Thread: Pure, Best, Super or Silver?

Originally Posted by jhclare

Hi all,

I've tried numerous "silvertip" brushes and let me tell you, that no two are the same.

A Savile Row is far, far softer and more luxurious than say a Vulfix Simpsons super silvertip.

My Rooney 3/1 was a Super Silvertip and I found its tips prickly. I also find the new Simpsons Supers slightly prickly but that could also be due to their density.

I had a Chubby 2 in Best, and strangely, found it softer than my Rooney and even my Chubby 1 in Super. Go figure!

A Rooney Alibaba in the Heritage "Super" line has incredibly soft tips but good backbone.

So... I don't think it's a simple as just saying "silvertip". There seems to be a lot of variation in the term, depending on the manufacturer, the batch, the gauge of hair and its density and loft. All will effect how it feels on the face.

With all that said, I find the really soft silvertips like the Savile Row very nice to use occasionally but in general I prefer a good scrub with a denser, shorter loft brush like a Rooney/Simpsons, or a Semogue boar brush.

The 1520 is currently my favourite brush of any hair type and price!

I think I'd find a Pure too prickly and hard on my face.

John

The problem is that every manufacturer has a different definition for these hair grades. Your Savile Row silvertip is more like a Rooney Finest...

In Essence it is simple: Whatever sort of hair you use is purely what you want to use.
You can perfectly use a boar brush for 60 years and it will do the job just as good as a Silvertip.
Buying an "upgrade" is just because you can. It all works.

I like the old two banders. of course they aren't available anymore and luckily I have a few. Otherwise, either the Thaters or the Simpson Manchurian are pretty good too.

I thought two band badger is another name for finest badger.

My favourite is blonde badger. I have two of them now, one 21mm and one 25mm (the 25 is my favourite). My first brush was a very floppy Muhle silvertip that doesn't get any use any more. I pulled it out the other day and it's not so good for face lathering sticks. I must get around to putting it up for sale ...

One of my favorite things about brushes is how each one interacts differently with different soaps and creams. I like a variety of both in my regimen. Overall, however, I have found the softer, more luxurious brushes to compliment the softer creams while a stout and somewhat stiff brush combines better with hard soaps. I have a handful of each and plenty of soaps and creams to experiment with and, to me, it is an indispensable, invaluable part of the straight shaving experience.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I thought two band badger is another name for finest badger.

I think that is what Rooney called them when they sold them.

Each company has different names and some use the same names for different products.

I, too, have purged my silvertips in favor of 2 banders and boars. I appreciate the stiffer loft and enjoy face-lathering often. I tend to think 24mm is best for me. I have a 28 and, while it works great, it seems just too big! Lather waster!

As for the badgers after involving in about 100 knots my opinion is:

Black: tough,great backbone
Pure: not so tough.good backbone
Mixed: not tough,between those above,a nice surprise
Finest: never worked for me no matter the source
Best-Super: "i wanna be soft" but many times failed,not happy with some of them
Silvertip: "my name is soft", expensive although the cheaper can do the job

My personal favorite is Pure Black Badger, in the 22-24mm size. You get some backbone and great performance.