While I have a HUGE collection of vintage brushes that have been restored with several different types of badger, boar, and synthetic knots I have only two that I use. One is a pure badger and the other is a synthetic. You could very easily get by with just one brush, but I am sure it is a lot of fun to use different ones.
Honestly, my father and grandfather had only ONE brush they used for years; no rotations, no badger vs boar debating; and one razor. So yes, one can get by with only one, just fine. Many shavers have in the past, and online forum members notwithstanding, many today still do.
Blasphemer! Perfidious infidel! Odiferous goatherd! May King Gillette smite you with a puck of Williams!
Lol thanks everyone, it has been fun to hear your arguments. I will probably wait a while before I start collecting anything =P I already have enough soap to last a long time and 2 different brushes haha
Still more of a sport than curling. @ OP, you can certainly get by just fine with only one brush. I've done so since day one and have no intention of changing. But, some do like different brushes for different software. Such as having a stiffer brush or boar for soaps and a softer brush for creams, etc. It's all down to what works for you and how much you want to spend.
Having one brush, soap, razor/blade and after shave would be like eating the same thing everyday every meal. Boring.
I'm surprised nobody has asked how you got the fabled Unicorn brush. If you don't want the secret to get out just PM me the details
I suppose you could get by with just one. There was a time when I thought I could, but no longer. Some time ago I was having trouble getting my first brush (VDH synthetic) to make lather in the bowl. Someone recommended that I get an Omega 48 brush and some Omega soft soap, which I did. Lord, what a difference. I still have that brush, and it remains my favorite for everyday shaves. But I also have another boar, and I consider it my special purpose brush. It's an Omega 66 and it's quite different than the 48. It's knot diameter is 3-4mm smaller than the 48, and the loft is about 10mm less. While soft at the tips, the brush is quite stiff and it fans out less on my face than does the 48. This allows me to work lather into a really tough beard very effectively. It's perfect when I've missed shaving for a few days. I don't know what you like and how you prefer to shave, but I think you may need two or more brushes depending upon whether you: 1.prefer soaps or creams? While badger brushes can work well with hard soaps, the key to a great soap lather is getting plenty of soap onto/into the brush. The little Omega 66 really digs the hard soaps. 2. shave every day or miss a day or two occasionally? As I explained above, when I miss a few days I really like that shorter/smaller/stiffer boar brush. 3. have extremely sensitive skin? some prefer super soft brushes. For them, only a silver tip badger will do. 4. travel never, occasionally, or often. It isn't a good idea to store a wet/damp brush in a sealed container. Boar brush bristles absorb water and take some time to dry completely. Badger hair does not absorb water and if shaken out well, dries quicker than a similar sized boar. (or at least mine does) But, a boar brush is usually much less costly than a good badger. Have you ever left something behind in a motel/hotel? Whew! Is it just me, or do I think about this stuff too much.......
Its fun to get answers that bring up stuff I dont necessarily think about. Thanks Hmm.. I see that Im much more of a newbie than I thought
I had my Grandfathers Brush and Straight Razor & Mug & Strop. They seemed to run away from home. My Father had a good Straight Razor and all of the goodies. The wicked witch of the north aka his wife my stepmother would not let me have it or for that matter any of his stuff. I wish that I still had them. I have a VDH Badger Brush that came with my starter set, I am going to get a WD Silver Tip. I also am think of getting a new razor I use a Gillette DE/TTO that I have had since Boot Camp.
I got my first boar last month - The SOC Pure Boar - and after breaking it in (about a week), it is as soft as any badger I've used, and is much stiffer. I've come to use it almost exclusively now. I'm having a custom brush handle made by Zen, and will have him put a Silvertip in it, and then might get one more handle made by him in order to put a badger in it, but I don't see me getting any others past that...unless I get one of the new Simpson Synthetics when they come out...
I'm with you, man. I have one razor, one brush, and one blade type. My grandfather would laugh his behind off if he saw me rotating a dozen razors and a dozen brushes.
I appreciate the support, but don't think for a moment that I'm a one-brush/1-razor/1-soap morning shaver. I am as guilty as others as far as having & using waaaaaaay more rotating shaving gear than I truly need. ….and my 86-yr old dad gave up his DE razor 12 years ago for the convenience of an electric razor.
I think my Father, and Both of my Grandfathers, and maybe my Father-in-Law would all be rolling over in their graves at the though of switching razors and brushes every day. I have my VDH Brush and a Vintage Black Handle Super Speed. I will get a new brush in a couple of days from Whipped Dog Straight Razor. I would like to have a better quality brush than what I have now.
