What is your favorite brush???

I would like to know what is your favorite brush and why?

Post a photo if you can. I know some are just works of art.
Is it a fan, bulb or a hybrid loft?
Are you a cream, soft soap or hard soap user?
Do you lather in a bowl/scuttle, on your hand or your face?
What type of hair is in it, badger(pure,best,fine,silvertip,etc.),boar,synthetic or what?
Is the brush soft or firm? Is it a good exfoliator or does it message gently?
Is it new or vintage?
What makes this your favorite?
Looking forward to seeing your favorite brushes!!!

 

This is a good idea Frank. I'll have to think about it first. Why don't you go first?

 

I only have a pair of AOS pure badger brushes and do not yet have a favorite or enough to make that determination. Also, I only started wet shaving with real products on Feb 1st. I do not count my can shaving days.

They are utilitarian and do the job but I see them as nothing more than cheap plastic paint brushes compared to the works of art I have seen for sale.

This thread will definitely build my interest for a future acquisition.

 

Sounds good.

 

Without second thought, since 2013 my favorite brush has been the Semogue BC Mistura. It is a great size and the mixed badger / boar knot is excellent.

I like it enough that I have purchased three of them and rotate between them.

(sorry, no pics as I am at work.)

 

In general I prefer soft brushes. So, the variety of uber-soft synthetics have grabbed my attention. However, I still rotate in an Omega 10066 boar brush and a finest badger brush from The Brush Guy a few times a month. I tend to rotate between my favorite synthetics. These are the ones that I am using right now:
The Golden Nib 24mm syn - Rubberset 100
Whipped Dog 24mm-Century(vintage); Maggard Razors 24mm-FranksShavingHandle Black Wolf 24mm-Wolf Whiskers Tuxedo Shape (Shadows of Stonehenge and Clear)

The WW is probably my absolute favorite. But, they are all very nice and they are all very soft. Decent backbone, but not stiff and not scritchy.

Edit: (other commentary)

I start in the bowl to load up and get the lather started and, then depending on how well the lather builds, I paint on or mildly face lather.

 

I have a brand new Whipped Dog Silvertip and I love it. It's a 24mm knot, very soft, with their larger handle. I believe it's 57mm tall.

(Pic later, I'm at work, too!)

HERM

 

These are my own design. The brush on the left has a TGN Silvertip Premium Knot. The brush on the right is a El Druida Manchurian knot. Both handles are from brass and are very heavy. I like the extra weight in the handle. Both whip up a great lather.

Two of these brushes are mine. The one on the left is a synthetic and one of the other 3 is also mine. It has an Envy White knot. These are amazing brushes.

This brush a LE Chubby 2 Synthetic from Simpson. It is also an amazing brush.

This Rubberset #3 boar with the original knot is outstanding.


This Rubberset unmarked with an Omega Pro 49 knot. It was a gift from @clint64. It is a lather monster and make lather out of anything. It is also beautiful!!!

This is an Elite Razor Gold Laced Onyx with a Tuxedo knot. Works great.

This pair are two of my grandfather's brushes that I restored. The knots are good but not great. I'm thinking of sending the off to be restored to their original condition.


There is not a bad brush in the bunch. They all work very well with any soap or cream. Very hard to pick one above the other.

 

Beautiful brushes Doug.

 

I guess I haven't been on the 30 day forum long enough to know that you'd made all those yourself... Very impressive, Doug!

 

Thanks very much, however, only the brass brushes are my design.

 

+1 !

 

I posted this same post on a favorite brush thread started by @PickledNorthern

I face lather exclusively and tend to prefer brushes with good backbone and scrub. However, I enjoy the entire range of brushes including boars, badgers and synthetics from my Zenith Boar to my Doug Korn custom badger. Below are the ones that are special to me.



400 #3 with a WSP HMW knot. I bought the brush restored at a very good price. I think the 400s are very cool looking brushes and this knot is absolutely huge.




This brush was a gift from my wife and daughters. The handle is by Rudy Vey with a TGN Finest knot. When I use the brush I think of the 3 ladies in my life.




Elite Razor Ironwood Beehive with Envy White knot. I along with @Boojum1 and @Douglas Carey worked with Bob Quinn to make a brush honoring our friendship that started here on TSD. One of the best knots I own with tons of backbone.



I feel the CH2 Synthetic is a great synthetic brush for those that enjoy badgers. It is super dense and gives that wall of badger or synthetic feel. Tons of backbone and the brush I reach for to lather troublesome soaps. I have added one LE version of the brush and will add more in the future.

 

I have used just about every type of brush imaginable. The black tuxedo synthetic knot beats them all. It dries insanely fast. It is low cost. It is easily the softest brush I have ever used and it has a great backbone. It performs better than brushes 5x the cost.

Handles are more preference. I like wolf whiskers. They are incredibly high quality and look gorgeous.

I would also give a shout out to @Jayaruh , our TSD brush maker, who can make a custom handle to order and put whatever brush you want in it for a VERY reasonable price.

 

You should tell us one more time. I had almost forgot.

 

A beautiful display of amazing quality brushes Clint.

 

Thank you very much my friend.

 

I will throw in one:

Doug Korn DK7 w/24mm Envy White

 

Clint not only has some of the most beautiful brushes you will see on this site, but boy can he shoot them...

 

I have his #59, and do enjoy it.