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I got a Pure Badger Brush (Rooney) with my starter kit. Is it worth it to buy a Silvertip? I probably should have upgraded when I ordered but not being sure I would stick with it I went with the least expensive badger brush. Will I notice a difference?
The silver is a different experience,
Should you? If you can create consistent later with what you have you won't know until you do.
I have Boar, Pure Badger, Best badger, and silver tip. I use them all.
I like soft with a bit of back bone but not overly scritchy,
so in the silver tip I tend toward slightly smaller diameter and or shorter knots.
I happen to like pure badger. Mine is scritchy and plenty of backbone. If I were you I would wait until you are sure you are going to stick with it before you start picking up more than you absolutely need. Once you know you are in it for the duration go for the silvertip. If you're like me it won't replace the other, just add another option to the daily shave. Both have their own desirable characteristics.
Yeah, that was the reason I was asking because it feels a little scritchy. You're right though I think I'll wait a little longer to try it. And no, my lather is not really consistent yet. Thanks!
Finest Badger is my favorite because of the backbone. Best Badger feels the same as Finest to me. The Silvertip is softer and undoubtedly the favorite of many, but I like the extra stiffness in the Finest.
The only one I didn't like was Black Badger. It gave me an unpleasant itchy sensation.
I have a Boar brush which I like but seldom use. It is more floppy and less absorbent than a badger brush to me.
It's really up to the individual to decide what's best. You may be like me and not prefer the most expensive grade.
finest and best badger are my favorite followed by black badger , i have only and have only used one silvertip but honestly i only use it with creams and am not to fond of it ..
I did the same thing you're doing...when I knew I was going to stick with it, I decided to upgrade and wondered the same thing. I ended up making my own silvertip, super silvertip, and finest badger brush using knots from thegoldennib. I like the finest badger and would recommend it as the next brush. It seems to be significantly softer than my Thater pure badger but has enough backbone and scritchy enough to feel good (if that's the right word). The silvertip doesn't scratch enough...it's really soft, almost too soft in my opinion. Hope this helps.
I use Golden Nib knots too. I like those old colorful plastic brush handles of yesteryear, and drill out the original knot. I ruined a beautiful handle because the new knot got loose and I ruined it trying to get the glue out, so now I gorge it with Devcon epoxy and let it cure a week. It's also a cheap way to get a top notch brush, even if you occasionally ruin one like old Lefty does.Quote:
Originally Posted by K37
I think different soaps react differently to different styles of brushes.. I like my boar for MWF and badger for AOS and Ogallala.
Its all a matter of preference based on experimentation and experience. You should have one of everything and two of those.
nun2sharp, you're trying to get me to join the Aquisition Disorder group! This straight razor endeavor was supposed to save me money in the long run! Seriously though, thanks for the tips and opinions.
K37 that's what I was thinking. That the Silver might be too soft, the Pure a little too scritchy, and the Finest just right.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetmech
You are already there I can tell by your feigned denial. ;) and like Goldielocks you wont find the one that's just right until you have tried them all! Have fun!
Badgers!?, Badgers!? We don't need no steenking Badgers! Sorry, just couldn't resist :)
That's for sure. It would be nice to be able to walk into a store right now and try every type of brush, find the one you like the best and buy it no matter the cost then expand much later. I don't think that's feasible so in the meantime, I would be a two band badger or make a finest badger; you'll probably like it much better than what you have and won't need or really desire to upgrade right after your purchase.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Although soaps reacts according to the skin type, if you skin is sensitive its defiantly cause some problem because of the soap, some people have very hard skin it doesn't react on it.
Going back to your original question, 1-yes you will notice a huge difference if you go silvertip over the pure and 2-worth is a value only you can judge. if you like the difference it's worth it if you don't it's not. You should try and go to a store where you can try different types if you live in a large city. If not you're left with on-line ordering.
Most any silvertip will serve you well for years and will work with both soaps and creams, but the so will your current brush. If you are willing to spend the $$ for a brush that is going to feel softer and more plush, then go for it. From my experience, as far as the feel of the brush on your face, you will feel a difference.
I thought that I was going to get off cheaper in the long run too. It is possible to make straight razor shaving cheaper than cartridge shaving but not easy. 6 gillete proglide razors are about twenty dollars if you use one a week then in 3 months you've used 40 dollars worth. meaning you spend 160 a year on razors and maybe 3 cans of barbasol which is roughly 12 dollars all together i think. so say you do what i did and go with a sight unseen razor from larry get a brush and soap set a poor man strop.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetmech
If I recall correctly that was about 90 dollars all together. but then the problem is straight razor shaving is something that is highly customizable and to figure out what works best for you there is some experimentation as well. this is true with shaving and with equipment (Im still trying to figure out what works best for me)
search your straight shaving motivations. I can tell you that even though I got into it to save money, I'm sticking with it because of the experience, the focused action of it all (it's like breaking down a gun or sharpening a knife to me I zone in on it and it relaxes me... wow I just sounded like one of those people that winds up sharpening knives all day and giving off ballistic records off the top of his head... oh wait), and because I really love the lather experience and the close shave.
Oh and I thought i would hate a silver tip until I tried one. I still like my pure badger though
Silver tip brushes are nice, but they won't make or break a fantastic shave nor will they turn you into a lather master. It's a luxury product, that's all.
I have 1best badger, 2pure badgers and 1silvertip. My go to brushes are my 2 pure badgers. They load up nice with soap pucks or cream and I get a great shave with any of my brushes. To me I think you can hand lather if your technique is good with the blade. And I haven't found a soap where I wasn't able to get a good shave. The 2 things IMO that you HAVE to have are a shave ready razor and good shaving technique, the rest is optional.
The brush I use the most is a finest badger. It is almost as soft as the silvertip I have, but has more backbone. I also have a Omega boar that is really nice once it was broke in and one that I think is horsehair that is excellent that I mainly only use with MWF (don't ask me why, I just do). All you can do is try them and see what type or types you like. Eventually, like many of us, you will end up wanting to try them all.
as far as I'm concerned, if you have the cash, go for it. I have 3 badger brushes of various grades, but my current favorite is actually a mixed badger/boar. If its going to stretch your budget, you really don't need a silvertip- as was previously said, its purely a luxury.