I have chosen my razor,, but the brush world has quickly overwhelmed me. I do not mind spending some good money on a badger brush. Any advice in making the brush choice would be great! I am looking at a Rudy, shavemac..... Thanks so much. Jeff
Hey Jeff! Welcome! There's a few Jeff's running around here so you should fit in just fine... I recently got into DE shaving and went with a Edwin Jagger Best Badger for around $40. It's not the cheapest brush you can find, and certainly not the most expensive. I could not be happier with it, as it's a soft brush with the capability to whip up great lather with both creams and soaps. It will certainly get you started, and if you are like most people on this forum, you will have many more brushes by the time your hobby is over. So that's what I got. Like I said, there are cheaper brushes out there that probably do just fine. In fact, a lot of people rave about a $10-$13 brush that is found at Target stores. You can even find cheap brushes on eBay. I personally don't mind spending a little money on quality products, so that's why I went with what I did. Got it from westcoastshaving.com...they have great products and great prices with fast shipping. You might check them out and pick up some creams/soaps while you're there (Not a plug! Just recommending from my own experience) By the way, what razor are you getting? Good luck to you, Sir. Enjoy TSD :transport015
Thanks for the warm Jeff Welcome! I am looking for a fat boy razor, kinda have my mind set on it. Gotta start with gut feelings.. I just aint getting that with brushes. I dont mind spending up to say $80-100 for my first brush. I have been looking at the Rooneys and Shavemacs.. what I need to do is stop looking and start shaving. Thanks for the advice. Jeff
I don't have that kind of money to drop on a brush...so I don't have experience in that ballpark. Some here do however, so I'm sure you will hear their advice as the day progresses. Like I said, a $40 EJ will get you a quality brush, get your 'foot in the door', and you can spend the big bucks later on a more expensive brush once you figure out it's what you want. But the choice is certainly up to you! And yes, you can look and look and look all day! I have done it many times...so yeah, my advice would be to simply get something and start shaving so you can feel out the process. A brush can always be upgraded or replaced in the future if you are unhappy with it for whatever reason....or if you just feel like having a few different brushes to choose from! Same goes with razors...
I suppose that also goes for creams and soaps. Get a few kinds of each, in different scents, and see what you like. That will get you shaving and enjoying the experience. You can always get more in the future...which you definitely will. I'm about a month in to this new shaving experience and already have 3 different creams and 2 different soaps with another bag of goodies on the way.... Plus you can always trade/sell the stuff you don't like and replace it with stuff you do like....which that also goes for brushes and razors! One mans trash is another's treasure... I'm done. I think you get the idea Good luck! Enjoy it Joe
I think Joe's advice is pretty good. I have one of those big dollar brushes (on sale it was $120) and while it is luxurious, I use my $9 Shea Moisture brush from Target (the one Joe mentioned above a.k.a The Dridecker) more frequently. In retrospect, I'd take the money you want to spend and split it and get an Omega boar brush and use the rest on a Rudy Vey Custom or on one of the Copperhat customs. Just my opinion, I hope it helps in your decision making and overall shave happiness
Just starting out, I would consider Frank shaving brushes, or even Omega's. Both brands offer great brushes at a very affordable prices. My experience with brushes has led me to believe that higher cost does not always equal a better brush. In your price range you could get both brands and have money left over. Two good brushes are always more fun than one. YMMV
1. Find a cool looking vintage handle and have it re-knotted with The Golden Nib Finest badger knot. 2. Get a Dridecker 3. Omega Boar 4. Once broken in, a Sabi Badger from Shaveabuck works well 5. Grab a VDH boar from the drug store and start shaving now!
Friggin AD!. All this talk about new brushes MADE me go and order an Omega boar. It's all your fault Jeff (the new Jeff). I got the chrome handled professional, I believe it is known as the 10048. Now the hard part....waiting for it. I've already checked the mailbox twice KNOWING its Sunday AND 2 hours since I placed the order.
I've been the happy owner of 2 Omega brushes know for about 4 years. They are the #6222 and #6224 in pure badger. I chose black badger hair because my beard is course and I wanted a stiffer brush. The Omega is well made and can handle both soaps and creams equally well. I also feel like I did not pay alot of money eithier. Last time I checked I think Shoebox had them for about 60-70 dollars. Of course not everyone wants or likes pure badger. Just my 2cents.
Its not that hard to read and research brushes. In fact if you have your heart set on the perfect luxury brush of your desires the only thing to do is read , research and choose one. Similarly with a Fatboy, be patient in the one you choose because its easy to overpay for one and then see its flawed, broken etc. Its like in anything if we are led around by our unchecked desires we fall for illusions. To me you have to decide what you want. If you want to start shaving now then a Merkur HD and any reasonably respected Best badger and a tube of Proraso will get you started for about $100. I started with this identical kit and have used about 20 different razors and owned two Fatboys and used many creams and that set up has not been topped. The vendor the Superior Shave is worth checking out . Super fast delivery, good pricing, easy communication. If you want the perfect gourmet ideal customized first time shave kit; luxury badger brush, shiny mint Fatboy, it will take more time and communication with vendors to find what you want. I'd email the guys at Razor Emporium and ask them to find you a Fatboy. For the perfect super badger check the info on the forums, deliberate and buy one, from Rooneys at Classic Shaving, to the superfast shipping available from Shavemac , it took them about 4 days deliver my brush from Germany to Cali., to West Coast Shaving pricing on Simpsons, they are easier to acquire its just taking the time to make a informed choice to insure a wise purchase that satisfies you. Right now it looks like you are going to make rash purchases of high price gear you may be dissappointed with or purchase budget gear that will deliver a utilitarian shave but won't be the seeing stars , soaring with eagles experience of shaving you want to acheive with your first ideal choices.
If you have your little hart set on a 100 dollar brush buy it. Nothing wrong with wanting something and enjoying it. I have a custom silver tip and a 12 dollar omega boar they are both very nice and create awesome lather. sometimes I feel like using my boar sometimes I go for my silvertip.
My first brush was a $35 C&E Best Badger. Was highly recommended on all the shave forums. No longer made but the suggestion above about getting the Edwin Jaegger brush is a good one. It is actually the same brush as the C&E. That brush served has served me well for almost 3 years. But I did go into the vintage brush a good deal. In fact all my other brushes are vintage ones that I got from ebay or at antique stores. I have had 3 of them refurbed with TGN silvertip badger knots. Four others that I have bought have remained original with great boar knots in them. I use them all in a regular rotation. All of them serve me well and none have cost a ton to buy or get refurbed. I would be even cheaper if you are the least bit handy and can do the refurb yourself. There a quite a few threads on the Fourm showing how to do it properly. Good luck in your quest for your brush. You will most likely end up with more than a few before you are done.
I make musical instruments for a living and would love to refurb. brushes. I think I will keep my eyes out for vintage brushes.. any suggestion on what to look for and not in a vintage brush for a refurb? Just got my hands on a minty FB razor and now to nail down a brush. The Frank brushes also see to get reviews. Jeff
Brushes are the addiction that hasn't kicked in for me yet,I stumbled onto a wetshaving website surfing and went out and bought a VDH kit,since it was the easiest way to get a brush.I've gotten addicted to buying a couple of everything else all since October but still haven't thought about another brush,The VDH gets the job done and it's easily obtainable until you find something that you'll fall in love with.
E1 Gillette Fatboy...it is in the mail!! Ordered some creams today from Queen Charlotte Soap. It is all coming together.
