Thread: Asking for shaving brush recommendations

Hi All,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted; it’s really nice to see familiar names. My inexpensive shaving brush is wearing out, and I think it’s time for a “grown up� brush. I understand that this is a matter of personal preference but I would be grateful for recommendations for a high-quality brush. I would like a soft brush with fairly good backbone and a handle that allows the brush to stand upright on the counter. If it helps, I use a straight razor (or safety razor if in a hurry) and Truefitt and Hill shave cream.
Thanks and best regards,
Jeff

Hi Jeff. I am personally partial to boar but Omega makes one that is softer than some but has backbone. Theirs are inexpensive but be careful because they make a couple that are pretty large. I like the one I have but some complain about the size.

Also they did a collaboration with Proraso which is good. The loft is not as high but it is still soft.

I have a collection of brushes, but one of my favorites is the Maggard Super High Density badger.I have both 26 and 28mm brushes, but find the 28mm to be too big. The brush has been treated to allow the tips to split and gel, although it is not specifically sold as a gel knot. This makes the knot super soft, something my sensitive skin appreciates. The fibers are packed super densely into the knot providing great backbone.

If you like making a lather with a huge head on the brush, the Maggard SHD is not for you. Because the fibers are packed so tightly, the brush is a lather hog. However, I have no difficulty releasing the lather for my shave.

https://maggardrazors.com/collections/brushes-knots

Maggard sells some attractive handles for the knots. Purchase a handle bored 1 mm larger than the knot.

If you are interested in synthetics, I have a real fondness for the Simpson Trafalgar 3. It has a 26 mm knot. I also have a Trafalgar 2, but find it to be a little too small for my liking. However, you might like it.

My favorite brush is the Stirling soap fan shaped brush. Very affordable and well made.

I like all of these options but I have lots of brushes.
The SHD Fan Badger is a hard one to beat. Fan shape is what I like most.
No need to spend hundreds on a brush unless you just want to. If so then I'd recommend looking into Shavemac.
Great brushes but a bit over the top if you ask me. And yes I have one of those too.

I have both boar and badger. But my favorite of all is the Omega 10049 boar brush. Not expensive and after you break it in, it's really good!

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

I have both boar and badger. But my favorite of all is the Omega 10049 boar brush. Not expensive and after you break it in, it's really good!

Honestly for the price I don't think you can beat Omega. You can pick them up for under $20 and they are surprisingly good for that amount of cabbage. Also, I think their boar is as good as any I have used. It's stiff enough to have some body but still soft.

My daily driver is a 30mm monster longhandle Silvertip from Larry at www.whippeddog.com and at the time it was around $40 or I should say THEY were around $40 cause I pulld the trigger on 3 of them. I do love a badger brush, me. A Silvertip is mighty nice but any grade above Black will do. Blacks can be as prickly as a brand new boar. At least the boar will eventually get broken in. But the Silvertip, in that big a brush, is a face handling beast, and holds a lot of product. If you don't mind a molded plastic handle, Larry's brushes are a pretty good deal, only a couple of bucks more than a Chinese one, and Larry is a helpful and righteous member of the community.

EDIT Well, I guess that was a while back. I just checked and his prices have gone up since then. Still seems reasonable. I doubt if a $3OO big name brush would lather any better or last any longer but of course I could be wrong.

If a new brush is desired, I would go straight to Maggard's and look at 2-band badgers in a wide assortment. Most everything else as well.
They have a good eye for quality and seem to insist upon it. If you want to reknot something, they have the good knots, FME.

2-Banders are great and 22-24mm are my personal favorites. By all means, find what you like. Omega boars are good. I have 2. Not for everyone I suppose.
Just don't go cheap..

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If a new brush is desired, I would go straight to Maggard's and look at 2-band badgers in a wide assortment. Most everything else as well.
They have a good eye for quality and seem to insist upon it. If you want to reknot something, they have the good knots, FME.

2-Banders are great and 22-24mm are my personal favorites. By all means, find what you like. Omega boars are good. I have 2. Not for everyone I suppose.
Just don't go cheap..

I just purchased a ShaveMac from Maggard. Very nice brush