Thread: What is your favorite brush and why?

I am using a old Victoria brush for about 20 yrs or so. Real badger and it just worked fine for all these years. I don't even have a stand, it always dries standing upright.

Now, getting really into str8 shaving and trying out all of the soaps available on the Dutch market, I am looking around to buy a good quality silver tip.

Any suggestions?

Pinda,

My favorite brushes are made in Germany by Shavemac. Bernd uses a lightbulb shaped brush that is luxurious on the face, and works up an incredible lather. But depending on my mood, I'm just as likely to pick up my inexpensive Crabtree & Evelyn Best Badger brush. Still, if I had to choose only one...Shavemac would be it.

RT

Originally Posted by Pinda

What is your favorite brush...

Vulfix 22mm, pure badger.

Originally Posted by Pinda

...and why?

It's my only one.

Serious, it's a great brush.

Nenad

Easy one. I only own one brush, technically. A pure badger Plisson w/ a black handle. I had a two boar bristle brushes, a German made no name from a barber supply and my first brush, a Mohawk made in Canada. I said technically above because I still use the two boar brushes on occasion as I gave them to my two teenage boys who show no interest at all in using them. The older boy uses the old Gillette Super Speed I gave him and sneaks my Merkur HD Slantbar whenever possible. The younger only seems to use some cheap disposables and ignores the Gillette adjustable Fat Boy I gave him. There's still hope, neither has very much of a beard yet. I don't think either of them will ever be interested in straight razor shaving tho'. I probably beat them with the strop too often when they were little.

I concur with Randy's recommendation of Shavemac.

Another brand to look at, for silvertip, is Savile Row (available from QED); you can get knot sizes from as small as 18mm up to 32mm, and in several handle designs.

Also, Omega makes very attractive brushes in silvertip that can be quite inexpensive for what you get.

Randy has never steered me wrong and his descriptions of the Shavemac may force me to buy one...someday. As for now, my favorite brush is a Simpson's Chubby 2 in best badger. It is a very dense brush and although is is a large knot, 25mm I think, it is quite managable and I am able to whip up a great lather in my Moss Scuttle without overflowing and making a mess. I've been so impressed with this brush that except when traveling, it is the only brush I now use. I've even gone so far as to sell off all of my others. Some have suggested that a Chubby can be a bit scrubby, maybe so, but it is a perfect match for me. I love it and would never go back to less dense or floppy brushes.

Just my opinion,
Ed

If you really like the older brush you use, but need newer bristle, I may be able to replace the knot with a super silvertip grade, depending on the size you need.

Matt,

Did you receive my PM and Paypal notice?

Ken

Ken,

I've upgraded the brush to Super Silvertip and received the paypal notice. Please send me a pm with your full address. The previous message was missing your ZIP. Everything will be going out Tuesday, since monday is a Canadian Holiday.

Also, please pick from the following TGQ soap samples.

Oragen Patchouli
Bay Rum
Oak & Moss
Coconut Cream
Sandalwood
Sandalwood and Vanilla
Desert Ironwood

For those who don't know, this weekend is the "proper" weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Well now I technically have TWO shaving brushes. I was in Walmart today and saw a Burma Shave shaving brush for $4.54. Having read good things about them I bought it, took it home and shampooed and conditioned it. Ready for tomorrow's shave! Probably only be using it infrequently and as a travel brush, but at that price? What the heck!