New to DE shaving, what kind of brush?

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amflud

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I've decided to take the plunge into the world of DE shaving. I've settled on using soap, but I'm not sure what kind of brush to use. From what I've read it looks like boar hair brushes are best for soap. Any recommendations of a particular brush? Looking for brand names and specific models. Thank you very much.
 
Brushes can be like knives in that everyone has their preferences in terms of design, feel, etc. I use soaps most of the time. I've never found a boar brush that could hold a candle to a badger hair brush. Both will get the job done, but the ease and quality of lathering with a badger is much greater - and considering that I have shave 5 days a week, its worth the extra money - to me.

I prefer smaller brushes with a 21-22 mm knot. I like a shorter loft say, 44-50mm. That makes for a slightly less floppy brush which I like for soaps. The Shavmac 177 series is one you might want to look at. The medium grade bristle is (finest grade) is good. Westcoastshaving.com carries them. A more economical brush is the Vulfix #405. Classicshaving.com carries the Vulfix line. This was my first brush and I still use it. If you want to spend more, Rooney makes some very nice brushes. I like the style 1, small. You might want to consider the slightly larger version, but again that depends on preference. The different manufacterers use different terms for the bristle grades, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples when shopping.

You can also check out vids by mantic59 on youtube. I'm sure he has at least one brush primer. Good luck and enjoy.

Jordan
 
For a starter brush I suggest an Omega Professional. It has really long bristles, but they're quite firm so it's not floppy at all. It's nice and soft on the face for a boar bristle, and holds water quite well. It's also only about $20. I use one as my go-to brush and use a Dovo or Edwin Jagger badger when the feeling strikes.
 
Thanks guys, this really helps me narrow it down. I just gotta figure out how much I wanna spend. I'm sure you get what you pay for.
 
Boars are cheap enough that you can try one out and decide if you like it or not. If you decide that its just not really for you, you can use it as a travel brush. I started with a Omega 005 boar brush and liked it fine, but then I tried a badger and there was no turning back. Even then I haven't spent that much on badger brushes, the first was a super badger from Fendrihan ( A Canadian traditional shave store) then I put a TGN Silver tip badger knot in the Omega handle, and then I picked up a cheap knot from Lee Valley Tools and set in a handle that I was lucky enough to have given me. I think I have spent a total of $80 on badger brushes and that includes shipping and the epoxy to set the knots I bought.
 
Boar and Badger deliver different lathers. Badger is superior but I don't think Boar is rubbish either but it can shed bristles. Omega do decent inexpensive Boars which I can recommend, they won't last as long as Badger mind. One alternative that's surprised me is a synthetic brush I got from Men-U, it's a little stiffer like Boar but retains water and lathers as well as Badger I've found. After six years of use it looks and performs as new, hasn't shed and shows no decrease in performance. I use this brush a lot, find it durable and suitable for soap or cream. Cost more than Boar but less than decent Badger.
 
willgoy, good to hear about the Men-U synthetic as my experience with other synthetics has not been good.

One other option for a good inexpensive brush is the Colonel Conk badger for about $25.
 
I shower first, making sure to make the water as hot as I can stand it at the end. I rub my face and neck with the hot water to soften the beard.

When I hop out of the shower, I get in my robe, put a dot of prorasso on my palm and rub it up between my hands, and apply directly to the place I'm going to shave.

Then, with a nice clean sharp blade, I shave with the grain, half against, and then against. It takes me about a minute to shave and then I'm done. If I want to save my blades, I take an alcohol pad, pull out the blade, clean with alcohol, and reassemble my razor.

I typically get 5-10 shaves out of a blade that way. One ten cent blade can last me a month easily, and I've given up on using a brush of any kind.

I think the key is to saturate your beard with hot soapy water, make sure to do that last in the shower, and then go directly to dry yourself off and then shave.

Maybe you have access to alcohol pads, maybe not. That's what I do.

I typically shave several hours before work or social engagements so I can use a styptic stick to stop any bleeding from showing on the collar of my undershirt.

My favorite soap is Dr. Bronner's Magic Peppermint soap in a Dawn foamer. This has allowed me to use one gallon of soap for over two years, I cannot calculate the savings this has given me.

Best wishes.
 
I use a best badger hair brush from Crabtree & Evelyn. It says it's designed by Edwin Jagger, handmade in England. I got it for around $40 and I've used it for 3 years. It loses hairs from time to time, but it works up a great lather with soap and is pretty soft. The soap I use is made by Honeybee Sue and can be purchased from her ebay store Honeybee Spa (http://stores.ebay.com/Honeybee-Spa-Soaps/Shaving-Soaps-/_i.html?_fsub=6). I do the pick 3 or pick 6 and you can choose from different scents. Her soaps seem to work really well with my brush.
 
If you want to spend as little as possible to try out your new "hobby" I would suggest going to your nearest CVS store and try out the VDH boar brush for about $8. If you don't have CVS in your area, the Tweezerman badger brush from Amazon.com can often be found for less than $11 with free shipping if you order additional items to get the entire order over $25. Omega boar brushes are also highly thought of as well as Semogue brushes from Portugal for $20 or under.

If your budget allows you to take the plunge into the best brushes, look to the English made brushes. Visit badgerandblade.com for advice.
 
I use an entry level Vulfix boar brush and soap pucks I got from classicshaving.com and it's served me well for years!
 
I'm getting one of these with a synthetic boar knot:

Omega_643188.jpg


It's not metal, by the way. That handle is plastic.
 
I like Rooney brushes. They are pretty expensive so you should be sure you are going to stick with using one. A good silvertip should last for many decades if taken care of.
 
One of you SOB's must have taken that brush after I posted that, because it was out of stock when I went to make my order lol

I got this one instead:

Omega_643174.jpg


I like it a lot. It's really soft and applies lather well. You do have to kind of jam the brush into the bowl to make a lather, though, because the bristles are too soft to just swirl one up.
 
Their boar bristle ones are actually pretty soft on the face but stiff in the bowl. You might enjoy one of them--I use one as my usual daily brush and just bust out the badger when I want to take my time and treat myself.
 
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