Picked up a few items at the mall today, one of which was an $11 synthetic brush from The Body Shop specifically for travel. Nice enough.. Whips a great lather (tried three tests, C.E.Bigelow tube, Body Shops Maca Root & Kiehl's Lite Flite...love the menth), feels nice in the hand... But the synth is leaving me feeling like I wasted $11... It's really stiff. On the face, it just seems to push the lather around and rather than leaving a nice face full, it sort of smooths [scrapes] away what-ever is on the skin. So, is there a chance this will soften up? I can live with the size and shape and the wood handle is kind of okay, but the bristles are more like a synth paint brush than shaving brush.:mad:
I got the same brush. I don't really like it either. SWMBO is a vegetarian so I gave it to her. It isn't bad for travel, just don't expect it to be as good as home and you'll be good, and then just shave like hell when you get back home!
Welp, I really like mine! I crushed it around in the Redneck Scuttle for a few shaves and it seemed to have broken in...I mean I really abused it...
I have seen this brush once and would not touch it! There are some nice synthetic brushes out there, there was a long write-up on another big shaving forum. I also have a few of the TGN synthetic knots and they seem fine to me, soft and supple, but I have not used them.
Yeah, the Body Shop brush didn't do much for me. If you bought it because it was synthetic, then I would go the suggested route and get a brush made with a synthetic knot from The Golden Nib. I have one from them and it is a far superior knot than that one from TBS.
No, I didn't buy specifically because it was synth, I wanted something on the smaller size, and inexpensive..I am traveling for a week and don't want to bring my better brushes. I love the Maca Root cream, but the brush.... not so much. Used this morning and it got the job done, but it isn't as much fun as my other options..
Everybody's mileage will vary, but I like my TBS brush, especially with soaps; it has quite a backbone. But, the more I crush and abuse the tips into my scuttle, the softer the tips get, while the middle stays stiff-ish. I do know that some folks prefer stiffer brushes, perhaps I am just one of them. To be fair, it is my one and only synthetic, so there are other options available, and those options could be better, but I am not unhappy with my purchase.
As a traveling brush with creams it will do. Its a cheap option that can be easily replaced and you won't feel too bad if something happens. That is why I had one. It'll work when traveling, but I wouldn't expect it to break in to become a great daily use brush.
+1 on the Maca root. They had a 3 for $30 sale not long ago and I got 3 tubs. Tweezerman Badger seems to be the el cheapo brush of choice and it is less than $15 on Amazon.
