Are Synthetics Really Best?

Discussion in 'The Brush' started by Steve C, Jul 23, 2017.

  1. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    Bought it then cancelled it.

    Bought a Maggards granite synth off their eBay store. Big bastard. Maybe too big. Used it today and didn't mind it. Looked like it holds water (looks wet) but the lather wasn't that wet. Weird.

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  2. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    They take a little getting used to. That's a good brush you bought. At the very least it gives you a good idea of the platform. The others are all a little different, but nothing earth shaking. In my opinion.
     
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  3. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    I'll get a few more uses with it before Peter calls my number. [​IMG]

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  4. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    I personally like the Tuxedo knot better than the plisson type you got in the maggard. You can count on it having a softer overall feel. Others have described it like lathering with the lather itself, and I would sort of agree. I like mine, but it is actually too soft for my everyday preference.
     
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  5. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    Is the tuxedo one the black and white knot? I'd prefer that as well but I pulled the trigger pretty fast the other night.

    I'd actually like it a bit more scratchy like the semouge.

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  6. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    Wait, so the tuxedo is softer?

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  7. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    The Tuxedo is the black and white. It is sort of generally assumed that is the white wolf knot also. If you want a scrubbier feeling I would look at getting an Ubersoft II from Envy Shave. It is more of a fan type like this:

    [​IMG]

    I like this one a lot. But again, it is hard to put one in that you haven't tried.

    I don't know of any that that have a more scrubby feel without going to a Simpson, and obviously you aren't gonna knock a knot out of one of those.
     
  8. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    Yeah. Tuxedo is the softest I've ever used. I haven't tried the Cashmere though.
     
  9. Eeyore

    Eeyore Well-Known Member

    I don't like the really soft brushes. Legacy of three decades boar brush usage, I guess.
     
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  10. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Terry Williams

    Terry Williams Well-Known Member

    If you want to accelerate the process, then take your boar brush into the shower with you with a cake of shave soap. Then, scrub and swirl up some lather on your forearm. Continue to use it for shaving as you are breaking it in. You can break in a boar knot pretty fast that way over just a few sessions.
     
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  12. ninjack

    ninjack Well-Known Member

    I've never tried a synthetic brush before, but have been thinking about getting a Satin Tip brand to try. Has anyone here tried one of these. They look nice and cost around $23.

    satin tip-1.jpg
     
  13. Terry Williams

    Terry Williams Well-Known Member

    I've never tried one of those, but it looks really cool.
     
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  14. ninjack

    ninjack Well-Known Member

    Yeah, I love the look of it. If it performs as good as it looks, it would be worth the $23-$25 for it.
     
  15. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    I have one, its a great little brush. The knot is on the smaller side 20mm or 22mm I think, but It makes and holds plenty of lather (and freely releases it). The knot has a little bit of scritch to it compared to a plisson style knot which I like, and the rubberized handle makes it easy to hold on to when covered in soap. This brush never fails to make a silky smooth lather for me no matter what soap I use it with. If mine were to break I would happily replace it and have no trouble recommending one to others.
     
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  16. ninjack

    ninjack Well-Known Member

    Thanks Andrew! I thought I had read some good reviews on it a couple of years ago, but couldn't remember. It is surely a nice looking brush. I like that the handle has a rubber texture to it. Glad to hear it is so good!
     
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  17. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    WP_20170908_001.jpg
    These two just came in the mail from TurnNShave (Formerly Evershave.) A angel knot and a full moon knot. Reviews to come in another post soon!
     
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  18. jaxstraww

    jaxstraww Well-Known Member

    I think for my WW order going to go badger. I like bowl lathering and the synthetic doesn't seem to do the same job.

    Now with face lathering I find the synthetic to be a beast.

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  19. Marc Bagwell

    Marc Bagwell Well-Known Member

    All I've used are synthetics so I really can't comment. I would like to say that I'm considering trying a natural hair brush. I know nothing about them but I know you would be an excellent person to ask. Should I try a boar first or a badger? Money is always an issue because I'm on a fixed income. Someone said I should try a semogue brush first, I would really appreciate your recommendation. Thanks in advance.
     
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  20. Bama Samurai

    Bama Samurai with Laser-like Focus

    If you're saying you can't spend $$$$ on badger, then synthetic is a far better choice for you. If you wanna try boar, Omega is the brand to buy.
     
    Terry Williams, dustmite, RyX and 3 others like this.

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