What matters more to you, Brush Or Razor?

[Dave Colangelo]

So the various sections here got me thinking. Some people are very serious about their razors, they will go out and spend well over $100 on an iKon to get that perfect shave. While others here will go out and get that $300 custom brush. That being said I know there are people out there who have both. However I am a brush man, I am fine with a $5 used Gillette or a second hand Merkur 34C I do prefer a less aggressive razor but anything in that category will suffice, but a bad brush bothers me quite a bit. I need something soft and dense, something that holds water well and is luxurious for face lathering.

I guess cost is not the only metric here but it is a simple one to use for comparison I know there are great products out there for cheap. Lets keep the main question at what is more important to you, a good brush (however you define it) or a good razor (however you define it)? Imagine that you had to shave with what you may consider the "worst" product in one of the two categories what could you tolerate more and what would you not be able to live with out.

Post your definitions if you like.

Regards
Dave

 

[MrSteveVee]

Good shaver every time, a good brush will lift the hairs, feel nice but with a bad shaver/blade combo will just make a mess, whereas I could just use my hands to apply oil/cream if really necessary and with a good shaver/blade combo, still get a pretty decent shave

Steve V

 

[Niles]

I think the razor makes the more difference to me.

 

[Ron Scott]

A brush is nice but contributes nothing, or very little, to the shave.

 

[parapaul]

Although I don't have a lot of experience, I was perfectly comfortable using my EJ DE89 and cheap EJ brush. Face lathering is certainly more pleasant with a nicer brush, but shaves are neither better nor worse with a Gillette Super Adjustable.

So, brush.

 

[Toltepeceno]

I vote brush. You can get a good shave with a bad brush, but the best brush in the world will not get you a good shave with a bad razor.

A good brush makes it more pleasurable, but for the most part it's the razor that can make or break the shave.

 

[Haggises]

I vote brush. You can get a good shave with a bad brush, but the best brush in the world will not get you a good shave with a bad razor.

A good brush makes it more pleasurable, but for the most part it's the razor that can make or break the shave.

I voted razor for exactly the same reason.

 

[noahpictures]

Razor.
If a bad brush means it'll irritate my skin and won't build proper lather, I rather go brushless. I associate a bad razor with painful shaves so that's why I would pick a razor.

 

[mswofford]

What brush? I dry shaved with a Tech in the Army......

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Hmmm...that's a hard one. I guess I'll have to take off my shoe

and think about this.

Lets see, I think my brush (I'm a

man [B&B Essential Red & Blue brushes]), 'inches out' my razor (and not the blade?), but not by much.

Just my

"A good lather is half the shave". William Hone

 

[aihpcfl]

I spent much more on the brush I'm using regularly now than I did the razor, but as far as importance, regardless of cost, I would rank in order from highest to lowest: razor, soap, blade, brush. Again, quality and performance are the factors, not cost. For me I believe my choice of razor first and soap second are most responsible for a comfortable shave, after learning how to use the razor.

 

[mmack66]

I voted razor, but for me, the blade and the soap make more of a difference than do the razor and/or brush.

 

[keithmax]

I voted razor because it makes a huge difference in the quality of the shave. But I only have 4 razors in my rotation and 10 brushes and two more on the way. For that BBS without irritation every need to be there for me, prep, good software, good brush, the right blade with the right razor.

 

[Szyman01]

I vote razor, I can build a good lather even with my cheap Burma Shave brush, but the razor and blades are what makes the shave most enjoyable.

 

[Labowski]

I voted brush. I feel that as long as I have good blades and good technique the shave should be fine. A good brush is icing on the cake. I

 

[MrLara]

Tough to call for me. I converted to a face latherer so a good brush is needed imo.

But like others have said, a bad razor/blade combo will leave your face like the nasca lines.

 

[Cobra0369]

Brush!!! Hands down.

 

[Greg1911]

I spend far more time face lathering than I do shaving so that equals BRUSH.

 

[mmack66]

I spend far more time face lathering than I do shaving so that equals BRUSH.

Really? Once I get past the first pass lather, the subsequent lathers are pretty quick.

 

[CUSE69]

For me the razor is definitely more important. I've been shaving for 50 years and have only owned a brush for 2 months.