Thread: New brush shopping/Art of shaving a bunch of wackos?

I have looked at the Art of Shaving brushes and my reaction was similar to yours. I suspect there is quite a markup there. The knots, or the hair part of a badger brush is usually the most expensive part. You can buy just the knot, depending on the grade from multiple on line retailers (I think they mostly come from Chinese farms), for anywhere between 18.00 and 40.00 dollars depending on the grade and the quantity you buy. The handle can run into some cost if you get a custom made wooden or acrylic handle but some of the ones I've seen made here by members are truly spectacular and priced well under AOS. (http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-brush-me.html). Simple plastic handles with some metal trim like those at AOS should not account for the additional cost. Those are pretty easy and inexpensive to mass produce.

A good natural hair brush can last a lifetime - but you do have to take care of it. Is your current brush badger hair? Some folks like boar hair or synthetic material. That makes a big difference in cost.

Adam