i tried badger, boar, and synthetic. probably about 15 total different brushes over the years. i ended up selling/returning all but two silvertip brushes. and from those two..i only really use one. the other is up for sale. silvertip badger is awesome
Hello, That's interesting. Could I ask about the two brushes you kept and which brush is your go to? My silver tip is on the way and I can't wait to give it a try.
Yes, it is hard to beat synthetics for travel. For at home, I echo your boar sentiments. Hard to beat an Omega #49 or #98.
i kept two brushes. this is one http://tinyurl.com/yb275s9h which is a vie long premium silvertip with beehive style handle this is the other which i would sell (only because i like the beehive shaped handle better) http://tinyurl.com/yd88ovrx
Wow! I received my Parker silver tip today and put it to good use. It's my first badge brush. I couldn't believe how luxurious it was compared to my synthetics. I still like synthetics but the badger was very nice. I can now see why so many of you love your silver tips so much. In the next few days I'll be taking my first boar brush for a spin. I'll let you know my thoughts after I've used it. Until then, I'm going to be putting my silver tip through its paces.
I admit to being constantly mystified by this question... in terms of lather retention and flow, the three synthetics I’ve purchased in the last few years are rather like comparing a Yugo to a Mercedes... Even cheap badgers and boars completely dominate in performance. To each his own, I guess...
I've tried several times to get on the synth bandwagon and I just don't love them. I also have to say I haven't seen two of the big benefits that people often mention: using less soap and building the lather faster. My synths, boar, and badgers all seem about the same in those ways. The one place where the synths are different, besides the way they feel, is in drying time. They dry a lot faster than badgers and boars. Yugo might not be fair, though. Synths do work.
I have used both boar and badger (neither were high end) and then someone suggested a synthetic (Razorock). I love them and they don't cost a fortune. I'm on my second one (left the other one on vacation). I'm no expert but I give them a thumbs up.
My experience has been totally opposite. I've read that the later generation synthetics are much improved over the earlier ones. My H.I.S. synthetic is a lathering machine and very luxurious; boars aren't even in the same ball park. I've never tried a silver tip, but honestly my H.I.S. is so good, I have no desire to spend the money to try one.
Just to clarify - synthetics seem to be just fine for bowl lathering, and then just using as a paint brush. But if you are trying to build the lather on your face, which is my preferred method, I find poor lather capacity in the brush and everything just seems to “run through”. If your experience is different, I envy you! I really wanted to like the latest generation of synthetics, but just found their performance to be more of a wish than a reality...
I face lather exclusively, and always with synthetics. Leave a $150 super badger on the shelf because it can't hang with my $30 synthetic.
Exactly! I think good lather can be had a few ways. The brush, in the grand scheme, isn't that important with regard to shave outcome.
I face lather exclusively, and my synthetic excels at it, producing as much lather as I could possibly want. It is a reality.
Yes, one area where my synthetics excel is in the amount of lather they produce. With my synthetic brushes, I have to load considerably less soap than with the natural hair ones.
Love my new RazoRock Beehive .. cant imagine a better performing brush for the $14.99 i paid new for it.