Thread: Brushes

It may sound strange, but I have had better results with a Burma Shave natural bristle (and ugly plastic handle) than with a Caswell-Massey badger (sold as "pure" but actually "silver tip") brush. I am talking about hard soap.

I bought the Burma shave the other day from Albertson's for 4.99, just to give it a go. After some testing, I think the only thing preventing me from using it all the time is its ugliness. And a new silver tip I am expecting in the mail... I hope it turns out alright

boar does work surprisingly well with soap. Have you tried the proraso-labelled omega brush that Target sells? Its about $15 and is a very nice brush.

I'm with you on the burma shave brush. I have many brushes from a conk super to a simpson best to and edwin jagger super to a men-u bristle to a omega boar bristle and a couple others. The one that I like the most is the burma. It scrubs just the amount I like. It's small enough that it doesn't cover my face with bristles and make a mess. It holds water good enough to get me great lather with whatever I use, cream or soap. I will say though that you are correct, it's not a very good looking brush. But the price is right, the performance is great, so what else would I need unless I just want more brushes (like I have)? I bought the other brushes before the burma and after using the burma, I have a hard time using the other badger brushes now because they don't scrub enough to my liking now.

I guess the brush has been around as long as it has because it offers enough guys all they need.

John

I likes them a lot. Unfortunately, it's also expensive like buying razors. Here are my latest acquisitions:

A Rooney Style 2, small, Super badger and a Simpson Persian Jar 2 (PJ2).

RT

mparker:
no, I was looking for it but our SuperTarget didn't have it (so I got the Burma from Albertsons) I should be getting an Omega Silver tip in the mail this week

John:
wow, thanks for sharing this, I *might* save a lot of money (if I don't decide to try all those high-end brushes you mention for myself, that is)

rtaylor:
very nice brushes (and some serious $$$), which should contribute to many great shaves - enjoy

I also use a cheap, boar brush (not Burma) that does a great job making lather, and I think feels great on my face (never used a badger). The one thing I find annoying, though, is that it is always shedding bristles on my face. Does the Burma do this? Do the nice badgers do this, or is this a factor of its cheapness?

Philip

Randy,
I know this is like a recovering alcoholic asking for someone to describe the taste of a favorite scotch, but I'm gonna do it anyway . Would you be so kind as to give a review/description of that PJ2? It is really the only brush I'm at all curious about (right now ). Since purchasing my Chubby 2 in best, I've had no desire to roam, but I've heard so many good things about this particular brush...what's your take?
Cheers,
Ed

Originally Posted by texan

I also use a cheap, boar brush (not Burma) that does a great job making lather, and I think feels great on my face (never used a badger). The one thing I find annoying, though, is that it is always shedding bristles on my face. Does the Burma do this? Do the nice badgers do this, or is this a factor of its cheapness?

Philip

Philip,

My Burma shed 3 bristles when I got it; several shaves after this I have not seen anything else. I have a 3 or so year old badger (Caswell-Massey) which says pure badger, looks to be silver tip, and sheds a hair occasionally. Maybe 10 hairs shed since I bought it. I should note that I used to go for a week or more without shaving so the badger has not seen that much use.

Ivo

well-made badger and boar should not shed much at all. I've got a proraso branded omega boar brush that has shed a few bristles, a Van der Hagen boar that sheds just thinking about using it, a Dovo badger that loses 1-2 hairs every shave. My daily brush is a Rooney badger that has lost 3 hairs total over the last 6 months (two hairs the first day and one about a month ago).

Originally Posted by ForestryProf

Randy,
I know this is like a recovering alcoholic asking for someone to describe the taste of a favorite scotch, but I'm gonna do it anyway . Would you be so kind as to give a review/description of that PJ2? It is really the only brush I'm at all curious about (right now ). Since purchasing my Chubby 2 in best, I've had no desire to roam, but I've heard so many good things about this particular brush...what's your take?
Cheers,
Ed

Ed,

Remind me in a week. Let me learn it a bit better and use it with both soaps and creams...i.e., provide some real world info vs. a one or two use review. I'm up to two uses...and I do love it.

RT