Thread: Synthetics

I have been using a Frank Shaving synthetic (actually this one, but bought in China for a fraction of the cost) for quite some time now.

Some observations:

1. Water retention is totally different compared to a badger hair brush. You need to get used to that. Soaking the entire brush prior to lathering will result in lather flakes flying around your bathroom. What I do is dab some hot water onto the soap, wring the brush out until it feels dry, then take it from there.
2. Backbone is different. Mine has lots of backbone, but super soft tips. But the backbone is still different inasmuch as the fibres have the same stiffness across their entire length. Think pogo stick. Coming from badger hair brushes, that took some getting used to (and, again, some cleaning the floor from specks of lather). Other than that, backbone is just different, and not, I think, in an unpleasant way.
3. Maintenance is really easy. When all else fails, put the entire brush in the dishwasher.
4. Ability to lather is phenomenal. I am not a fan of superlatives, and preserve them for when they are indeed needed. This is such a case. Lathering with this brush (and other synthetics I have tried) is actually easier and more efficient than with even my best badger hair brushes.
5. Price is a joke. Given the above, that is a no-brainer. Performance, maintenance - they are as good as my best badger hair brushes, and certainly a lot better than lesser natural fibre brushes.
6. Boredom. Well, yes. Obie mentioned this. I find my brush boring. As in "no mess, no fuss, just pure impact." It just keeps doing what it is supposed to do, no matter which soap, or cream, I throw at it. Bowl, or face, lathering, it does not matter. So it is a kind of boredom I find very useful.

I hope this helps. Given the purchasing prices if you order bulk from China, these brushes should be in the 10-20 USD range, but unfortunately aren't. Nevertheless, 40 USD compared to 140 USD (or more) for a decent badger hair brush... Well, unless money is no issue, the choice should be simple enough.