Thread: Brushed off?

Just been looking through posts on Facebook and saw this https://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/...fm/blog_ID/439

Article/advert suggesting that synthetic brushes could overtake badger. I'm not sure I want to be part of that society!

Well, synthetics do have some advantages and disadvantage as with any other type of knot material. I really enjoy a high quality 2 band badger, the synthetics and the boar brushes I have. Seems there is room for all the players.

Bob

I love to go into the Body Shop and ask if they have a "natural fibre" shaving brushes.
They always say, oh no animal product or byproducts in here.
To which I smile and say I'm just not into plastics, they are not environmentally friendly.
Sometimes I love to, as pleasantly as possible, be that guy stirring up the stuff.
I have had a synthetic brush from I think the body shop. It was ok. It was certainly not a silver tipped badger. Perhaps if I spent more money.

Yup, my first synthetic brush was one from The Body Shop and it almost put me off synthetics altogether. Luckily I tried a few others which were much, much better.

No, they are not a badger knot but then again neither is a boar knot. ou have to accept the differences and enjoy what each brings to the table. The knot I can't get along with is horse hair for some reason, go figure.

Bob

Bob, couldn't agree more that there are good synthetic brushes, and there is room in the market for all options. I would hate to see natural brushes slip into obscurity though.

Rez, love the irony!

Originally Posted by monkeypuzzlebeefeater

Bob, couldn't agree more that there are good synthetic brushes, and there is room in the market for all options. I would hate to see natural brushes slip into obscurity though.

Rez, love the irony!

I don't think natural brushes will slip into obscurity. Boar brushes won't because they are so inexpensive, generally, compared to synthetics and high end badgers. High end badger brushes won't either because there is always, generally, a market for a luxury item and customers willing to pay for it. Synthetic brushes will stay because they actually work well compared to the 1950s/60s nylon brushes and hold a middle ground in price and performance. The lower end badger brushes may suffer a little though. Just a hunch on my party nothing more.

Bob

Whenever I think synthetic I automatically recall my father's nylon brush from the 50s. If there were a prize for the worst brush in the Universe that one would have won it.

Originally Posted by monkeypuzzlebeefeater

Just been looking through posts on Facebook and saw this https://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/...fm/blog_ID/439

Article/advert suggesting that synthetic brushes could overtake badger. I'm not sure I want to be part of that society!

I certainly think a synthetic has it's place in shaving. I like the softer feel when I am using a warm scuttle with a tube soap. To me it works better. To be honest, I have several customers that prefer a synthetic made for them over badger.

Badger consistency can be a bit unpredictable too. I order alot of silvertip knots to either re-knot or build a brush and I have gotten in the past some that just aren't the same from the same seller. I have had to find a consistency there for sure and have sourced what I think is now. Whereas, synthetics have always been totally consistent for me. But I still like a badger for general everyday shaving for sure.