I thought perhaps it would be good to start a general synthetic brush thread now that I've reviewed all my synthetic brushes. Here are links to the reviews: Body Shop, Culmak, Men-U, Muhle, Omega Sintex, Omega Big Boy, Rooney, Taylor of Old Bond Street. I should point out that all the reviews are just that, reviews. They tell my opinions and experiences. Your mileage may vary. Now that's said I'll summarize things.
My favourite of the bunch is the Taylor of Old Bond Street brush, which I like both because it works well and feels nice, but also because in a kind of geeky way I like how they've managed to make a brush completely different from all other synthetics with its blend of different hairs. I would like to try the large model they have though, the one I have is medium. The Men-U who's got positive mentions on the boards is by no means bad, but lands in second place as far as I am concerned.
When it comes to picking one from the cheaper ones, I'd pick the Body Shop brush over the Omega Sintex. I like the softness of the tips, but I can see how it might be too stiff for some.
And some notes about things I haven't mentioned in the individual reviews:
Pricing
I realise I have said "budget group", but haven't really talked about money much. What I call the "budget group" includes the Body Shop, Omega Sintex and Culmak brushes and all go for about $10 each. The other brushes all go for about $40-50 each.
Packaging
A few brushes come with little or no packaging. The Body Shop and Culmak had none, the Men-U, Muhle and Omega Sintex all had a flimsy plastic tube or box. The Rooney, Taylor, Omega big boy had a bit more proper boxes.
Smell
You won't get badger butt smell of a synthetic, but you might get a bit of... android butt. But like with natural brushes, the smell goes away after not too long.
Hair loss
I read someone suggesting that the reason badger brushes lose hair is because they absorb water and will expand and retract. Whether this is true or not, I know that the synthetics hardly lose any hairs. My Taylor's has done a little bit of shedding, but otherwise they've all held their hair very well.
Brushes not reviewed
Apparently Salter makes a synthetic brush, but it isn't listed on their own website, and I haven't been searching for retailers who carry it because apparently it's the same as the Rooney. Edwin Jagger make a synthetic brush, but I couldn't tell a difference between the knot it had and the one on my Muhle, so everything I've written goes for the EJ as well (except the EJ has a different, equally nice, handle). Delong makes a $12.50 nylon brush, but the only retailer I've seen who carries it is Cotton Blossom Crafts, who don't ship to outside the US.
Finally I'd like to thank Exapno and L. Martino for getting my collection to where it is now.
My favourite of the bunch is the Taylor of Old Bond Street brush, which I like both because it works well and feels nice, but also because in a kind of geeky way I like how they've managed to make a brush completely different from all other synthetics with its blend of different hairs. I would like to try the large model they have though, the one I have is medium. The Men-U who's got positive mentions on the boards is by no means bad, but lands in second place as far as I am concerned.
When it comes to picking one from the cheaper ones, I'd pick the Body Shop brush over the Omega Sintex. I like the softness of the tips, but I can see how it might be too stiff for some.
And some notes about things I haven't mentioned in the individual reviews:
Pricing
I realise I have said "budget group", but haven't really talked about money much. What I call the "budget group" includes the Body Shop, Omega Sintex and Culmak brushes and all go for about $10 each. The other brushes all go for about $40-50 each.
Packaging
A few brushes come with little or no packaging. The Body Shop and Culmak had none, the Men-U, Muhle and Omega Sintex all had a flimsy plastic tube or box. The Rooney, Taylor, Omega big boy had a bit more proper boxes.
Smell
You won't get badger butt smell of a synthetic, but you might get a bit of... android butt. But like with natural brushes, the smell goes away after not too long.
Hair loss
I read someone suggesting that the reason badger brushes lose hair is because they absorb water and will expand and retract. Whether this is true or not, I know that the synthetics hardly lose any hairs. My Taylor's has done a little bit of shedding, but otherwise they've all held their hair very well.
Brushes not reviewed
Apparently Salter makes a synthetic brush, but it isn't listed on their own website, and I haven't been searching for retailers who carry it because apparently it's the same as the Rooney. Edwin Jagger make a synthetic brush, but I couldn't tell a difference between the knot it had and the one on my Muhle, so everything I've written goes for the EJ as well (except the EJ has a different, equally nice, handle). Delong makes a $12.50 nylon brush, but the only retailer I've seen who carries it is Cotton Blossom Crafts, who don't ship to outside the US.
Finally I'd like to thank Exapno and L. Martino for getting my collection to where it is now.