Thread: If But One . . .

Gentlemen,

If you had but one brush, what would it be?

A good brush is essential in the wet shaving ritual. I dare say, lathering with a luscious silvertip brush and a luxurious soap or cream is often the best part of my daily shave. That's why, through the years, I have spent a fortune on brushes, soaps and creams to feed my shaving feast.

The boar bristle brush does little for me; synthetic is fine for travel; and horse you can have. I prefer badger to all others. Not just any badger, though. Because of an ultra sensitive skin and a heavy beard, my brush must be a silvertip with tips as soft as Kim Novak's lips in the film Vertigo — oh, but such sweet dreams.

What's more, my perfect brush is a 28mm silvertip knot with about a 55mm to 57mm loft and about a 56 to 60mm tall handle. I also like a brush with medium backbone that is not overly dense. Even though I face lather, these measurements are ideal.

Having tried everything from a Plisson silvertip to a Viet-Long horse, my brush lineup now is down to four slivertip brushes: Thater 30mm two-band bulb, Thater 28mm two-band bulb, Savile Row 28mm bulb; and Thater 28mm three-band bulb.

That brings me to the Heinrich Thater 4292/6, a finest badger silvertip brush in the 28mm bulb — my ideal shaving brush. It is everything I want in a shaving brush. I love the way the brush devours my Hollywood face — ah, Kim Novak. If I were to have but one brush, this is it — for now, anyway.

And you, gentlemen?