What's new

What's the holy grail of synthetic brushes?

So, following the thread of "What's the holy grail of boar brushes", I had to create this one. I do love boar and badger, but for me, synthetics are my go to 7/8 out of 10 times when I shave.

They require less soap/cream to deliver a fantastic lather, are way easier and fast when cleaning up or drying, and literally everytime you use them, you know they will build fantastic lathers almost effortless, and there are plenty of fiber types to fullfill all the tastes.

For me, the sweetspot are the 26mm knots, and my favorite knots are: Timberwolf, Faux Horse and Cashmere!

So, considering this, what's your favorite knots, diameter, brands, etc? Share with us!
 

Owen Bawn

Garden party cupcake scented
I own and enjoy at least 10 synthetics. But "the one?" Easy. Simpsons' Platinum Fibre, particularly in the M7 brush. Platinum is great in the Chubby 2 and Duke configurations as well, but the M7 is truly something special.

sotd apr 15.jpeg
 
Well, I only have a Simpsons T2 synthetic. Honestly, I see no need to get any other synthetic, maybe a T3 if I suddenly feel the urge for a bigger knot. It lathers soap great, it has lots of backbone but it is soft on the face. To me, paying for Muhle or Omega Evo is not worth it. I think the T2 is the absolute best combination of price and quality. If I had the money for platinum fibre, Muhle or Evo would I try it? Sure. Do I need it? No.

I mainly used boars but they always find a way to annoy me. My Semogue started being floppy, my Omega ate lather like crazy and now my Zenith has broken hairs already. So whenever I want a nice and calm shave, I just reach for my T2, it never disappoints.
 
I’m perfectly happy with my $30 PAA Peregrino, and there are many great, well priced synthetic brushes… but as far as holy grail synthetic, I don’t think there is anything above Wald. Unless I haven’t discovered it yet. Whether or not it’s worth the price, I couldn’t tell you. But they look unreal.
 
Well, I only have a Simpsons T2 synthetic. Honestly, I see no need to get any other synthetic, maybe a T3 if I suddenly feel the urge for a bigger knot. It lathers soap great, it has lots of backbone but it is soft on the face. To me, paying for Muhle or Omega Evo is not worth it. I think the T2 is the absolute best combination of price and quality. If I had the money for platinum fibre, Muhle or Evo would I try it? Sure. Do I need it? No.

I mainly used boars but they always find a way to annoy me. My Semogue started being floppy, my Omega ate lather like crazy and now my Zenith has broken hairs already. So whenever I want a nice and calm shave, I just reach for my T2, it never disappoints.
Like Rivers23, I am very satisfied with Simpson's Trafalgar brushes. I have the T1 and T3, and am fighting off the urge to get a T2 as I use the T1 mainly for travel and the T3 won't fit in my stand. In addition to the benefits above, these brushes apply lather with great precision and dry quickly. They're great brushes at reasonable price.
 
I think the great thing about synthetics is there is no need for 'a holy grail' brush. Pretty much any 'modern' synthetic will do a great job at making and building a lather, but of course there are differences between different fibres and knots, some might have softer tips, some might release lather better, some might have better backbone and so on, but all in all, a run of the mill Yaqi synthetic (if you get one with a decent glue bump, but that's another issue!) will be a very good brush at building a lather with.

I personally couldn't justify spending that much for a higher end synth, which isn't to say they aren't worth what they sell for, but I myself am more than happy with my Yaqi synthetics however ubiquotous and unspectacular they may be. (there are other good well priced synths like Razorock, PAA etc and can be replaced for Yaqi). For my needs anyway, but for those who want more from their synthetic, there seem to be some great brushes out there like Wald mentioned above.
 
I think the great thing about synthetics is there is no need for 'a holy grail' brush. Pretty much any 'modern' synthetic will do a great job at making and building a lather, but of course there are differences between different fibres and knots, some might have softer tips, some might release lather better, some might have better backbone and so on, but all in all, a run of the mill Yaqi synthetic (if you get one with a decent glue bump, but that's another issue!) will be a very good brush at building a lather with.

I personally couldn't justify spending that much for a higher end synth, which isn't to say they aren't worth what they sell for, but I myself am more than happy with my Yaqi synthetics however ubiquotous and unspectacular they may be. (there are other good well priced synths like Razorock, PAA etc and can be replaced for Yaqi). For my needs anyway, but for those who want more from their synthetic, there seem to be some great brushes out there like Wald mentioned above.

I'm curious, because I do own quite some Yaqi synthetics...What are your favorite ones?
 
I'm curious, because I do own quite some Yaqi synthetics...What are your favorite ones?

I have the Sagrada Tuxedo, 2 Plissoft style brushes (22mm and 24mm), Mysterious Blue Handle with a Fan Tuxedo, the Faux Horse Rainbow Handle, a 3 new 20mm's - 2 with the new style fibre and one with Cashmere.

Even though they have different fibres and different sized knots I think they all perform beautifully at building a lather. The knots with the new style fibre, they seem a little springy, and I'd be inclined to say they are my least favourite, but I find myself picking up the Tuxedo knots more than the others, so the Sagrada Tuxedo might be my favourite one. Not the most exciting of choices but it is an excellent brush.
 
I think the great thing about synthetics is there is no need for 'a holy grail' brush. Pretty much any 'modern' synthetic will do a great job at making and building a lather, but of course there are differences between different fibres and knots, some might have softer tips, some might release lather better, some might have better backbone and so on, but all in all, a run of the mill Yaqi synthetic (if you get one with a decent glue bump, but that's another issue!) will be a very good brush at building a lather with.

I personally couldn't justify spending that much for a higher end synth, which isn't to say they aren't worth what they sell for, but I myself am more than happy with my Yaqi synthetics however ubiquotous and unspectacular they may be. (there are other good well priced synths like Razorock, PAA etc and can be replaced for Yaqi). For my needs anyway, but for those who want more from their synthetic, there seem to be some great brushes out there like Wald mentioned above.
+1000
I love my plissoft, it was my only brush for 2 years. Then I got a PAA Amber Aerolite, it is just great. On its own, it lacks nothing. Maybe the Wald for 10 times more would be a hair better, but I'm not interested for that price. I had an Evo for a short time, before I sent it back, because it was skewed(pretty disappointing for the price), and it didn't have the wow effect that many talk about. I have a synbad knot, dry it is beautifully soft, but in use I like the others better. The only synth knot I don't like is the Mühle black fibre, it lathers well, but it just does not feel as good as newer knots.
 
Only have two so far
RV Muhle STF that is my fav of all brushes
RR Plissoft which I am going to reuse the handle for some of the APShave G5C or the MIG knot in the handle
for me the RR Plissoft does not come close to the Muhle

YMMV :)
 

Ron R

I survived a lathey foreman
I always thought the 24mm synthetic brushes where just ideal for lathering and had all the characteristics a person likes in a brush and they mostly are #1 for most folks.
But if a person likes excellent lather generators, luxury heavenly cloud like soft tips, gentle splay scrubbers, excellent lather painters + not lather hogs Yaqi has some nice 26mm brushes and that is what I'm recommending and I use. I have 3 of them & was a little leery of them being lather hogs at first but that is not the case when I squeeze the lather out before washing the brush there is usually less lather trapped than my 24mm synthetics. Other brand names to consider would be (Italian barber) Razorock plissoft 26mm knots or Westcoast shaving has 26mm knots with nice handles also that come to mind.
Most shaving retailers have the 26mm synthetic knots, to short a loft with a 26mm will not give the nice face feel most folks want so keep that in mind also IMO when purchasing a synthetic brush.
 
I always thought the 24mm synthetic brushes where just ideal for lathering and had all the characteristics a person likes in a brush and they mostly are #1 for most folks.
But if a person likes excellent lather generators, luxury heavenly cloud like soft tips, gentle splay scrubbers, excellent lather painters + not lather hogs Yaqi has some nice 26mm brushes and that is what I'm recommending and I use. I have 3 of them & was a little leery of them being lather hogs at first but that is not the case when I squeeze the lather out before washing the brush there is usually less lather trapped than my 24mm synthetics. Other brand names to consider would be (Italian barber) Razorock plissoft 26mm knots or Westcoast shaving has 26mm knots with nice handles also that come to mind.
Most shaving retailers have the 26mm synthetic knots, to short a loft with a 26mm will not give the nice face feel most folks want so keep that in mind also IMO when purchasing a synthetic brush.
Thank you Ron, for your insight, really appreciate it.

As I said, I own a couple Yaqi synthetics, and my favorites are: Yaqi Rainbow, Yaqi Timberwolf, Yaqi Sagrada Familia, Yaqi Dandelion, and Yaqi Barberpole with Synbad knot.
What are your favorites?
 

Ron R

I survived a lathey foreman
Thank you Ron, for your insight, really appreciate it.

As I said, I own a couple Yaqi synthetics, and my favorites are: Yaqi Rainbow, Yaqi Timberwolf, Yaqi Sagrada Familia, Yaqi Dandelion, and Yaqi Barberpole with Synbad knot.
What are your favorites?
I have added extra brush additions lately to my brush collection like the Yaqi Casino clubs 26mm with a timber wolf knot:001_wub: and really enjoy that one also.
To be honest I like them all and bought most of them on the live sales and really like sales over the years. I will just leave a picture of some of my synthetic brushes. These are not all of my synthetic brushes. All my brushes get used on some sort of a rotation but there are a few I really enjoy like the Yaqi 26mm Red Zebra snow leopard knot and the the black marble 24mm cashmere knot that gets used daily for prep face washing (over 1200 daily uses still going strong)!
Rons 17 synthetic shave brushes (2).jpg


Have some great shaves!
 
I don’t really like synthetic brushes, but I do own and have used a bunch.

I am with @Owen Bawn as Simpson Platinum fibre is the best of the best IMO. The M7 is my favourite and the Chubby 2 is close behind. I don’t like the Soverign fibre found in the Trafalgar series nearly as much.
 
Top Bottom