Thread: A Fan or a Bulb

We see brushes often described by the way the knot is trimmed on the business end. Usually it's a bulb or fan.

So when it comes down to it how do you perceive the performance differences (if there are any) between the two types and which do you prefer?

I'll chime in later.

Lynn has gotten me turned onto more bulb shaped brushes as they do the job on both soaps and creams better and splay out less on my face... However, I still have a fan or two in the rotation... Really, it just depends on the mood/lather bowl of the day

I like both but prefer bulb. I like a stiff backbone and a bit of scritch and I think the bulb is more likely to deliver the goods in that regard. OTOH, I had to learn to like soft tips and 'flop' in a brush but I learned to like that too. Like the kids say, it's all good.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

We see brushes often described by the way the knot is trimmed on the business end. Usually it's a bulb or fan.

So when it comes down to it how do you perceive the performance differences (if there are any) between the two types and which do you prefer?

I'll chime in later.

It depends a lot on the cup I build a lather in.

For me a puffy brush wants to do its best in a deep wide cup.
A deep cup and some shaving cream calls for a puffy brush.
Some days it seems to be easier to build a whip cream like
lather with a puffy brush...

A trimmer brush likes picking up soap from those shallow
wood soap cups and does well building a lather on a face
or in a cup.

Some old style hard shaving soaps including Williams seem
to excel with an inexpensive boar brush.

Do not forget that a +three day old set of whiskers,
a shave stick and hot water alone will build
a good to go lather without a brush.

Hi,

Started off preferring 'bulbs', but then preferred 'fans'. I now alternate between them on subsequent days ! Might be signs of age creeping in

Have fun !

regards

Russ