Thread: Need help choosing a brush and soap...

So my mantra has always been "cheap". But my birthday is coming up which means "free" and a chance to upgrade. I am still considering price cus I don't wanna be a prick and ask for a $100 shave brush. Anyone have advice/opinion/preferences about the following:

Brushes:
Tweezerman Amazon.com: Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care
Crabtree and Evelyn- the basic ~$30 brush
Anything else thats pure (as in 100%, not grade) badger and sub $50?

Soaps:
I like hard puck soap. Please don't recommend creams.
Crabtree and Evelyn
Caswell Massey
Colonel Conk
Anything else?

Finally, can someone guide me as to the grading of the different badger hairs? Its not that important to me, right now I don't mind having the worst, but I'm just curious. Also, with the soaps, I don't like strong scents. Which soaps in each line have clean fresh scents? I like soapy as long as its not too strong, and citrus as long as its not too strong. I have no clue what almond or bay rum or amber would smell like. And I have no clue what the named lines would smell like, so please advise which ones smell clean and fresh and aren't too strong.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by khaos

Finally, can someone guide me as to the grading of the different badger hairs? Its not that important to me, right now I don't mind having the worst, but I'm just curious.

There's the Pure, the most scratchy hair, which is good for soaps, then there's Best, which is a better all-around hair, more soft than Pure, good for both soaps and creams, and then there's Silvertip, the most soft (and expensive) hair.
It's a matter of taste, you have to try them to see what do you like most.

Truth of the matter? Most any brush will work for you. Leon's explanation is spot on. In reality, they will all perform for you.

As for soaps, the best in performance (and scent) that I have experienced are the ones from TGQ. I have used Caswell-Massey but was not impressed with it. I have read good threads about Crabtree and Evelyn. SRD supposedly has good soaps. If you are lloking for inexpensive soaps check out Williams, or something at Walmart.

Originally Posted by dward

Truth of the matter? Most any brush will work for you. Leon's explanation is spot on. In reality, they will all perform for you.

As for soaps, the best in performance (and scent) that I have experienced are the ones from TGQ. I have used Caswell-Massey but was not impressed with it. I have read good threads about Crabtree and Evelyn. SRD supposedly has good soaps. If you are lloking for inexpensive soaps check out Williams, or something at Walmart.

I'll second TGQ. I'm still learning how to lather up the soaps but I picked up a few of their samples and they smell/feel outstanding.

You can also pick up brushes from them as well. I got mine from there because I wanted the soap and figured it'd help out on shipping costs. Boar brush for $14, badger brushes from $44-$54.

http://www.thegentlemensquarter.com/

I have the Crabtree & Evelyn best badger brush (~$35): I think it is a great brush...it was my first and is still my only brush at this point in time.

I have experimented with more creams than soaps, so I can't be of much help in that area. I hear nothing but glowing reviews about The Gentlemen's Quarterly (TGQ) soaps, as well as Mama Bear soaps. Crabtree & Evelyn is supposed to be good (but I would check the scents personally, as at least for me some of their scents were overpowering)...and there is always Art of Shaving soaps as well.

Good luck with making your wish list....and a premature Happy B-day!

There's not too much difference IMO from Pure through Best to Silvertip badger brushes so don't fret that too much.

X

Thanks. Can anyone recommend a clean/fresh smelling, not so strong TGQ soap?

I cannot as I haven't used them, but.....

Colleen (the Soap Mistress) that heads up TGQ can be contacted directly and she can be very helpful in answering most questions, from fragrance to skin sensitive products, etc.

Obviously the guys here that have used the products can speak from the wetshaving end of it, but don't hesitate to contact her...she's great!

Originally Posted by khaos

Thanks. Can anyone recommend a clean/fresh smelling, not so strong TGQ soap?

The simple answer is: it depends. We have no idea what your tastes are in scents, no pun intended. One thing you must remember, soap scents are not like aftershave or colognes in that a soap scent will tend to dilute when lathered up. After my shave it's hardly noticeable. You should also check out Mama Bear's soaps as she has a large following here as well. If you can afford it get one or two soaps from a few sources, and in scents you think you would like, and compare them.

Okay. I guess my question then is, can anyone tell me what bay rum smells like? Cus that comes up a lot and thats the strangest scent description I've ever heard.