Thread: My Modest Synthetic Brush Lineup

Yes, also being a traditionalist I too enjoy my 2 band badger brushes not to mention boar brushes. There are times when you just have to admit there is a more efficient brush type out there. It is hard to admit that a relatively inexpensive synthetic shave brush can best a more, sometime much more, expensive 2 band badger brush. Kind of sad but it is true today.

Bob

I admire your brush lineup! I have a horsehair that I use every day before my straight razor and really like it and the results. I do have a few synthetic brushes and I appreciate their quality but for my daily shave, the horsehair is the one. Mine is from Badgerbalm.com, I also use their preshave and postshave products. One of the things I really enjoy about this forum is seeing how everyone's routine and equipment is a little different but works for them just fine! I've been SR shaving for many years and it took me a while to find the combination of things that work the best. If I were to give advice to a beginner, it would be don't be shy about experimenting with different products, (within financial reason!), you never know shaving products might work the best for you!

Originally Posted by MagnificentDastard

Hi Obie, thanks for the post. Any advice regarding entry-level, as it were, synthetic brushes? What should I be looking out for in terms of quality?

Thanks,
G

G, my friend,

TurnNShave, Wildwest Brush Works, Love Your Shave, and APShaveCo (in Canada) all have a variety of synthetic brushes.

Sometimes these brushes have a big glue bump, which I find unpleasant. Also, Edwin Jagger has a sweet synthetic brush. I don't care for Muhle's synthetic brushes. Simpson has one that feels like a rock. I don't care for it. RazoRock from the Italian Barber in Canada has a good variety of synthetic brushes. So does Maggard. Also Stirling Soaps has a couple.

Edit: Yaqi brushes from West Coast Shaving are quite good. They use the Tuxedo knot or something like it. I like these brushes.

I prefer the Tuxedo knot, 24-26mm knot, with minimal glue bump.

I agree completely!! A few years ago I received a very expensive ($200) Kent badger brush as a gift. I really enjoyed the thought of the gift, but as much as I tried I just couldn't appreciate it for every day shaving and lather as much as my $30 horsehair brush. Kent makes really great brushes too! The lesson I learned there was, it doesn't have to be more expensive to be better!

I find the tuxido to be a very nice knot. I just wish it didnt have the glue bump. Its not like it gets in the way or anything, but 8 dont like it being in there.

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, also being a traditionalist I too enjoy my 2 band badger brushes not to mention boar brushes. There are times when you just have to admit there is a more efficient brush type out there. It is hard to admit that a relatively inexpensive synthetic shave brush can best a more, sometime much more, expensive 2 band badger brush. Kind of sad but it is true today.

Bob

I find it hard to see as a sad thing, even as quite a traditionalist myself in other areas. You still have the option of the badger brushes but they're not getting any better - nice to know there's something that is! And you don't have to kill a badger for it either.

Originally Posted by Obie

G, my friend,

TurnNShave, Wildwest Brush Works, Love Your Shave, and APShaveCo (in Canada) all have a variety of synthetic brushes.

Sometimes these brushes have a big glue bump, which I find unpleasant. Also, Edwin Jagger has a sweet synthetic brush. I don't care for Muhle's synthetic brushes. Simpson has one that feels like a rock. I don't care for it. RazoRock from the Italian Barber in Canada has a good variety of synthetic brushes. So does Maggard. Also Stirling Soaps has a couple.

Edit: Yaqi brushes from West Coast Shaving are quite good. They use the Tuxedo knot or something like it. I like these brushes.

I prefer the Tuxedo knot, 24-26mm knot, with minimal glue bump.

Cheers Obie, that's a good selection, will check them out.

Originally Posted by MagnificentDastard

I find it hard to see as a sad thing, even as quite a traditionalist myself in other areas. You still have the option of the badger brushes but they're not getting any better - nice to know there's something that is! And you don't have to kill a badger for it either.

Yes, being "green" by way of not killing a badger could be an advantage but that is offset to a large degree by the manufacturing process of synthetics which I can't see as being very "green". There is no free lunch.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, being "green" by way of not killing a badger could be an advantage but that is offset to a large degree by the manufacturing process of synthetics which I can't see as being very "green". There is no free lunch.

Bob

Without wishing to derail this thread, this is an oft-cited argument in defence of many practices, never in my experience backed up with any numbers. I don't believe the energy used in creating a small amount of plastic - especially non-disposable plastic, is very large. Besides lumping these issues together under the banner 'green' is pretty dismissive - one is about the ethics of killing animals and one about climate change, you can't just say one cancels the other out and use that as an excuse to do whatever you'd like.

Sorry if I sound accusatory - not trying to be I just hear this kind of argument far too often.

Gentlemen,

In the end, what is important is what type of brush works best for you. I abhor horsehair brushes. Boar brushes are not far behind. I speak from experience, because I have used these type of brushes.

In badgers, when I used them, I had only silvertip brushes. "Scritch" is mine enemy, so to speak, as my ultra sensitive skin cannot tolerate it. I sweetest natural hair brush I have owned is the Wiborg White Badger. I love these brushes, not only for their workmanship, but also in the quality of knot and the softness of the tips.

Thater silvertip and two-band follow next. Shavemac silertip and two band next, Simpson "super" knots next, and so on. For now, I have abandoned them for my favorite synthetics. They lather well and are sweet on my face. Someday I may return to the badger, but for now, I am happy with my synthetics.

I don't do this for any ethical or philosophical reasons; rather, the sweet synthetics treat my skin better — for now.

Originally Posted by BobH

Been using synthetic knots for years now and can say they do a good/great job of lathering anything I have used be it a cream, hard puck or croap. Glad that they are finally looking like they are gaining a wider acceptance as a shave brush choice. Besides being a great everyday choice there is not much that beats them for a travel because they dry so quickly. More shavers should at least try a synthetic knot to see what the fuss is about.

Bob

Thanks Obie for the write up.....going to purchase a one to try from your list.

And Bob, gotta give you credit, you've been walking this path the longest of many of us at least that I remember. I have one FS Synthetic brush that I used the other night before I posted my question in the Soaps and Creams thread, I was really surprised at what a great brush it was.

So, a new wormhole to go down....excellent!


....and, a Vladimir Ferdman Brush with a BOSS synthetic knot on the way.

Report to follow.