Thread: The Synthetic Brush Shootout

As I've said before, too many reviews are simply a statement from the reviewer along the lines of, "I like it, you should buy one!"

As a scientist I want something more objective, something that's very difficult to accomplish. Thus I'm going to go beyond simply using each knot for my daily shave and try to show the SRP community what type of lather I can build with each of these knots. To be honest, I don't expect any substantial differences between the knots I'm testing but expectations and reality quite often differ. In an effort to reduce as many variables as possible I will use the same equipment during each daily shave and maintain a relatively consistent standard operating procedure (SOP).

Equipment

• Handle: The feel of a brush handle can have impart a substantial bias for, or against, a particular brush and could even effect how a wet shaver develops their lather. In an effort to effectively eliminate this variable each knot will be temporarily mounted in a Whipped Dog 24mm Tall handle. (Thank you to HarryWally for suggesting silicone as a temporary adhesive.)
• Soap: What we choose to lather with may have a significant effect upon the resulting product. As such, and due to my secondary focus on budget, all lathering will be accomplished with Mitchell's Wool Fat (MWF), it lathers well (for me), is readily available at a reasonable price and puts test to the myth that you need a boar brush to build a lather with it.
• Water: Perhaps more important than soap is the water used in building a lather. While my water is softened I will be using distilled water in an effort to allow others to repeat my results. (I'd like to thank thebigspendur for the suggestion.)
• Mug: While many synthetic knot proponents prefer to face lather I am almost fully a bowl latherer. In keeping with the ongoing theme of budget shaving I'll be using my least expensive mug, an IKEA coffee mug that retails for 70 cents US. I will admit that this is a substantially narrower and taller vessel than most members seem to prefer but I've found that I tend to favor a slightly different shape than most.

SOP
Each daily shave will be prefaced by my normal pre-shave routine and a standardized method will be utilized to build a lather. It may be argued that the lather building process be timed to show differences but it is my opinion that it is better to reflect a normal shave routine than adhere to some arbitrary time limit in building a lather. It is my intent to use each brush at least two days running and note any abnormalities from my usual experience in building a lather with the Whipped Dog brush.

• Bloom: Room temperature (~66F) water will be poured over the MWF and the soap will be allowed to bloom during the time taken to shower. Prior to lathering the water will be poured off and reserved.
• Face Prep: Shower and wash with NIVEA Sensitive Facial Wash
• Lathering: The brush tips are to be immersed in the reserve water and then excess water will be squeezed from the tips prior to loading. Once the brush is loaded with MWF the mug is to be utilized to begin building a lather and additional hydration will be accomplished by dipping the brush tips in the reserve water before returning to the mug. As the lather nears the desired consistency the brush will be returned to the MWF and reloaded before the final lather is formed.
• Pictures: It is my intent to take pictures of the resulting lather, both in the mug and after it has been applied to my face. (God help you all.)
• Comments: A review of each will be posted along with any notes regarding aberrations in my lathering routine (additional loading, malfunctions, user error, etc.)

I intend to use each brush for at least two days for my daily shave and then post the results for each brush as I am able. Review shaves will likely be limited to weekday shaving as my Saturday shaves tend to represent my indulgence day and I tend to skip at least one day of shaving on either Friday or Sunday. This will result in a review being posted every three days or so over the next three weeks.

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