Thread: Rooney Rooney Everywhere, But Not a Knot to Think

So I'm looking very seriously at the Rooney 1/1 brush for my next and just wondering which type of hair would suit me. I find the difference in sensation between my EJ Best Badger and my Thomas Anthony Super Silver Tip to be almost negligible. Once the brush is wet it's very soft. One of the most important factors for me is firmness of bristle as opposed to floppiness. As we move up the hair levels in the Rooney's, do they get floppier or is there one type of hair that is firmer? Wouldn't want to get a Super Silver Tip Rooney only to discover that the Best or Genuine Silver would have been a better choice for me.

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IME the 'Finest' is the firmest with scritchyness. The Heritage , while it doesn't come in a shape 1, is very firm but not scitchy. The Super is firmer then say a Kent BK4 but not as firm as the Heritage. The couple of Supers I have had havent been scritcy either.

I got a Rooney 1/1 Heritage "stubby" in what they call super silvertip from Vintage blades, it is not scratchy at all however due to it being so densely packed it tends to not feel as soft on the face when lathering as the tips feel when dry, the brush is extremely firm more so then my custom Shavemac

Well, badger brushes are one of life mysteries.

Generally, the badger hair tips get softer the more you pay.

Most Silver tip that I have seen or used have been super soft and this tends to mask the density. Some are just plain floppy because they are not filled well. Generally though, I have found them to be floppy unless you buy a top end make and pay a lot of money.

If you look at the Kent BK2, BK4 and T4, you will get an idea of stiffness.

The BK2 is made from a stiffer cheaper badger hair. The BK4 is the same brush in silver tip and its quite soft and the T4 is made from a lower grade badger hair altogether and is stiffer again.

If you don't like the BK4, you probably don't like the softness of silver tip. Many men think its too soft.

If you fall in this camp, you are either very lucky and you don't need to spend a lot to be satisfied.

However, the best badger hair is springier than silver tip and feels stiffer. Its tips are spikier than silver tip but pleasantly so. It is great at making a fine lather, it holds the lather well and it release the lather well onto the face. Its also very expensive and more than most are prepared to fork out for a shaving brush. You can tell the best badger hair brushes because they are white tipped with a black band beneath the tip. The black extends almost to the base, with a hint of yellow below the black. It looks almost two banded in colour rather than the three distinctive bands on silver tip brushes.

I had an EJ silver tip and it was the highest grade in their range. Great brush but not what I would describe as stiff. It was very well filled with a nice big dome head, but ...

Simpsons, best badger "chubby" is generally regarded as a stiffer brush. This manufacturer makes some of the best brushes you can buy. I'd ask a reputable supplier of Simpsons brushes for advice and I am sure you will get exactly what you want for a fair price.

Some folks like the 1/1 in finest, but IME it is a bit too stiff. The less expensive super is just right, and has plenty of backbone while having soft tips. I sold mine, since it was a bit too small for me, but if that is the size you are looking for, I'd say get the super from Jim at VB. May also be worth asking Jim for some guidance. He is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IME the 'Finest' is the firmest with scritchyness. ... The couple of Supers I have had havent been scritcy either.

Odd that the top line would be 'scritchier' than the Super. :thinking

Originally Posted by English

... the best badger hair is springier than silver tip and feels stiffer. Its tips are spikier than silver tip but pleasantly so. It is great at making a fine lather, it holds the lather well and it release the lather well onto the face. ...

Do you mean the Rooney 1/1 specifically or are you only talking generally?

Originally Posted by English

Simpsons, best badger "chubby" is generally regarded as a stiffer brush. This manufacturer makes some of the best brushes you can buy. I'd ask a reputable supplier of Simpsons brushes for advice and I am sure you will get exactly what you want for a fair price.

Yes, I'm also considering the Simpsons Keyhole, Eagle and Beaufort all in their smallest sizes, although I suspect the latter of the two will have knots that may not be as dense and backboned as I want.

Originally Posted by RayG

May also be worth asking Jim for some guidance. He is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Good idea. Thanks again.

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PS Ray, I find your avatar intimidating.

If you want something with backbone after being wet you definitely will not be disappointed with the Finest. It is without a doubt the only brand of hair that holds that strong backbone...IMHO

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

If you want something with backbone after being wet you definitely will not be disappointed with the Finest. It is without a doubt the only brand of hair that holds that strong backbone...IMHO

Well it's out of my price range so I WON'T be getting that brush. Besides, it's a ridiculously opulent brush for a bare bones guy like me. I could never take myself seriously while lathering.

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