I'm attempting to upgrade my brush from a Vulfix pure badger brush which is....meh. It's a good starter brush, but I've found the handle to be too short for bowl lathering and my hands. Needless to say, there are more than a couple brushes out there, so in an attempt to understand what I'm actually looking for in a brush, what makes a brush a better face latherer than bowl latherer and vice versa? From knot size, to overall height to type of hair, or anything i might not even know about yet, what say you?
What makes a good brush a good brush?
- Thread starter dushea
- Start date
I think it is very personal. I have found I like a small, dense, low loft brush (I am a bowl latherer so this is unusual). My current goto brush is a Duke 1. I can even use the Wee Scot and be pretty satisfied
Others people like large floppy brushes.
Others people like large floppy brushes.
To me it's all about how good a lather in makes and how does it feel on my face. I don't like stiff, irritating brushes. Brushes that are my current favorites are:
- In badger: DaVinci Uonomo in any size, B&B 2011 TGN knot brush, T&H Silvertip Badger Brush.
- In boar: B&B Essential Brush, SOC brush.
- In synthetic: Muhle 23mm classic.
as a newbie...i would like to see a TUTORIAL on brushes to include LOFT CHOICES, KNOT CHOICES, HANDLE CHOICES and advantages/disadvantages to brush types. I've been using cheapo boar brushes sold by drug stores/pharmacys for around $9 - $11 but when I got a Parker (best badger) for around $35 it was a HUGE difference. Now I'm wondering what an even more expensive brush might do for me BUT...when I look at the pictures, they're ALL SMALLER than what I'm using and it makes me wonder, "hmmmmm...smaller brush (and more expensive) means more or better lather?" HOW CAN THAT BE?
It is a very personal thing. While many prefer shorter lofts for face lathering and longer lofts for bowl lathering, truth is you can make any brush do whatever you want. It may not be the best choice, but you can make it work.
For ME, I prefer a brush that has very soft tips (virtually scritch free), medium-high backbone (either through density, shorter loft or thicker hairs) and a handle that is both aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing. I own many brushes that fit this description in boar and badger. This morning's brush was a Shavemac 944 D01 3-band and it has a tiny bit of scritch (very tiny), but it is very dense and was absolutely enjoyable to use. Tomorrow I have a Kent BK2 on deck and it is almost the opposite with thick hairs, medium-low density, higher loft but it actually feels really good on my face, similar to a low density Simpson best brush (Simpson doesn't make one, but this would be it if they did).
For ME, I prefer a brush that has very soft tips (virtually scritch free), medium-high backbone (either through density, shorter loft or thicker hairs) and a handle that is both aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing. I own many brushes that fit this description in boar and badger. This morning's brush was a Shavemac 944 D01 3-band and it has a tiny bit of scritch (very tiny), but it is very dense and was absolutely enjoyable to use. Tomorrow I have a Kent BK2 on deck and it is almost the opposite with thick hairs, medium-low density, higher loft but it actually feels really good on my face, similar to a low density Simpson best brush (Simpson doesn't make one, but this would be it if they did).
From what I have read, the face latherers seem to like the bigger and denser knots (ie those above 26mm) The nickname tied to such a brush is "lather hog," as they easily pick up and hold enough lather for several passes. I am a bowl latherer though, so I like brushes with a longer handle and less loft, plus I have big hands so it helps me in that respect.
I just recently picked up a Rooney in style 3 size 2, with a 60mm handle, 48mm loft and 26mm knot. It has perfect balance for me between handle and loft height. It has a nice density to it, but not as much as a Simpson Chubby. It is super soft compared the the parker pure badger I was using. The difference is like night and day.
I just recently picked up a Rooney in style 3 size 2, with a 60mm handle, 48mm loft and 26mm knot. It has perfect balance for me between handle and loft height. It has a nice density to it, but not as much as a Simpson Chubby. It is super soft compared the the parker pure badger I was using. The difference is like night and day.
My best performing brushes have shorter lofts and more backbone.
A lot of it is just personal preference too.
A lot of it is just personal preference too.
A very personal choice. Right now I'm in love with my Rover. Dense, short loft, a little stiff, a tad scritchy. I face lather exclusively. I also have a duke 2, thater and a few others.
What makes a good brush?
A handle you like (I love the Rooney 3 style handle)
The loft you like (I like them a little shorter for face lathering)
A type of hair you like (Kent has some great hair in that BK8 and the TGN Finest is awesome too!)
Add them all up and you've got a winner.
A handle you like (I love the Rooney 3 style handle)
The loft you like (I like them a little shorter for face lathering)
A type of hair you like (Kent has some great hair in that BK8 and the TGN Finest is awesome too!)
Add them all up and you've got a winner.
I really like Marc's outline:
Handle comfort is really important to me. Shavemac's #25 is the most comfortable to me and goes both ways (bowl or face)
Loft and size: I like to go 22x45 or 24x48-50 depending on backbone and density
Hair: Good backbone with soft tips= 2 Band or nice tips with a scrubby hair Simpson best.
Whichever feels best on your face while lathering and which ever feels best in your hand while lathering in a bowl! Good luck.
As others have said, a good brush is one which fits your needs. Some shavers prefer a scrubby brush, others something cloud-soft; preferences for size and handle-shape also vary wildly.
What are you looking for in a brush?
What are you looking for in a brush?
An excellent question with (obviously) many answers.
Do you bowl lather or face lather? Probably a different answer for each preference - although the SOC often finds champions in each camp.
Do you like a wood handle? Fat handle? Long handle? How big are your hands? How big is your bowl? Soap or cream? Scritch or smooth? Cheap or expensive?
Do you bowl lather or face lather? Probably a different answer for each preference - although the SOC often finds champions in each camp.
Do you like a wood handle? Fat handle? Long handle? How big are your hands? How big is your bowl? Soap or cream? Scritch or smooth? Cheap or expensive?
Face lathering?
Duke 2 is all you need to know.
Duke 2 is all you need to know.
- Thread starter
- #15
+1. Without actually having 10 different brushes in front of me, I'm lost when it comes to what the difference actually means between brushes.
