Does anyone have a link to a plisson besides eBay? Is that the l'occtaine one that they discontinued?
The brush is important in terms of what your user mode is> Here is how to determine your user mode. 1. Do you want to face lather, bowl lather, or both? 2. Do you want to have strong backbone, moderate backbone, or weak backbone? 3. Do you want ultra soft tips, tips that are soft with slight scritch, tips with moderate scritch, or tips that ex-foliate strongly (close to stratch)? 4. Do you want natural or synthetic? 5. If you want natural do you want Badger, Boar or Horse? Now please answer all five of these questions (unless you choose synthetic in question #4 then you can skip #5). At that point you will have a better understanding what what your parameters are rather than by haphazard guessing at different brushes. You can narrow down and begin to read which ones have the characteristics you seek in a brush. Every one of these parameters can be fulfilled in all price ranges.
You would be well served with a Best Badger. Here are some solid candidates. FINE - 20 mm Best Badger Shaving Brush - Superb Retro Design http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/fi20mmbebash.html EDWIN JAGGER - EJ947 - Best http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/edjatrinivbe.html Several are available from EJ. http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/edjabashbr.html Here are some more using Best Badger. http://www.royalshave.com/c/best-badger-shaving-brush.html ... or you can contact a custom worker who can source Best Badger knots for a custom made or restoration.
Sorry, I did not realize they no longer have them in the l'occitane stores. You could go to blaireauxplisson but the prices there will be higher.
This is probably of no help whatsoever. But in the UK every L'occitane store sells them. So I can't imagine they're discontinued. I am going to get one. But I'm not keen on the £35 they charge. ( 50/55 $). Im driving to the south of France at the end of next month, so am hoping to find one in their country of origin. But they're defiantly still about.
I think it was only $30 when I bought it here in the States. At the higher price you may want to look at the Muhle synthetic instead.
I thought I'd seen a lot of you guys mention them in that price bracket. I have looked at the Muhle synthetics, and they sound very good. Just like the plisson. But like the plisson, you get no change from 35/45 quid. Are they both the same grade synthetic. Gen 3??
No. Plisson is Gen 3 and Muhle is Gen 4. Please review this thread for discussion of fibers and how they are not the only factor in a synthetic brush. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-four-generations-of-synthetic-fibers-clarifications.37568/
This, this, and more this. Synthetics are fool-proof. The lather is outstanding with them, and you need so little product...
They all are good if made well with good material......just different - I keep all kinds -badger,( black, best, silvertip) boar, horse and synthetic - all are quality brushes. I use each. Some are better for hard soap some for cream some for bowl lathering some for face lathering etc. If I had to pick one.....and thankfully I don't - any will do....I like them all for various reasons and therefor incorporate them into my shave routine regularly. Brush preference, like anything else is personal preference - No one can say one is better than another!
IMO one of the best bushes for the money Omega 10066, I think I paid $7.99. This is the first time I'm seeing the 10104, wow! I likey!
It surprised me greatly. It's incredibly soft, right from the box. But, it's still has plenty of backbone. Truth to tell, it's very much like the Omega synthetic I tried a few months ago. (except the bristles haven't fallen out, and it will splay when you press on it)
I have several "go to" brushes that I have used in the past including: Whipped Dog Silvertip 30mm, Whipped Dog Mountain White 26mm, Royal Shave PB3 Silvertip, Semougue Owners Club Silvertip & Owners Club Premium Boar as well as Plisson Synthetic, Omega Hi-Brush and my newly acquired Simpson Chubby 2 Best Badger which outshines them all. The Chubby 2 generates and holds a insane amount of lather and has an incredibly densely packed bristle which has superb softness and also great backbone. I had a Kent BK-8 Silvertip which I sold and was also a great brush but not as good as the Simpson Chubby 2. There are alot of great value brushes out there including some superb brushes from Omega and Semogue but in my opinion the Simpson is worth the extra cost.
I find it to be a matter of different strokes for different folks. I think the biggest point of a brush making a difference, depends on the QUALITY of the brush. And quality doesn't necessarily mean more money. The best brushes I've ever used, are the least expensive out there. For years my favorite brush was my burma shave boar brush, which along with a mug and a puck of soap (came as a set), cost me a whole whopping $9.99! I've had it for 17 years now. Then, just today, I got 2 new Omega brushes in the mail. A 20102 Pro Boar and an S10083 Pro, which is a synthetic. I went for the 20102 as I have always preferred a boar over badger, and had never used a synthetic (I have heard bad things about them for years and been told they were the LEAST desirable brush material out there). Turned out, I love them BOTH! They're large brushes, but that's good in my opinion. They load up plenty and make MASSIVE amounts of amazing lather in no time. So much so that when lather testing them, I had so much lather from them when done, it was like emptying a can of shave cream into my hand. And the synthetic is sooooooo soft! I actually have to say it's softer than any silvertip or other badger I've ever used. In my honest opinion, wether Badger, Boar or Synthetic, Omega is the way to go. Top quality and the price just can't be beat.
I currently have own and use a VDH Badger, a VDH Boar, I have an Omega Pro. I also have two Oscar11 custom made brushes. I like my WD Silver Tip. I like my VDH Badger, (it's all right but for what it cost, if I lost it I would not be upset) My VDH Boar I have not used it that often and I recently PIF'd it to a 16yr.old just learning how to shave, (he has what is known as an absentee Father. (his mother is a family friend) My Oscar 11 and my Oscar11 Old Corps I would not give up for love nor money. What ever brush you end up using is as a lot of folks say YMMV. I do not know how long you have been "wet shaving" from your profile I would say you have been a member of the TSD for a little more than 30 days. There is a 30 day rule so to speak, I would try that before I got a new brush. I don't want you to think that I am telling you not to get a new brush. Make sure you a familiar with how to get a good lather with what ever brush you eventually purchase.
I tried to post the link to Gary's 30 day rule but could not get it to post. @GDCarrington Good Luck.
I just received my Whipped Dog 30mm Synthetic and WOW! what a brush. I have to say, it is as good as any other brush that I have including dare I say it my Simpson Chubby 2. It cost me under $40 for this brush with a beautiful simple blue handle. Rich thick knot which holds an insane amount of water and generates a crazy amount of lather. Although I still prefer my Chubby 2, this will be my second go to brusk. Bravo!!! Larry from Whipped Dog. Guys, you will not be sorry - the best bargain out there in my humble opinion.
I find that different brushes work better with different soaps, or cream as stated above. Buy a lot of brushes and work it out.
