Thread: Help me choose a brush

I've been SR shaving off and on for years. I finally broke down and bought a scuttle, now I want a brush.
Please advise me. My budget is about $150.00. Thanks Freddie

Your best bet is to check out Straight Razor Designs. Look at their brushes and read all of the customer reviews for each brush. This should help you decide. Everybody has their likes. I use badger, boar, and synthetic depending on which soap I use. I never tried horse yet but plan on it. If I could have only one brush it would be my Semogue 830 boar. When they made my badger brush I got the bullet holes.

With that much to spend,,, have one of the members here make you a brush to your specifications.

Good advice above. I would only say that if you like to face lather and use soap (pucks) get a shorter loft (height of bristle above the handle) and if you prefer soft creams a longer bristle. I like a 48-50 for soap and if it was cream as much as 58. In between would be in the 55 area. Knot (diameter) at least 23mm for me, and no larger than 26mm. Thater brushes have a reputation (well deserved) for soft tips and strong backbone. All this is IME. YMMV ........

Well, you don't mention the type or size of scuttle, but your budget of $150 is more than ample. The advise of checking SRD is sound, they have a nice selection of brushes and you should be able to find something you fancy there.

Unfortunately, it's near impossible to suggest this or that as we all have our favourites, just like razors, strops, soaps and creams. We can be more helpful if you are looking for a specific feel or perhaps you would like to know the difference between two brushes you like.... those types of questions we can help with.

As for brands, any reputable dealer will only carry brands they trust their business to. Any company can accidentally make a brush with inferior badger hair... it's the nature of these things. All the good companies stand behind their products and will make good on a brush that comes up short in quality.

When you have narrowed down your search, we can help you zero in. Of course, I had no idea what I REALLY wanted when I bought my brushes... I only knew what I *thought* I wanted.... and I was wrong. <grin>

Today it's different, I've had a chance to settle in with my choices and developed some favourites, so now I find it easy to pick a brush I know I'll like.


Regards

Christian

What Christian said about knowing what he wanted, but turning out to be wrong, originally, is true of most of us...at least of me. I have probably 15 brushes, boar, badger and synthetic, and after all those "wants", I've found the 3 or 4 I needed.

Interestingly, they're all different -- a boar, a synthetic, and two badgers that I use most of the time. Each is better at something, either soap, cream, bowl or face lathering, and to some extent what brands of soap and cream.

I have one favorite right now, which happens to be a Thater, but I also have a custom made by a member here, and it is so good, I'm sure it'll rotate back into the top spot as my mood and style change. Give it some thought and decide what you really need/prefer...then reach out for advice.

Wow! This info is all so helpful, thanks to all I appreciate it very much. The info regarding the height of the loft was interesting. Thanks again Gents, Freddie

With that amount of money you could lay your hands on a highly vaunted Savile Row brush. You could also divide the money up and get more than one good brush with different lofts and/or bristles. For example, you could get a good silver tip badger and a nice boar brush, plus one of the several Plisson-like synthetic brushes and determine for yourself what you like best. Let's face it, you're going to end up with more than one brush anyway, so why not just start that way and get on with it? There's no way you're going to get along with a single brush hanging around here with all these enablers and co-dependents -- no way. I guarantee that within a year you're going to have brushes lined up looking like a platoon of the Queen's Guard. I know I do.

I agree with Uzi's sage advice. I know when I started looking for a brush I read dozens to hundreds of forum posts, reviews, watched YouTube videos... Until I finally thought I knew what I wanted and ordered the "perfect" brush for me... Or so I thought... It's still a great brush and still my favorite, but pretty soon I was wondering about the other types... And of course now I have two different types of badgers, two different types of synthetics, and a boar. Like others have mentioned, each one is good at different things and I don't regret any of them... The one thing I would do differently is from the get-go say "I'm going to spend x and get one of each type" from the start, simply because that would avoid the episodes of "you bought ANOTHER brush?!?" from the fiancé. (More advice: when this happens, DO NOT bring up how many different makeup brushes she has... Doesn't help)

I would recommend a couple of things.
Firstly, you can get a really nice badger brush from Simpson for $150. Far be it from me to disuade you there, as I own 2 Simpson brushes and they are fantastic.
But Hirlau makes a very good recommendation as well. Artisan. For between $50-$80, depending on maker, you can get a hand turned handle with the knot of your choice. Badger Boar, Horse, Synthetic.
I own a Matthew Marting "Brushguy" brush, with a 22mm Virginia Sheng 3 band badger. It is absolutely fantastic, and a dream to use in my G12 scuttle. Around $60, and well worth it.



There is a gentleman named Mark Gustafson who makes brushes in a similar range, and I'll be buying a synthetic from him soon. I think from here on out, artisans will be getting my money.
There is an artisan section here on SRP. I cannot find it, as I forgot how, but I know there are those here that can point you in the right direction. We have several brushmakers here. I would recommend HarryWally. Beautiful work.
Whichever knot you choose, I would recommend two if you can get them. You need a bit of a rotation, for variety and to allow your brushes to dry thoroughly between uses.
I would personally recommend a nice, 22-24mm, medium lofted two band Silvertip knot in whatever you get. Everyone should own at least one.