After reading GDCarrington's excellent review A place all its own: Frank Shaving Company Synthetic Brush, I ordered one for myself from Star Shaving Supplies. I have been using an Omega Artificial Badger brush most days for the past year and I was interested in comparing. As you can see in the picture, the two brushes are similar in heft. I thought I would share my observations from comparing the two synthetic brushes. The handle of the Frank brush is a very nice classic shape that is easy to hold, but it is very plain. The Omega handle is more eye-catching, made from a semi-transparent ruby-colored resin, with a shiny gold-colored collar. This is the Lucretia Borgia model. The Frank synthetic brush cost about $12.50. The Omega brush cost about $45. The synthetic fibers in the two knots are different -- the fibers in the Omega brush are a slightly darker color, with darker ends. The tips of the fibers in both knots are very soft. To me, that is one of the key benefits of a synthetic knot -- the very soft tips. For comparison, I have a Edwin Jagger best badger brush that I enjoy, but it has that "scritchy" feeling on my face that I just don't like. I've never used a silver-tip badger brush, so I can't compare. So far as using the two synthetic brushes, both of them had a break-in period. There was no funky smell, of course, but the synthetic fibers are stiffer when the brush is new. After a few weeks of use, the fibers become more giving, and the knot splays out better with pressure. I am fond of face lathering. I've made shaving sticks out of all my favorite soaps: TSD, Art of Shaving, and Queen Charlotte (all unscented). I rub the stick generously over my whiskers, then begin vigorously working up a lather with a very wet brush. It is kind of a messy process when I work up a lather like this with my face low over the sink, but I love the feeling! I usually have to wipe off the mirror and counter top when I'm done. My wife has asked me how I manage to get soap on the mirror! Both of these brushes perform well when used like this, but they feel distinctly different. The two knots are superficially similar in size, but the Frank's knot is more densely packed than the Omega and has more backbone. In use, the Frank brush gives more of a scrubbing feeling on my face. With similar pressure the fibers of the Omega brush spread out more widely and feel softer. The Frank's brush performs well and is an amazing bargain, but I find that the Omega brush makes me smile: it just feels more luxurious for the way I use it. But the Frank's brush still gets used once in a while.
Excellent review indeed! Most people will not jump for an more expensive synthetic brush based on the results from the old white nylon synthetics that have been around since the 1950s. When I first started, I used a Burma Shave boar then moved to a Tweezerman and like the softer but still stiff scrubbing action. The Tweezerman I endorsed so much earlier, I don't because of these synthetics. I think these can really do a great job face lathering, even though I use mine with a bowl. If more shavers would try the FS synthetic, they will find that synthetics have come a long way from the old days and would even consider upgrading to the Omega. Thanks for the comparison and the pictures!
I've never tried the Omega, but I do dig the Franks. I think the Franks is the perfect Newb brush. It is amazing how far synthetics have come.
I have both a Frank's badger and the new synthetic. Both are very attractive brushes. Even if they were not relatively inexpensive I'd still be happy with them. ( but still find my Turkish horse still best with all soaps and creams-) )
great review...i have a silver tip frank brush but am not a big fan of it....it has wayy to much backbone....
