The benefits of a high quality synthetic brush

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10-18-2012, 11:49 PM
ElaMenthol

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The benefits of a high quality synthetic brush
I'm talking about quality brushes like the Muhle Silvertip Fibre, probably the very best synthetic brush in the market.
The benefits:
- no animals are required, even if you're not a vegan or animal activist, it can't hurt now can it?
- (almost or) no hair loss, I counted them, in months time it lost a total of 3 hairs after that not a single one
- no break in period, they lather perfectly from the moment it leaves the box
- very short soaking time, they don't need a minute or more of soaking in order to perform
- fast loading time, probably because every end is split perfectly (see the first point)
- fast lather time, it's hardly any effort to quickly create a rich, creamy lathers
- flow through is outstanding, it's not a lather hog
- which brings us to economics, you'll use less soap/cream then you normally would
- it's better then my Muhle genuine silvertip; it outperforms it, AND IS CHEAPER
- after the shave synthetics dry SUPER FAST
.
The reasons they are not more popular are probably:
- synthetics in the past have been disappointing
- most people like the idea of traditional, natural hair
- Muhle doesn't have a distributor in the US
- Muhle is one of the few good synthetic brush builders, variation and competition is needed
Attachment 109772
10-19-2012, 12:07 AM
Hirlau

1 Attachment(s)

You make some great points & the picture you provided is a beautiful brush.

I guess that I'm stuck in the past with shaving now, even the brushes. Attachment 109783 I want to go with natural hair brushes. Yes, I love animals & I pause to reflect on the badger that just lathered my bowl, every time I rinse her off.

I'm new, so I only have badger, boar & Turkisk Horse hair brushes; still don't know how they determined the nationality of that horse. :shrug:

I wait for the day I find a beaver hair brush, I bet that would make a serious lather. :hmmm:
10-19-2012, 10:55 AM
ElaMenthol

Well if you're new there's still time... You'll meet that quality synthetic one day.
I too have a boar (Semogue Owners Club), horse (Vie-Long) and badger (Muhle silvertip) besides my Muhle Silvertip Fibre.
So I have some quality brushes to compare it with.
The horse you have is probably made in Turkey, but may very well also have hair from Turkeys horses.
Don't beavers repel water?
10-19-2012, 04:30 PM
thebigspendur

Forgetting about the animal issues the only advantage I see to synthetics is the dry time which makes it great for traveling. I have never seen a synthetic that had the qualities of a quality badger. Pretty much all the benefits listed I already have with my badgers. I have never seen a synthetic that can hold water like a badger can.

Just my view.
10-19-2012, 04:36 PM
Eekspa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hirlau

You make some great points & the picture you provided is a beautiful brush.

I guess that I'm stuck in the past with shaving now, even the brushes. Attachment 109783 I want to go with natural hair brushes. Yes, I love animals & I pause to reflect on the badger that just lathered my bowl, every time I rinse her off.

I'm new, so I only have badger, boar & Turkisk Horse hair brushes; still don't know how they determined the nationality of that horse. :shrug:

I wait for the day I find a beaver hair brush, I bet that would make a serious lather. :hmmm:

And, you could use the beaver tail for a strop . . . :rolleyes:
10-19-2012, 06:48 PM
ElaMenthol

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Forgetting about the animal issues the only advantage I see to synthetics is the dry time which makes it great for traveling. I have never seen a synthetic that had the qualities of a quality badger. Pretty much all the benefits listed I already have with my badgers. I have never seen a synthetic that can hold water like a badger can.

Just my view.

How can flow through be better when it holds more water?
But, YMMV. By the way have you tried the Muhle Silvertip Fibre?
Plus, who said holding more water makes a better brush?
10-19-2012, 08:27 PM
tiddle

For state side folks, The Superior Shave carries them for $82 plus shipping. I wouldn't mind trying one, but the two omegas I have actually dry slower than my superbadger brush, and when lathering, they sling water everywhere making a mess; thus why I gave one away to a friend, the other will be going to my father. Just a lot of hit and miss with the synthetics, but the badger hair you pretty much have an idea of what you're getting. JMO :shrug:
10-19-2012, 08:50 PM
BobH

For me the animal issue is a non issue and the few synthetic shave brushes I have tried have been pathetic in use. I really don't feel like buying more in the hope one will eventually perform satisfactorily. I just ordered a Semogue 1305 boar and an SOC two band badger because I am reasonably sure how each will perform. I would hate to spend $82.00 only to give it to SWMBO for a duster. JMO

Bob
10-19-2012, 09:38 PM
rodb

My favorite brush is my Omega synthetic and use it for all my hard soaps, when I use a cream it's a badger.
The Omega (at least for me) holds water and lather much better that my boar brush
10-19-2012, 11:36 PM
thebigspendur

The ability to hold water is unique to badger hair and is one of the reasons why it is considered the premium hair for a shave brush. You can dispute that if you want but there is probably a couple hundred years of history (at least) behind it. Of course there are plenty of guys who prefer boar or horse or synthetic to badger and that's fine. My dad had a nylon brush back in the 1950s and he loved it. He still has it and I think it's terrible but you know how that goes.
10-20-2012, 12:24 AM
Suile
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElaMenthol

I'm talking about quality brushes like the Muhle Silvertip Fibre, probably the very best synthetic brush in the market.
The benefits:

no animals are required, even if you're not a vegan or animal activist, it can't hurt now can it?
(almost or) no hair loss, I counted them, in months time it lost a total of 3 hairs after that not a single one
no break in period, they lather perfectly from the moment it leaves the box
very short soaking time, they don't need a minute or more of soaking in order to perform
fast loading time, probably because every end is split perfectly (see the first point)
fast lather time, it's hardly any effort to quickly create a rich, creamy lathers
flow through is outstanding, it's not a lather hog
which brings us to economics, you'll use less soap/cream then you normally would
it's better then my Muhle genuine silvertip; it outperforms it, AND IS CHEAPER
after the shave synthetics dry SUPER FAST

.
The reasons they are not more popular are probably:

synthetics in the past have been disappointing
most people like the idea of traditional, natural hair
Muhle doesn't have a distributor in the US
Muhle is one of the few good synthetic brush builders, variation and competition is needed

Attachment 109772
Your Pro is also a con.
I my self would never do a crazy act as be a vegan or vegetarian.
10-20-2012, 01:02 AM
Eekspa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suile

Your Pro is also a con.
I my self would never do a crazy act as be a vegan or vegetarian.

Mmmmmm, vegetarian . . . Old Indian word meaning Poor Hunter. :gaah:
10-20-2012, 02:00 AM
Hirlau

I saw that bumper sticker in Wal Mart today, next to the ammo case.

.......o.k. back on track guys..........
10-20-2012, 02:13 AM
ElaMenthol

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

For me the animal issue is a non issue and the few synthetic shave brushes I have tried have been pathetic in use. I really don't feel like buying more in the hope one will eventually perform satisfactorily. I just ordered a Semogue 1305 boar and an SOC two band badger because I am reasonably sure how each will perform. I would hate to spend $82.00 only to give it to SWMBO for a duster. JMO

Bob

I can very well understand that, but STILL I have to say you're missing out.
Maybe you can get a GOOD one for a low price of from a member.
Buying cheap synthetics (not saying you did) does not give a good idea of what they're capable of.
That's exactly the reason it says "high quality synthetic brush" in the thread title.
People being disappointed in the past is also one of the reasons given why I think they are not more popular.
But you're right it is a personal thing. In my opinion, my synthetic clearly outperforms my silvertip.
10-20-2012, 02:15 AM
ElaMenthol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suile

Your Pro is also a con.
I my self would never do a crazy act as be a vegan or vegetarian.

I'm not a vegetarian.
10-20-2012, 02:16 AM
kettlebell

I'm always willing to try a new soap, Razor or Shaving Brush. Who knows I may find something I like better. The next time I buy a shaving brush I'll give the Muhle synthetic a try. Thanks for the link.
10-20-2012, 05:17 AM
BobH

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElaMenthol

I can very well understand that, but STILL I have to say you're missing out.
Maybe you can get a GOOD one for a low price of from a member.
Buying cheap synthetics (not saying you did) does not give a good idea of what they're capable of.
That's exactly the reason it says "high quality synthetic brush" in the thread title.
People being disappointed in the past is also one of the reasons given why I think they are not more popular.
But you're right it is a personal thing. In my opinion, my synthetic clearly outperforms my silvertip.

You are quite right that the synthetic brushes I tried were cheap ones price wise but I still won't shell out $82.00 for a "high quality" synthetic one when I can get a good boar brush for $20.00 or a 2 band badger for $90.00. You are right too in that past disappointments are another reason why synthetics are not more popular. It is good that your experience has been a positive one ie performs better than your silvertip. I am a traditionalist when it comes to materials and just won't take another gamble. As you say that is just a personal thing.

Bob
10-20-2012, 10:52 AM
ElaMenthol

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

I am a traditionalist when it comes to materials and just won't take another gamble. As you say that is just a personal thing.
Bob

Well, that's also a good thing isn't it? ;-)
We wouldn't want traditional brushes to go extinct, even if all synthetics would perform better.
10-22-2012, 07:28 AM
Pithor

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The ability to hold water is unique to badger hair and is one of the reasons why it is considered the premium hair for a shave brush. You can dispute that if you want but there is probably a couple hundred years of history (at least) behind it. Of course there are plenty of guys who prefer boar or horse or synthetic to badger and that's fine. My dad had a nylon brush back in the 1950s and he loved it. He still has it and I think it's terrible but you know how that goes.

My horse hair brush holds water almost as well as my Thäter silvertip. It's bigger, though, but still I must say I was very surprised and throroughly impressed.

The only synthetic I've ever tried was the dreaded Body Shop brush, it nearly took out my right eye.

Maybe sometime in the future, to compensate for the three tortured badgers and one tortured boar in my cupboard. After a chicken dinner of course. I don't see why not.

Many people like the idea of traditional shaving brushes, but the colours some come in, and the razor scales, mirror polishes...sheesh....Sorry, just a small vent.