Thread: Badger vs Synthetic

Originally Posted by mainaman

When I shave, between latherings, there is always leakage of lather from the brush down the handle, never seen that with a badger.

Yes, the synthetics need a different technique from boar or badger when you load them and lather with them to avoid that issue. I had that issue too when I first started to use synthetics until I figured out how to avoid that. I face lather and the brush sits upright on the counter while I shave and rarely have that problem unless I tried to put too much water into the brush. Synthetics are not badgers, likely never will be, and need to be treated differently is all. The again boar or horse hair will never be badger either but nobody expects them to be for some reason.

Bob

I think sometimes it's a good idea to simply reply to a post without viewing all the other replies. This allows for what is 100% my own opinion, yet may mean I'm repeating what has already been said, however...

I feel a badger hair brush works very well with shaving cream and a boar or synthetic for soaps. I wouldn't actually recommend a synthetic, boar hair is so cheap one may as well buy one of those. I find in my experience, although I've not actually HAD a lot of brushes, the badgers have always been softer and 'floppier'. Great for 'smoothing' on the lather from a shaving cream. I almost paint the cream on; no face lathering for a shaving cream.

However, for a soap I need to load the brush and I also need to work it more in the bowl to produce a lather or indeed on my face to produce a lather.

So I feel one needs one of each. Having said that, I have two badgers. As some may recall, I've been considering buying a new boar brush for well over a year now...

Originally Posted by walleyeman

I Agree as well that it is a personal preference. Like a good steak, some like well done, some medium, and I like the chef to show it the grill on the way to the table! LOL

Ray

I'll agree with that!

Originally Posted by walleyeman

I Agree as well that it is a personal preference. Like a good steak, some like well done, some medium, and I like the chef to show it the grill on the way to the table! LOL

Why overprocess a good piece of flesh when it's so simple to tear the meat off the carcass with your own claws

Originally Posted by gugi

Why overprocess a good piece of flesh when it's so simple to tear the meat off the carcass with your own claws

Hmmmminteresting, but I have a better idea....

*runs off to draw up a plan of domesticating a badger*

Step 1: Convice the Mrs they're lovely house pets AND her shaves would improve as well.

Step 2: Talk to this guy about why the heck it wants to escape all the time. I'd really need it to be still and hold lather!

https://youtu.be/_f3rXALcGdo

In the warm months I generally face lather and usually reach for my synthetic and Arko shave stick when I need a quick , no fuss one or two pass shave. I break out my scuttle with badger or boar , a good cream,Noxema as a preshave and a couple of hot towels when I want to really take my time and enjoy the process. If you always bowl lather you probably will not be content with synths. YMMV

Originally Posted by walleyeman

I Agree as well that it is a personal preference. Like a good steak, some like well done, some medium, and I like the chef to show it the grill on the way to the table! LOL

Ray

Well, in this case it's more like some like a fillet and some porterhouse and some ground round and some a fat and gristle burger.

I find most of my synthetics too floppy, but I do use them for face washing and scrubbing. Works like a charm.

Synthetics saved MWF for me...

As a relative newbie to the world of DE & SR shaving and an exclusive face latherer, I'm slowly trying out different brushes. I find that all of the brushes in my rotation have different characteristics but the common denominator is that they all produce a wonderful lather.

Although the Muhle STF doesn't have the backbone of the SOC Boar or SOC 2 Band, it's a lather monster and the added bonus is that it's the perfect travel brush drying extremely quickly.