Thread: Rooney Heritage Alibaba

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have been thinking of adding a smaller brush for awhile in either best or finest badger, and your excellent review has me wanting to do some "badger" hunting!!!!!!

I'd say take finest - it's very different than anything else. My everyday brush and I've got them down to two (the other one is custom fan-shaped shavemac which is very soft and luxurious).

The finest looks very nice, but is really pricey: almost 220£ (http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/s...est-badger.php) if you have the money and are ready to spend it, go for it.

If not - like I was - a wonderful brush is the Rooney Style 1 Large Silvertip: the brush is very well packed and dense, the bristles are stiffer than a Vulfix or Kent for instance, but still retain enough softness to be really enjoyable. The way it keeps the water is just incredible, and the lather made by it is just gorgeous - and it is far less expensive: less than 60£ (Rooney Ebony Shaving Brushes - Shave Brush UK)

After using this brush a few times I have aquired a better feel for it:

One thing that threw me off at first was that I was used to swirling up some lather in my bowl, and seeing the results pile up in there, where I could scoop it up with my brush and apply to my face.

With the Alibaba the results are a bit different, I'll get some lather in the bowl, but not mounds of it as I did with other brushes--the lather gets sucked up into the densely packed bristles of the brush itself, instead of remaining in the bowl.

It's amazing, since the brush itself is rather tiny, but it seemingly holds a bowl full of lather in there. Just put the brush to your face, say "Open Sesame!" as Alibaba himself would have done, and you get a face full of suds, no problemo. I'm not a face latherer, but with this little gem, as you apply the lather, the more you twirl and swirl the brush (did I mention the bristles are densely packed?) around your face, the thicker the lather becomes.

Quite nice.

This is starting to sound nearly irresistible...
Damn' You Seraphim.

Originally Posted by Bart

This is starting to sound nearly irresistible...
Damn' You Seraphim.

You're cursing me now, but after your first lather-up with those densely packed, soft bristles, all will be forgiven!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I didn't see a brush review section, so I posted it here. I feel that brushes deserve a catagory of their own, not to be lumped under "misc".

<snip>

Oh, but have you noticed that newly *renamed* reviews forum - "Brushes, Soaps and Creams Reviews"?



Hmmm... I wonder how that happened?

Originally Posted by ByronTodd

Oh, but have you noticed that newly *renamed* reviews forum - "Brushes, Soaps and Creams Reviews"?



Hmmm... I wonder how that happened?

Oh Mighty and all powerful Mods, how about putting a copy of this thread in the new review section?

The Alibaba is truly beautful, but well beyond my budget

Freaking GREAT brush, thanks for the detailed experience review.

I love my Simpson PJ2 (similar), but have a big soft spot for Rooney brushes, I have a Rooney 2/2. Rooneys are just pure quality in the hand, no issues, probably the best overall brush made at their price point and well above. I've wanted a Heritage Alibaba for a while.