Hi all, I've got the itch to get a new brush! I hope you can all help me decide. Here's my current setup: Rooney 3/1 (relatively new) which feels great on the face, but can't seem to hold much lather after first pass (too dense?) Small Taylors (Vulfix) Super Badger, which was my first brush and works pretty well, although I find it a little floppy on the face, Omega 48. Too big for face, seems to want to paint rather than swirl. I am primarily a soap user and face lather most of the time, however I do like to bowl lather occasionally, and do enjoy creams as well. So, lately I'm finding that my lather does not hold up throughout the shave. I swear it used to, but I'm thinking it's the Moss scuttle I purchased recently. Anyway, I don't seem to be getting as good lather as I used to, and it doesn't seem to last for my usual 4 passes. It may also be the Rooney I got at around the same time - it is so dense that the majority of the lather ends up on my face before first pass, leaving little for remaining passes. That in combination with the scuttle breaking down the lather is not a good combo. I'm going to experiment by not using the Scuttle next time. I may be one of the few people who think they are actually detrimental to the shave. Ok, warm lather is nice for the 10 seconds it stays warm on the face, but at the expense of decent, long lasting lather? Anyways.... I want a brush that is scrubby but not too dense Small enough to face lather Big enough to hold plenty of lather Good heat retention I have narrowed it down to the following, please feel free to suggest others! Kent BK8 Kent H8 Shavemac 23mm 177 Shavemac in Finest (23mm?) Rooney 3/2 or 1/2? Thank you gents, I look forward to your recommendations! Regards, John
Given your list above, I'd go with the Shavemac 177. Although based on your requirement of "scrubby," I'm not sure any of those brushes will be scrubby like you want. The Kents will probably be way too floppy to be considered scrubby.
you might try a brush in the pure badger grade. I use a c&e pure badger and it's just scrubby enough and has the water retention of a badger brush. Best of both worlds, for me. Oh, and it's a small knot, so it might fit your face better.
the same opinion. I have a Kent BK8,however is an old model and the new ones are more floppier than the one that I own.Maybe if you can get an old BK8 would be good,but the Semogue 1305 is just too much of a brush and you will save lots of money.
Which Rooney 3/1 do you have; Best, Super, Finest, etc.? I have a 3/1 in best, and for me, not sure I could tolerate anything softer. I easily get 4 passes of thick lather out of the brush. Your post says that you used to get better lather prior to the Rooney, but maybe you need a little more product with the rooney brush. +1 on the sugestion to use pure badger. I have a 20 mm pure badger knot from the Golden Nib that for me, would fit your criteria. I don't have a boar brush, but as some of the replies are showing, many here love their Boars. Good luck, Moe
Regarding the 'itch' part, well, more on that later. On the shortcomings of your brushes, respectfully, I offer that perhaps it's not the brush that's failing you but your technique? The 3/1 and the 48 are two of the finest brushes I own. Perhaps focus on one or the other and try to master it? They are very different brushes and each has a different method that works best for it, and it's different for cream and for soap, for each. I think your problem is that you're not using enough soap. If the 3/1 is not giving you enough lather for 3 or more passes, you're not using enough soap, plain and simple. An easy technique to get the 48 to swirl on your face is to break the knot on your chin and start from there, applying only enough pressure to get the brush to splay and not flop. Again, this works better with a brush that's filled with soap; a wet brush is more likely to flop than a brush that's filled with creamy thick lather. If this all started when you got the scuttle, eliminate it and see if your shave improves; if it does you need to compensate for the scuttle with your technique. Logically if you're not making great lather with the 48 or the 3/1 then you're going to fail with a Shavemac or a Kent as well. If you don't like floppy as you have stated you might not like the Kent; I don't for that very reason. If you're primarily a soap user, you will do well with the Semogue boar, the Omega 10066 or the 31xxx series (both are considerably smaller than the 48) or the Vulfix boar as well. For soap / badger I like the 3/1, the Semogue 2015, and the Chubby 2 in best. hope this helps, Zach
How hot is the water you're putting in the scuttle? It may be that it's dissipating the lather, and you're not compensating for it like Zach suggested. If it was one brush giving you trouble, I might say it's the brush, but since it's both I'm leaning more towards technique. And technique meaning not adjusting for the scuttle since that's when the trouble started.... IMO, you really only need one brush - I used only one for about 9 months. Once you learn the intricacies of it, you'll be able to get lather out of anything... I only have 3 brushes right now - 1 I use, the 2nd is in a box waiting to go to a friend for him to try a boar, and the 3rd is my silvertip which hasn't seen lather in over a month....so, haha, I'm back to only 1 brush...
It's very hot, from the tap. Not anywhere near boiling. After pre-warming the scuttle, and filled inner chamber, the compartment for the brush is not too hot to touch. I think you're right, I only shave two or three times a week so maybe I just haven't got the technique down yet with my new gear. I have however been DE shaving for well over a year, and have largely been getting BBS, irritation-free shaves. I tried bowl lathering yesterday, with both the Rooney and the Taylors. WOW - lots of thick, wet, slick, meringue-like lather, with LOTS to spare. I couldn't believe it. I started face lathering a few weeks into DE shaving (I was away on business and couldn't be bothered to pack a bowl). I face lathered with my Taylors brush, TOBS Rose cream, and had one of my best shaves ever. So I have been face lathering ever since, but maybe face lathering doesn't work nearly as well with some brush/product combos? I'm certainly giving bowl lathering another try. Really was night and day, FAR better quality, and quantity, than I ever get on my face. And no - I didn't use more product! John
There you go! Do whatever it is that works for you. You only shave 2 or 3 times a week? Shoot, I shave every day...
It's just my beard I guess. Just doesn't grow that quickly. I think my face would get a little sore if I shaved every day. I go for BBS every time. I really wish I needed to shave every day though, I'm envious! Maybe my shaves are so good, my beard takes longer to grow back!
hi i really have to agree with truckman semogue 1305 its smaller than the 2000 which would be to big for you, but theas ar fab brushes value for money and get to you quickly,semogue is great,but at the end of the day up to you but you have got a lot of choice out thair good luck.
Given your preferences in your first post, I'd like to suggest commissioning Tony at Penworks to make a brush for you. He provides a variety of knots and handles, and you can pass your requirements on to him and get some advice about what might be most suitable. Prices are reasonable and Tony's work is great.
