Thread: My Sweetest Shaving Brushes

Chubby 3 Manchurian is my go to brush. I like lots of backbone, soft tips and a tad of scrub but no scritch.

I have not tried as many brushes as Obie, but I have tried a fair number.

Morris & Forndran Blonde Badger, particularly in a fan, is close to perfect. I favor knots of 22 to 24 mm at about 50 mm loft. But, there two brushes I own that can do everything well, and are just a cut above, for me.
Number one is the Simpsons Colonel X2L in two Band Super Badger .. a custom run by Simpsons for a Shave Supply a few years back. It is known as the "Ehsan," for one of the gents that envisioned it. Being a huge fan of Simpsons Two Band hair, it's the brush I would never wish to be without! Next may be a bit of a surprise ... For those that have been around awhile, you may recall the New Forest brushes, by a gentleman in England. The 2201 was the original, again a Two Band knot of 22mm. It was known as Superior Badger .. and it is. A quite inexpensive and unassuming brush that has done all I have ever asked of it!
I'm still getting to know my Simpsons M7 in Manchurian, but, it too could soon be in the running.

Thanks to Obie for another solid informational thread!

A great read as always, thank you Obie for your thoughts!

Originally Posted by Druid

Morris & Forndran Blonde Badger, particularly in a fan, is close to perfect.

Out of curiosity, would you consider the M&F 'scritchy' ? Inquiring minds ........

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Out of curiosity, would you consider the M&F 'scritchy' ? Inquiring minds ........

The one I had was very srubby bit not scritchy. If you want scritchy, get a Shavemac D01 two band in a bulb. It will soften with time but with shorter loft it will be scritchy. That is what I have read about those knots.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Out of curiosity, would you consider the M&F 'scritchy' ? Inquiring minds ........

Jimmy,
I always found some "scritch" in the brush, and that's why I don't have the brush anymore. Of course, mine is an extremely sensitive skin.

Originally Posted by mainaman

The one I had was very srubby bit not scritchy. If you want scritchy, get a Shavemac D01 two band in a bulb. It will soften with time but with shorter loft it will be scritchy. That is what I have read about those knots.

Stefan,
I had the DO1, a couple actually, and found them extremely scratchy. They're gone.

Originally Posted by Obie

Stefan,
I had the DO1, a couple actually, and found them extremely scratchy. They're gone.

Obie - you'd be a fan of the Plisson HMW brushes then, like angel's wings gently stroking your face with soft lather...actually has given me goose bumps using that brush! LOL

The Rubberset #3 Aluminum brush that MikeB52 restored, he used the Shavemac two band D01 knot, and I must say, it has rapidly become my go-to brush, that and the M&F L7, great scritch factor, backbone, and whether face lathering or bowl lathering, this brush is superb.

The Plisson HMW is really different than anything else out there. I don't know where they source their product from. The hair is very soft yet it has backbone to it. It's totally different than the classic two banders.

Gentlemen,

I have eyed the Plisson High Mountain brushes for some years, but have yet to order one. They are pricey, of course. The Nos. 12 and 14 are the same 22mm knot, with the loft on the 14 higher. I would probably opt for the 12. I have read many comments on the quality of these brushes. Well, I will have to think about it.