Thread: A good beginners brush.

I also started with a Van Der Hagen. It did a good job and while spreading the wet shaving idea, gave it to a friend who now uses it with a shavette. My boar brush now is a semogue 830, which I would recommend to a newbie. They do the job real fine.

Is there REALLY that big a difference between badger and boar when it comes to brushes? I'm JUST learning about straight razors (recently posted in the "introductions" forum) and everything I read says badger badger BADGER! But so many guys here say don't bother when starting out. I can't tell if I'm just being sucked in by sales and marketing. Advice? And are there any mentors in the Tampa,FL area that you may know of? Any and all help is much appreciated.

Originally Posted by EolaHeights

Is there REALLY that big a difference between badger and boar when it comes to brushes? I'm JUST learning about straight razors (recently posted in the "introductions" forum) and everything I read says badger badger BADGER! But so many guys here say don't bother when starting out. I can't tell if I'm just being sucked in by sales and marketing. Advice? And are there any mentors in the Tampa,FL area that you may know of? Any and all help is much appreciated.

Yes, there is a difference, but that doesn't necessarily equate with badger being better than boar. I have a Simpson Colonel which I like, and an Omega boar brush, and frankly like them both about the same. They are just different.

So much of this stuff is really personal preference. We (and I include myself in this) sometimes obsessively do internet research to find the "best brush for beginners" or the "best razor for beginners" or some such. When I was trying to pick my one and only razor, I debated for WEEKS about whether to get 5/8 or 6/8; whether to get full hollow vs half hollow; what brand; etc; etc. You read that good to maybe start out with half-hollow, but sooner or later you'll want to upgrade to full hollow -- so in my way of thinking, why not get the full hollow right off the bat?

Anyway, I think in the old days, when all razors were straight razors, people probably didn't fuss so much about all the choices, and guessing they didn't plan to have a stable of brushes, soaps, razors, and strops to chose from every day. They just stropped, lathered, and shaved, and moved on with their day.