Thread: Should I Go Pure?

Hey X,

I have a handmade Vulfix pure badger, and it works great. I don't have a huge frame of reference as far as brushes go, but IMO it has a bit of stiffness that works well with soaps, yet is soft enough that creams lather really nicely too. I really don't see members posting about Vulfix brushes at all; really underrated if you ask me.

Originally Posted by xman

Thanks everyone for the replies.


As smooth as a good untrimmed pure badger knot? Could it be better. I'm assuming that nearly all boar brushes have substantially more backbone than any reasonably similar badger I guess. I expect that. I expect that bristle brushes are like the Wilkinson Sword I see at the druggist, at least in hair strength. I can see how some might like that. I can sure see how a professional barber would like how it responds. If a gentleman shaver would prefer something else, I would show him a catalogue and talk up the silver tips. I can see how someone like you digs they way they respond too. I'm just sceptical that it might be me.

I generally, really like using my EJ Best. It's a bit loose and floppy for me though and I find the the handle a bit uncomfortable. If I want to change the floppiness I can do it two ways right? I can get a denser knot or I can get a stiffer hair. Or both.

{snip}

X

PS Hey Jim,

How good are the Omega Pure Badger Brushes do you know? I think I read they don't hold water. How much water do they need to hold?!?!

First--Wellll, if you get a good, untrimmed boar, it will at first be a bit (A BIT) rougher than pure badger, but as the ends split it will become just as smooth. It IS stiff, there is no denying that, but it is not as stiff as say, the pre-vulfix Duke 3 I tried, nor as scrubby. For what its worth, the Vulfix brushes are supposedly a bit smoother/softer than the omegas--might be worth a try.

Second--I've never tried one, but the Omega Badgers all have reputations as somewhat loosely packed. I can't imagine they have too big a problem with water retention, though, as, well...Have you ever seen a brush that didn't hold water? I know that Giovanni Abrate, the Omega MAN, feels that the Omega pure badgers are the best around; and he does talk up the backbone. They do have some gorgeous handles, don't they?

Tell you what--try a Boar brush, either an Omega (try one from this page--the knots are all the same, and have a reputation as superb, and I think Paul Mayhew at connaught shaving has some in stock, he just hasn't got his webpage updated, or wait until Razor and Brush is back in business) or a Vulfix from Connaught shaving; he should have some new models with fantastic handles up soon.. Give it a month. If you don't like it, I'll buy it off you for full price. No harm, no foul.

Certainly cheaper than a new Badger!

Originally Posted by JimR

Tell you what--try a Boar brush, either an Omega (try one from this page--the knots are all the same, and have a reputation as superb, and I think Paul Mayhew at connaught shaving has some in stock, he just hasn't got his webpage updated, or wait until Razor and Brush is back in business) or a Vulfix from Connaught shaving; he should have some new models with fantastic handles up soon.. Give it a month. If you don't like it, I'll buy it off you for full price. No harm, no foul.

Certainly cheaper than a new Badger!

That's a mighty nice gesture, Jim.

Concerning the difference between boar and badger. In my limited experience, they don't even compare.
I used this Omega, from their professional line, for about a year:


Then I got a small badger.


It was an instant epiphany. Water retention in the badger is double of that in the boar. I only had one shaving soap by the time (by the brand Plisson) The lather the badger made was definitely in another class than what I ever got out of the boar. I'd always been skeptical about the "so-called" differences between boar and badger, but as soon as the badger touched my face, I could not longer deny the fact that badger really plays in a different class.

I regularly shave my wifes legs. In the beginning I used the boar brush for that, for the sake of still wanting to have a use for it. Last summer, while on vacation, I only had the badger with me. Next leg-shave, back home, I started lathering her legs with the boar brush. It took her less than 30 seconds to ask for "the other brush"...

I believe boar and badger compare as well as pork and beef. There's a big difference in "juiciness" between those two. I can see how some people can favor one over the other, and I can also see how some people may have equal preferences for both. But I can't see how anyone ever could serve one for the other.

Just my honest opinion, written in utmost respect for everything Jim wrote in this thread. I would take him up on his generous offer. You never know. But I do fear he might end up owning an extra Omega.

Best regards,
Bart.

Of course, this is all a matter of taste--and Bart is certainly not alone when he says that he simply enjoys his badger more (many people do), but I just don't. I've tried badger brushes (some of the best and some of the worst) and I just don't like anything about them as much as boar.

It's interesting...I used a small, no name badger for about a month before I got an Omega, and it was like the wool was pulled from my eyes. Since then, I've used a shavemac finest, a pre-vulfix D3, and my own silvertip badger and none of them were anywhere NEAR as effective nor as comfortable as my boar...The Shavemac and the D3 I downright hated. The thing is, boar and badger take a different touch; they're different tools, and respond in different ways. You MUST soak your boar in hot water before use, and you MUSTN'T shake it out too much if you're using soaps. That's it. No fussing at all with ratios, etc. Soak brush, drip it out (no shaking) and scrub the soap. With creams, it takes less water and you might need to dip the bristle tips oce or twice to get the water levels right, but it's just a wee bit different.


If you don't try it, X-Man, that's no sweat--just remember it's a real option. If you try and don't like it, that's great. Just don't let people tell you one is worse than the other, because it just ain't so.

And, if I do end up with another Omega, I surely won't mind it a bit. L'Ultima Setola loves company!

Speaking of which, you sitll have that lovely 20102 Bart?

P.S. X-man, "someone like you..." means what, exactly....?

Originally Posted by JimR

Of course, this is all a matter of taste--and Bart is certainly not alone when he says that he simply enjoys his badger more (many people do), but I just don't. I've tried badger brushes (some of the best and some of the worst) and I just don't like anything about them as much as boar.

I guess that's what I'm learning most here is that it's as much about preference as the blades we prefer.

Originally Posted by JimR

If you don't try it, X-Man, that's no sweat--just remember it's a real option. If you try and don't like it, that's great. Just don't let people tell you one is worse than the other, because it just ain't so.

And, if I do end up with another Omega, I surely won't mind it a bit. L'Ultima Setola loves company!

It is a very tempting and generous offer which I am weighing.

Originally Posted by JimR

P.S. X-man, "someone like you..." means what, exactly....?

Dirty hog lovers that's who!

X

Vulfix 660 Medium. It is a great small/medium pure badger brush designed for soaps that works great with creams, too.

I have a cheaper vulfix, and it does a great job. I think I have the #405 from classic shaving. I was also going to suggest a shavemac in pure. I've been tempted to get them to make me a custom. I find silvertip too soft. I have the Rooney 1/1 Finest and It's great for face lathering soaps.

Jordan

I have the shavemac and love it. soft but not too floppy.

I have a Rooney 1/1 super and a custom Shavemac 21mm/50mm D01 knot. Both are great with soaps, but the Rooney especially is a soap monster. The Rooney is very dense and has very soft tips, but is much firmer feeling and feels a little on the scrubby side (mine is a little shorter loft than most at 42mm, this may attribute to some of that). Not that this is a bad thing. I actually tend to prefer this type of brush myself.

The 1/1 handle is perfect for face lathering but really not suited for bowl lathering. The custom Shavemac handles you can get whatever you want, but the one I have suits both face lathering and bowl lathering just great.

The custom Shavemac D01 knots are fantastic. Very dense yet soft as a cloud. Very luxurious feeling, yet not floppy at all and can easily handle soaps without a problem. My Shavemac is the bulb shape and I find it to really excel at bowl lathering, but I've been almost predominately face lathering with it no problem. I'm an exclusive face-lathering soap user, and I definitely highly recommend either of these brushes!

I also have a Vulfix 2233 super that is very soft, but way too floppy for my taste. It whips up creams in a bowl great, but struggles with loading soap and in general is no where near the Rooney or Shavemac in terms of performance.