Initial impressions of Muhle Retro shave brush

My Muhle Retro shave brush arrived today and all I can say is wow. It had more noticeable badger funk than any of my other badgers did but you have to stuff it up to your nose to even smell it.

For the first test lather I sloshed it around in the cold water in the sink and shook it out, that is when I found out that it holds a ton of water. Took it to the MWF and loaded the brush, added some water by dipping the tips and loaded some more. The thing just eats MWF up. Made a lather on my hand. That was when I got my second surprise, how much rich creamy lather this brush can make and hold. You really notice how much it can hold when you rinse it out under a tap.

Reloaded the brush and did a face lather producing equally as copious amounts of rich and thick MWF lather as the first time. It has a great balance of backbone and softness to the tips to do a terrific job of face lathering. Not as much backbone as either the Simpsons Manchurian badger or the SOC 2 band badger I have but not really that far behind. The Retro is far larger and denser than either the Simpson or SOC yet they have very similar loft to knot width ratios. I suppose that is why they feel similar to me for face lathering.

Also did a test lather on a Williams puck and it ate that up too. I don't imagine creams will be a problem. I think it lost 3 hairs through all of that. If you like decent sized silver tip knots that are not too floppy the Retro might be worth checking out.

Yea I am happy with it. Obligatory photo to follow as soon as the knot dries, but that might be a while.

Bob

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Talking about gunk, the most I ever did see was a Thater I bought. When I soaked it in some mild soap all this thick yellow gunk came out of it. I never saw that ever happen to any brush before and I don't know what it was but it looked and smelled terrible. maybe the badger it came from got into a fight with a skunk just before they got it. But in the end it's a great brush.

That one you have is very handsome.

It sure is a pretty thing. I do love Muhle brushes
Enjoy yours sir!

Thanks for the kind comments guys. TBS now that you mentioned gunk, the first time I rinsed the brush the rinse water was a little brownish. First time that has happened to me with a new badger brush. Maybe it is some form of treating the hairs during manufacture? The best brushes, to me, are both pleasing to the eye and wonderful in use. I think this is a winner on both for me.

Bob

Lovely looking brush Bob, and a great looking knot, that bulb shape looks so nice.

Jamie

Thanks Jamie, it is a nice brush to use.

Bob

Nice brush! Mine's in transit to me from Germany. Did you get the butterscotch or the pistachio? Its hard to distinguish in photos. I almost got the butterscotch but at the last second switched to the Pistachio because I love the ice cream. Funny you mention the MWF. I just bought some for the first time and I've been waiting for my new brush before I try it out. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Logan5tx and I hope you enjoy your brush when you get it. Yea, it is very hard to distinguish between the two colours in photos. Did the same thing and bounced back and forth till I settled on pistachio. Very hard to show the very slight greenish cast in a photo. I am not used to a brush this dense and man it holds a ton of MWF lather.

Bob

I have a Muhle brush myself and am very pleased. I really hope you enjoy it! Not sure what type of bowl you use, but they also make a really nice shaving bowl which I picked up in a white porcelain...very high quality.

Sorry, no bowl just face lather. Saturday I am going to try an uber lather in my $0.50 Sally Ann bowl to see how it bowl lathers. I have a feeling I would like a longer handle for that but we will see.

Bob

That's quite the lineup of brushes my friend!!!!!!

Thanks Brooksie

I don't know how that happened but I like them all for slightly different reasons. Hard to go wrong with any of them depending on what you want in a production brush.

Bob

Used this brush steady for a week now and it never failed to build a rich thick lather with the hard soaps, soft soaps and a cream I tried. It was all face lathering except one with a bowl to make an uber lather with the two worst soaps I have, Williams puck and Old Spice cream. The uber lather that was produced was excellent and in a ridiculously prodigious amount. The knot builds, holds and releases just a ton of lather. It is a keeper. The only thing that might improve this brush for me would be to scale up the handle to be longer.

Bob

Sounds like a winner! It's always nice to hear that cheap soaps are still viable! I was contemplating getting some old spice in a tube but I think I'll pass now! Next soap to arrive is the avocado TOBS :)

I've been using my Pistachio Retro for a few weeks now. It's probably the softest feeling brush I have. I have to say, man, this thing is one giant dense puffball of fur. I think it may have more badger hair in it than an actual badger. It takes about two swipes to coat a whole side of my face. When bloomed its the size of a cheerleader Pom Pom haha. After shaving and rinsing it I always end up squeezing out a ton of more cream and water from the core of the brush. It kind of makes me feel wasteful. It's a beautiful show piece but after using it I think I may have a preference for a slightly smaller or at least less dense brush. My QED Select has a 24mm knot but its not quite as dense and I think just about hits the sweet spot for me. I'll probably use the Muhle once a week or so but probably not very day. Shoot, I think I takes a whole 24 hours or more to dry out anyway!