Thread: OK, Now's Your Chance...Tell Us...

What's the best shaving brush in the whole wide world?

Notice I didn't say the most expensive or any one critter or any critter at all.

We all want to know what specific brush we should have on our radar for the next purchase so go ahead and spill the beans and tell us why.

I'm surprised no one has posted here. A little disappointed too, cause I have been wanting a new one for a while and was hoping for some input.

But then I went to visit Lynn and I found my new favorite brush. Granted, I don't have much experience with brushes, but I did talk with Lynn about what we each like in brushes (we seem to have similar preferences - soft and good backbone is what I'm after) and I tried some of Lynn's favorites from his own collection. I have found my new favorite brush.

I don't remember which one it is, but it's either the Thater Chubby I or Chubby II (just different sizes as far as I can tell). I love it because it's got great backbone and yet is very soft. This brush does both together better than any other brush. I'm going to get one as soon as I can.

Limited experience on this, compared to many, but I've got a mid size Plisson European White that gets a lot of use. I can recommend them, though there's better value out there.
My other favourite has been my Dan Capshaw. Harder to get hold of, but a silvertip with a high density & plenty of body. Mine's a huge brush!

I've bought a lot of expensive brushes. Sold a lot too. I've discovered that, in my experience, I enjoyed lathering with two-band badger the best. I found it gave me a better prep faster. After trying quite a few brushes, nothing beats my Rooney finest. The combination of backbone and density isn't for everyone, but it loads soap astonishingly fast and give a supremely pleasurable facial massage.

If I could have only 1 brush, my choice would be a 2-band Simpson Chubby 2.

I have a Kent BK4. It's a nice brush for creams and soaps, but it lacks the backbone I wanted. It's just to floppy.

Now I have a Shavemac custom with Finest badger hair with al lot of backbone and still soft enough on the face. After I bought this brush I never looked for another brush. It's great with soaps and creams and not floppy at all when wet.

A tossup between a Somerset Simpson Polo 8 Super, Rooney Finest style one size one and a Plisson HMW 14. All two band and all scritchy on my particular skin.

The best shaving brush? I don't know, but for a bit of fun I can point you in the direction of someone who's made a concerted effort to find out:
Fido's Shaving Brush Blog

Since he's a member here, perhaps I'll be able to flush him out to tell us what he concluded. For the precious little it's worth, my choice is a Golden Nib best badger knot set with a fairly short loft.

I recently changed from a store bought cheep bristle one, that i had for years, to a new Chinese supplied badger brush.
The badger is such a brilliant brush its like night and day. It lathers up so quickly and easily produces long lasting suds and best of all it was within my meagre budget. I love it !

ian

'Best in the world"?

Can't say because I've not used every brush in the world.

I have a few that I tend to gravitate toward however.


26mm Shavemac 177 & 26mm Shavemac 436


Penworks 19mm 2-band finest


Badger & Blade Essential