Thread: How important is the brush?

Another option is to make your own. You can get knots at The Golden Nib and then just epoxy them into either a vintage handle, or a homemade one.

I made my first one about a year ago and have since added a nice super badger housed in an antique Ever-Ready handle.

Originally Posted by Fbones24

I am new to straight razor shaving having only about 10 shaves done. I have been using an Omega Stripey 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush that I got for cheap online.

I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to invest $50 - $75 in a "better" brush. I have been looking at some of the handmade brushes on ebay and other sites.

Is it worth it or should I concentrate more on other areas for now?

Let me remind you that there are lots of choices.

Compare these two just by looking and tell me which is $100+ more than the other.


I always enjoy my low cost badger.
It has worked through a couple of pucks+ of
Williams and gets softer and better with each.
It works well with all the soaps I have from
AOS, MWF, Tabac, Williams... The hard soaps
that shave so well for me seem to jump up and
lather with a badger brush.

Since there are so few shaves in a year
do not postpone and try one now. If nothing
else it will teach you how to use your
Omega.

PS:
Ask me in a month or two about the
new horse hair brush that is in the mail.
It was a toss up between it and a
new Thäter .. see the thread:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...r-theater.html

Originally Posted by Fbones24

I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to invest $50 - $75 in a "better" brush. I have been looking at some of the handmade brushes on ebay and other sites.

Is it worth it or should I concentrate more on other areas for now?

I haven't used that specific brush so I can't really comment on its quality or lack thereof. But I guess you'd have to ask yourself if you are unhappy with its performance? If the answer is yes I'd say to upgrade to a medium priced model, such as the one Robin mentioned and go from there.

In the scheme of things is a $200 brush going to make or break your shave? No. Nor will it make you a better lather maker. Just one of those luxuries that is nice if you can afford it.

Fbones: what soap or cream are you using?

I'm not inclined to recommend a brush upgrade just yet, because that Omega shouldn't be too bad at all. If you really fancy a new brush though, the Golden Nib knots really do represent excellent value, and an opportunity to make or commission something unique. Here's mine (best badger, flanked by a Kent and a Semogue):

I'm currently using Mamabear's soaps. The omega brush is okay, I just notice it is losing bristles daily. I'm sure that is a quality issue. Based on the comments here, I think if I did get a new brush, it would be in the $40 - $50 range from one of the reputable manufacturers. It just seems that I should concentrate more on technique, prep and acquiring more razors before acquiring more brushes.

Originally Posted by BingoBango

What!?!?!?

I would totally prefer to have a bottom rung brush and a great razor than the best brush and a mediocre razor.

I wound up buying a really nice brush a ways back, but I still use my cheap-0 boar bristle about half the time. If it was between a nice brush and a nice razor, I say razor all the way. Keep in mind, this is only the correct answer and you don't have to listen to me.

I think the point Robin was trying to make was that someone relatively new to straight shaving would not readily discern the difference between shaving with a decent, but good quality razor and an expensive one, even a custom. On the other hand, going from a shedding, pure badger Omega off ebay to a quality silvertip, the difference is readily appreciated. Not necessarily in the quality of the shave, assuming the user can make good quality lather with both, but in the enjoyment of the whole process.

If it were just the ability to get a good shave that we were all concerned about, a puck of Williams, a boar brush, and one professionally honed Dovo Best Quality or vintage blade will go a long way for us all. As Lynn would say, it's all about enjoying the sport.

sure, get one. you feel like you skimped on the brush and you want to find out the difference. since everybody values different things the only way to find out if a more expensive brush is worth the price for you is to try it out.
there are plenty of differences among all kinds of brushes and plenty of people who do or do not care about them.
but where you will fall depends on you only.