said to be superb once broken in.

 

[norman931]

Kent BK2. Try Auravita.com for the best price.

 

[The Last Chimney]

Honestly, I don't understand why people say you need a certain kind of brush to lather soaps better.

My lone brush is a silvertip badger with a 55mm loft, which is definitely on the long side. I use soaps almost exclusively, and have not met one that cannot be lathered nicely, or even one that takes an unreasonable amount of time to load.

If that EJ is pulling at your heartstrings, don't be afraid to give it a home!

 

[rickfish99]

 

[kg4ghn]

I have the EJ BBB in medium. It is a little floppy and I would like a little more backbone. I am hopefully going to be trying a few boars out pretty soon.

With that being said, I use 98% soaps and I don't have any problem making good lather with my EJ brush at all. I want a brush with more backbone for the feel on the face, not to be better at making lather.

 

[Shavely Manden]

Got a Target in your area? The Shea Moisture brush is quite nice for both creams & soaps (I've used it regularly for Tabac & MWF without issue), and it's only $9 or so. Not all Targets carry it (and it's a scritchy little thing), but it's really a wonderful starting brush.

 

[wintermute2]

Thanks all! I think I want to spend a little more than the Shea or the Frank Shaving and I have a personal rule to try to stay away from Made in China products whenever feasible. I'd like to get a Semoque or Omega boar brush one day, but I'm working off an old boar brush that's still adequate, but probably in need of a restore, so I want to stick to badger. At the moment (and my opinion could change again) I think I'm looking at the EJ BBB, Omega "stripey" and the Simpsons Berkeley. I know that the Berkeley is a smallish brush, but is it a SMALL brush?

 

[mdevine]

Small brushes work great with soaps. I have a Simpson Wee Scot and love its performance with soaps. Simpson's in any size in Best Badger are outstanding soap brushes.

 

[VT_Hokie]

Another option for you is to think about getting a boar brush instead of badger. Omega offers very good quality boar brushes for less than $15.00, and I find them to be on par with all but the finest quality badger brushes (once they have been properly broken in). Semogue also offers boar brushes in various grades and price points - PM B&B member Leon for details, as he is a vendor of them.

BTW, I have been using high-end badger brushes for more than 30 years - I'm exclusively a face latherer and use both soaps and creams, so this opinion is not just manufactured out of thin air. Once broken in, a good boar is every bit as soft and luxurious as even a silvertip badger, and at just a fracton of the cost. When I got my Omega Pro 49, I was truly surprised!

Another vote here for thinking about a boar brush, I have a omega that compares to my badgers, also don't be put off by the cheaper badgers out there, my first badger was from the shaving shack, their own brand for £15, and now I have had a few badgers I have to say it was a goodie,

I remember when I first started, someone recommended a boar to me. I instantly blew it off as I was under the assumption that those ugly undied bristles and low cost meant that it was a ***.

If I only knew then what I know now....

Get yourself a quality boar my friend. You won't regret it. Best of both worlds if you play your cards right.

 

[mikromicke]

Could anyone recommend a specific, great boar brush that doesn't have too much loft? I've tried the Omega Pro but found it much to floppy.

 

[VT_Hokie]

Could anyone recommend a specific, great boar brush that doesn't have too much loft? I've tried the Omega Pro but found it much to floppy.

http://www.vintagescent.com

Look at the 620 and 1470 for a 50mm loft. SOC, 830, any of the other usual suspects are also good candidates but are a little too tall for my tastes.

I prefer something with a 50mm loft max so the 1470 is my go-to. Also like the hair grade in that one.

 

[wintermute2]

Shoot, now I just saw a Rooney 3/1 in Pure Badger. I gotta stop adding possibilities!

 

[Shavely Manden]

and I have a personal rule to try to stay away from Made in China products whenever feasible.

I don't know if this influences your rule, but almost all badger hair used in brushes comes from China--I believe Plisson and maybe Vie-long are the only exceptions with their White Badgers.