eBay Budget Phoenix Hill Shaving Brush

I know some of you guys might scream at me for doing a review on this cheap brush but I haven't seen a review on here for it so.. here is a quick one. I'm putting this in the beginners section because of the price, it's the cheapest badger brush i have seen so far.

I don't know if anyone else has tried one of these Chinese Phoenix Hill Shaving Brush? I ordered one for a laugh and i have been using it for the past week to see what they are like.

They claim to be 100% badger. They feel like badger and it soaks up the water like badger but for all i know they could be 100% dog hair. :D

It comes with a nice cheap stand that would be worth no more then $1 but it still looks good and serves its purpose well.

The brush itself is much thicker then my expensive 'Mason Pearson' and my not so expensive 'Mayfair'. It feels very nice, quite soft and almost up with the 'Mason Parson' if not better then it due to the amount of hair that is in it.

On a down side, it has lost a lot of hair.. This can be annoying when making a lather and pulling out the loos strands. Even though it has lost a lot of hair it is still thicker then my other brushes. Now after using it for a week i think most of the loose hairs have finished falling out now.

Either way for the price of $12.99 I'm pleasantly surprised and i would be happy to spend the $12.99 again if not a little more. I don't think it would last a life time although i couldn't see why it wouldn't last 12 months if not longer.

By all means not not suggesting that you guys go out and get one although i do think its worth looking at, especially if you are just starting out and you don't have a lot of money to spend. I would say it is much better then most of the the boar or synthetic hair brushes out there, well from what i have seen anyway.

eBay Budget Phoenix Hill Shaving Brush

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9400754/Stra...nix%20Hill.jpg

My personal opinion, for $12.99 + $6.99 shipping. You cant go wrong and this would make a great 'first' brush for any user..

Looks to me very similar to Frank Shaving's badger brushes. The cheapest model from Ian Tang is only $11.99, with same shipping cost. I have 2 of his, neither shed more than a few hairs. Not saying these are not interesting, just pointing out there are other good quality budget brushes out there.

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

Looks to me very similar to Frank Shaving's badger brushes. The cheapest model from Ian Tang is only $11.99, with same shipping cost. I have 2 of his, neither shed more than a few hairs.

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I think its good that there are some more experienced users on you like yourself that are willing to have a go with the cheaper stuff!

It can be an expensive hobby to start out and reading through the forums there are a lot of people starting out who need a cheaper option. With with every alternative option that could save a few bucks it could help another user get into straights. :D

I might order one and see how it compares. it almost look like it came out the same factory, In the photo there are a few loose hairs but I'm guessing that will correct itself after a few uses!

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

just pointing out there are other good quality budget brushes out there.

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That would be the whole point of this, there are alternative option if your on a budget. If you cant afford a nice new brush from SRD just yet you can still get one that will work well until you can.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9400754/Stra...ush%20ebay.JPG

Pure Badger Hair Shaving Brush with Mixed Color Handle US $11.99 + $6.99 shipping

Then you also have this Frank&Livy Shaving brand that also look like its the same hair used.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9400754/Stra...ank%20Livy.JPG
Although this is US $25.95 + $11.99.. Would you pay the extra? I don't think i would..




@ str8fencer - do you think your Frank Shaver is badger hair or something else???

While I'm not straightfencer, I can say that IME the Frank brushes are indeed badger. If they aren't, whatever they're made of works wonderfully.
I've got a Frank best badger that I use almost daily. I've only had it for about two months but after the 4th shave it hasn't shed more than two hairs.
After a couple weeks I either got used to it or the "pricklyness" that goes with best badger has mostly vanished.

What do you think, Made in the same factory? Keeping in mind there are a few variations of both.

The hair on my phoenix hill looks a little more like the frank brush then the phoenix hill in the photo

Below is the Phoenix hill and Frank Shavers together
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9400754/Stra...k%20Shaver.jpg

The photo below is a fake of the brands being switching. for an idea on how close they are
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9400754/Stra...ver%20mock.jpg

Swap the logos across and added a slight color to the bristles. The handles themselves are very much alike. The phoenix hill is slightly wider at the base but i would still say they are made in the same factory.

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Originally Posted by Brighty83

@ str8fencer - do you think your Frank Shaver is badger hair or something else???

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Dear Brighty83,
yes, I do indeed believe they are real badger. And I have myself thought they were very similar, and perhaps from the same factory. I reckon just like straight producers of yesteryear would produce goods stamped with the vendor's name, so do they do in China. Phoenix Hill is a new brand to me, and I have not seen it mentioned before, while Frank Shaving is a well known brand and many here enjoy them. Might be a new vendor just, with the same gear.

As for starting on a budget, or using budget gear even - I recommend anyone to try a boar brush. They are considerably cheaper than badger, a top quality boar brush (albeit without the fanciest of handles) from a renown maker is not much more than these entry level badgers, and while I have badger brushes I reach for my boar more often than not.

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Originally Posted by Brighty83

Although this is US $25.95 + $11.99.. Would you pay the extra? I don't think i would..

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Hehe, I was actually considering that one - I like the shape of the handle :p

I'm on vacation so all you get is a crappy cell phone pic.
What's the weight on the Phoenix hill? The Frank brush just feels solid compared to a VDH or even my Omega boar brush. Except for the 48, it's a bit of a hoss.
I think a horse hair brush is next for me.

The Phoenix hill is solid.

It has solid hard plastic handle, if it falls or knocks against my bowel when creating a lather it almost sounds like glass or ceramic hitting it.

On the kitchen scales it weighs 65 grams but i don't know how accurate they are lol but It would be close, give or take.

Nice looking handle on that brush and i wouldn't worry about the photo, All my photos are taken on a phone! lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

Hehe, I was actually considering that one - I like the shape of the handle :p

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Sometimes the looks makes all the difference, get it! :D