I'm curious if there's any animal-free shaving brushes? Is it possible to get hold of a synthetic or plant-based brush that work, or would that be worse than just using canned shaving foam?
/Johan
Printable View
I'm curious if there's any animal-free shaving brushes? Is it possible to get hold of a synthetic or plant-based brush that work, or would that be worse than just using canned shaving foam?
/Johan
I actually JUST bought a synthetic brush this weekend! I've been using a badger hair brush the whole time, but have been feeling a little bit guilty about using animal products. I picked mine up from The Body Shop. I don't know where you live, but I think The Body Shop is only in Canada. But I find the synthetic brush nice.
This is my first, but it actually feels softer than my badger hair brush. It wasn't one of the finest badger hair brushes granted. But it's very soft on the skin, and feels nice. The only complaint I have is that it doesn't seem to retain water quite as well as the badger hair. But it certainly does the job. :tu
P.S. It was a lot cheaper than a bager hair brush too! Picked it up for around $10!
If you're also interested in a synthetic strop (i.e. no animal products), Tony Miller sells a vegan strop. I'm looking into getting one, when the funds permit it!
Try the MenU range of synthetic brushes , I Had one & It performed brilliantly. I got mine in Boots the chemist in the UK.
Here are a couple... never used any of these, so take it for what its worth.
The English Shaving Company - Edwin Jagger shaving accessories, shaving creams and aftershaves
men-u Premium Synthetic Shave Brush [SB-MEN-0235] - $56.00 : West Coast Shaving, Double Edge Blade Sampler Packs
Shave Shop
Enourmous thanks for the quick replys!
Doing a quick google search, I've found an online shop here in sweden that sells MenU brushes, and I'm definitely looking into The Body Shop, we have a small store here in town :D I'm situated in Sweden, so the range of realistically available stores and such is somewhat limited ;)
@Dave: I'm looking into Tony's vegan strops, and once the pay from my upcoming temp job hits... ;)
Also, forgot in my first reply:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharp&Shiny
@Sharp, did you find the MenU to have the "issue" Dave mentioned, with not retaining water as well as a badger brush?
The Body Shop is all over the CONUS too. There are a few in Washington, DC, including in Georgetown.
It's all over Europe aswell :p
And here I am thinking it was only in Canada. :wQuote:
Originally Posted by Gotland
The Body Shop synthetic is a very good brush (not spectacular, but darn good for the price.) Being so inexpensive, it is a good way to find out if you like synthetic. If not, you haven't spent much (if memory serves they are in the $10 vicinity) and because it is small and the nylon does not absorb water, they make excellent travel brushes.
I am currently the owner of a EJ Synthetic and an EJ Best Badger. No, I didn't order them both to compare the two and do tests, however...fate has that way of making us do stuff...
Without going into the details as to why I have two brushes, no I don't have BRAD either, I must say that unfortunately the badger is much better. :chop::gaah:
That said. The synthetic brush is actually very very very good. The bristles are smooth on your face, it hasn't shed a single one and the water retention is also very good. However, the badger does hold more water and is less scritchy on your face. The problem with the nylon bristles is that they are tough. Much tougher than badger hair. The tips are soft, don't get me wrong, but the shafts are very strong, so face lathering is a big no no. :nono:
All that said, the EJ synthetic is a GREAT brush. While you can't face lather with it and have to adjust the brush strokes for application purposes, the bristles are soft, it holds water well, and the handle is very nice too. And no badgers were harmed during the process. Plastics on the other hand....
Unfortunately its a tradeoff between killing badgers, a renewable resource, and killing oil, unrenewable resource. :chop::gaah::cen:gth
Btw, now that I'm done with the synthetic, if anyone is looking for one, I'm probably going to be selling it.
I have to give props to the Body Shop brush myself. I really enjoy it so far. I do however want to buy a badger brush to really compare and see how well the synthetic really works.
omega makes a synthetic, called the "Syntex", that is apparently pretty good. I've never used it, but I do know that Omega does good work.
Muehle-shaving.com make a few brushes. They are all filled with Edwin Jagger's synthetic head so they are very good quality. Also Rooney makes a synthetic.