Bulb vs Fan??????

Just wondering if someone can tell the functional difference between bulb and fan type brushes. I'm looking to spend some money on a higher end brush ($180 max and leaning towards a Thater) and want to make sure that I get something that suites my needs. I use harder soaps almost exclusively (C and E, MWF thinking about adding tabac to the rotation) and switch between lathering in a bowl and face lathering depending on how much time a actually have. My current brush is EJ pure badger (21mm/ 53mm) and although it is functional there is alot of room for improvement.

Also anyone know of a good tallow soap, maybe something with lanolin I'm big fan of the scent of the crabtree and evelyn sienna (described as a masculine blend of leather, citrus and spice with a hint of fire and herbs) and would prefer something with a similar smell.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Omid

I've seen folks say a bulb is better for hard soaps and a fan is better for creams and soft soaps but to tell you the truth I have both and use them with all kinds of soaps and creams and find they work equally as well.

A quality brush, like the Thater's will perform great regardless of shape.
Like thebigspendur, I have both of them, and use both with equally good results on all kinds of soaps and creams.
Mostly, I'll use a scuttle, but they face lather like champs too.

I have, use, and love both. My personal preference for face lathering (with soft soaps and creams) is a fan. A bulb is great for the harder soaps.

For tallow, at 99 cents a stick, you can't beat Arko. There will be debate over this comment, I'm sure. A second choice may be the Palmolive shave stick. At $2 per stick, it's also a great deal.

Now, I don't own a single brush that is "expensive". My two absolute favourites are from The Golden Nib, and have been put in some handles that I've drilled the other knots out of. I think my fan was about $26, and my bulb was about $16. Like I said, these two are my absolute fav's.

Just my two cents.

I love my TGN Finest fan. But I also love my bulb shaped silvertip. Nothing wrong with a little variety!

Palmolive GUT here,cheap on the bay,the differance between a fan and a bulb is zelch,Nada.JMO

I too have both and I too like them equally well. One thing that may enter into the equation is that they are high quality brushes with good backbone be they fan or bulb.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I too have both and I too like them equally well. One thing that may enter into the equation is that they are high quality brushes with good backbone be they fan or bulb.

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Thats the key,high quality hair fibers,all of the finest silvertip comes from the neck area of the animal. these hairs are not the same as hairs taken from other parts of the animal as the neck hairs are Hollow, being hollow they entrap warm air which in turn keeps the the animals blood flow to the brain warm (let us proceed:) Now. when these A + quality hair fibers are used to make shaving brushes, being hollow, they absorb water which aids in the lather making process. they also realease water as they are semipermiel (unlike Porcine or Equine hair whice is solid)Thats why the best of the best badger is the gold standard,bar none.
Backbone in a brush is a factor of loft,be they 2-3 or 12 band,and hair fiber quality.
I am certain that in a blind study test of making lather, A CVS $8 brush will perform as well as a 1200 Euro Ivory Plisson.
You buy a bulb and regret not buying a fan? got a pair if scissors? make a fan.
Pls pardon my spellink and sentance structure,at my age I really do not care:)

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

You buy a bulb and regret not buying a fan? got a pair if scissors? make a fan.

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Most of what you said is great, but I take issue with this particular piece of advice :)

One of the qualities of a good brush is using the tips of the badger hair, so chopping them off is not a good idea.

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Originally Posted by jdto

Most of what you said is great, but I take issue with this particular piece of advice :)

One of the qualities of a good brush is using the tips of the badger hair, so chopping them off is not a good idea.

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Your 100% correct with high end brushes,they are set by hand,my apologies, the cheap stuff is machine trimmed to form.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I am certain that in a blind study test of making lather, A CVS $8 brush will perform as well as a 1200 Euro Ivory Plisson.

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I am volunteering to confirm this theory one way or the other. Send your Plisson and I will furnish the $8.00 CVS brush ..... :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I am volunteering to confirm this theory one way or the other. Send your Plisson and I will furnish the $8.00 CVS brush ..... :rofl2:

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well,I do have an Ivory Plisson Jim,with a TGN knot,would that work:)))

well i have 3 bulb, 1 fan knot and 1 variable fan. i prefer the bulb... I've had other brushes from vintage Simpson to modern plisson, but the 5 i kept are all shavemacs... never had a bit of trouble with then knot wise, the variable was from the first version of variable "moss" brushes sometimes it gets stuck in one setting.
try them all. i mainly use hard soaps.

Thanks you all for your input

Bulb, Bulb, Bulb, Bulb nothing more than that. I respect the comments but nothing like the Bulb. The main reason for that in my particular opinion is that Bulb are less messy than the fan ones. In the past I used a Rooney and I just changed with a Bulb.

Thanks
K