View attachment 223951
April 21st
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - PS Tube 2.0, ASB Star Jelly, Shave Soap and Aftershave & Cologne - Et Tu
Simpson Trafalgar T3 Synthetic
Gillette Silver Blue (2)
Rex Ambassador
New brush this morning....ordered 4/9, direct from the Simpson website (UK), delivered in DFW area 11 days later, for ~$25 US. This synthetic brush's price/performance ratio will be tough to beat, unless you're looking for something delivered quicker, or with a 'cooler' looking handle (which is me.....I'm probably going to transplant the knot). The T3 knot.....a beast at 28mm. FWIW, the Omega EVO is also marketed at 28mm, but the T3 is visibly bigger. I'll put some calipers on both when Amazon decides to ship batteries for my digital calipers, as every local store I've tried is sold out due to the current pandemic (and people panic purchasing hearing aid batts, sigh). The T3 28mm is packed very dense, lots of backbone. The Omega EVO is slightly softer out of the box. I believe part of that is the loft, the EVO having slightly more bristle length, but also because it's ever so slightly packed 'lighter'. Bristles between the two brushes....the T3 strands are just barely straighter, lighter in color, more white/grey. The EVO strands are more 'wavy', slightly more tinted true to a badger being 'tan/light brown' in color. A few days ago Clint rated the Simpson T3 as his second favorite synthetic, the EVO being his third. First was the Simpson Special Edition 'Duke 3'. I don't have that example yet, so can't compare. Between the T3 and the EVO.....it's close, really close, toss a coin close....as both are really nice, but I'm going to favor the EVO straight out of the box, for it's slightly less dense knot packing, which gives it less backbone, leading to a better 'splay' for me when face lathering. There is a small note in the Simpson box, mentioning 'Gently lather your face with paint brush strokes'. Me, when face lathering, I'm a swirler, and with the T3's slightly shorter loft, slightly more backbone, a swirling technique aerates the lather a little too much, making some of it go airborne. I use paint brush strokes for lather application when I bowl lather (which is me most of the time). One last point....the Omega EVO is twice the price, I was able to score it for $58 delivered, between a sale and a coupon.
On to today's shave.....This morning I did a bit of face lathering and bowl lathering. The T3 made an awesome CK-6 bowl lather, super dense, yogurty hydrating slick goodness. Face lathering (as mentioned) requires a little more pressure to splay the T3 knot, and aerates the lather 'airborne' a little too much. Painted brush strokes only after that test. First pass was with the Rex Ambassador on 5, loaded with a GSB on it's second use. Second pass I dialed the RA to 2, and really concentrated on an XTG stroke to get to DFS+ all over. Third pass was the other leg of the X, RA still on 2, buffing mainly the lower neck/jawline. BBS result today! Still had an enormous amount of lather, so on the face it went for a fourth time, but only while cleaning the tools....a quick rinse and healthy dose of PAA's Et Tu Aftershave & Cologne, and ready for a Tuesday. Et Tu, for those who aren't familiar, is a copy of the original Brut by Fabergé. A great aroma for sure, but unfortunately it isn't very long lasting (maybe my nose acclimates to it too quickly).
Hope everyone has a Terrific Tuesday!
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