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For the longest lime now I have been using basic boar brushes, I have 2 of them in my rotation, and they are pretty soft and do well with my face armor. But I was in the consignment shop yesterday and picked up a badger brush they had, and honestly besides how quickly this thing soaks up watter I really cant tell too much differance in the boar and badger brushes. Did I get a lemon or is there just alot of over hype for badger?
sjb,
What grade a badger brush did you purchase, pure, best, super or silvertip? What sizes are the knot and the loft? How strong is the backbone — is it floppy and flimsy or does it have a sturdy knot? How soft are the tips? Finally, what brand is it? Until you answer these questions, it is hard to make a comment on your brush, and whether it's good or not.
Brand is unknow, it has a custom handle, it appears to be a pure, with a sturdy knot, the tips feel a hair softer than the bristle, and didnt measure knot and loft, got it last night and had a quick shave this moring. It is not a bad brush by any means, and got the job done well this morning.
sjb,
The typical custom-made badger brushes I have come across in places not known as shaving havens, with some exceptions, of course, mostly have been of pure grade badger with thin knots, scratchy tips and weak backbone. Some gentlemen like those characteristics in shaving brushes, and that's fine. Yours might be an exception, I don't know, not without seeing and feeling it, anyway. Since you live in Milwaukee, you're more than welcome to stop by the house and let me look at your brush, and also to give you some pointers into what to look for in your next brush. Since also the brush seems to work for you, then you have made the right choice. For your next brush, if I may suggest, try the Simpson Commodore, a good brush and relatively inexpensive.
I do actually like the brush/ a bit stiffer, as it is better for lifting my thick beard. When the snow lifts and work slows a bit I would love to get together one day and pick your brain. I was looking into try ing a horse haire brush for the next venture, but I am up for anything.
Drop me a note and we'll set up a time when you're ready.
One thing people need to realize about shaving brushes,Boar and Horse brushes are not hair.
They are bristles,the are solid, they do not retain water or heat.
The best silvertip badger comes from the neck area of the badger,these hairs are hollow, they soak up water and retain heat.
The higher the grade of badger, the more heat and water retention.
Black badger is not hair, it is bristle as it is solid ,thus it is cheap.
so why is silvertip hollow?. in cold climes such as manchuria (high mountain white) these animals at times hibernate.
The hollow hair allows heat retention thus keeping bloodflow the the animals brain warm.
Is a reason silvertip has always been the gold standard,and IMO, always will be.
Is no boar, no horse, no synthetic that can ever match the performance of the best badger.
Granted, all will make lather,you can make lather with a pastry brush in a pinch