Synthetic here. I got a RazoRock 24mm X 57mm Plissoft synthetic brush from Italian barber on Friday for $9.99 and its beating the pants off all my other brushes. It has plenty of backbone and is velvet soft. Makes lather like a monster and lost a total of two hairs the first use.
My wife and I had to go out of town and spend time in our RV.(The HOA Gestapo is doing Termite repairs on our Condo) I took my VDH Badger Brush with me. That is the worst brush I own. It will not live here much longer. I am spoiled rotten by my Oscar 11 Custom Brushes. I would venture to say as I have said before they are far superior to my other brushes.
Yes the WD Silvertip I have does wonders when using Williams . It also does wonders on my Van der Williams mix.
Looking at the poll I am somewhat surprised at the high number of badger users...having said that...I just ordered a Simpsons Special badger brush.
I think you (inadvertently and 'before-the-fact') just responded to my recently created thread - a very confused post on brush choice plus a concrete q on WD HM loft height. It seems I share your taste in brushes. I would like to inquire, therefore, what are your specific brush favorites? (For a list of my brushes, see that aforementioned thread.)
I thought so as well. Synthetics do seem to be more popular these days....but in the end the badger won by a hair...
Boar for me. Would like to try synthetic for practical reasons. No soaking needed, quick dry time, no break in, etc. I love animals and I don't like the idea of making brushes out of an animal like the badger, that has a more fragile population in the wild. Pigs breed like rabbits and are feral in many places, not to mention the brushes are mostly made from domestic pigs that are going to be harvested for meat anyway. I have nothing against the actual badger brushes but prefer pig brushes...not to mention the prices! If I am going to spend some serious loot, it won't be on a top notch badger brush, it will be one a new bow or rifle or something....
I love all of them - depends on my mood Boar: - Omega 10098 - pretty big fellow But after few weeks of usage, when the bristles ends have splitted - it's so nice and squishy but still springy Badger - Tubby 2 Super Badger - like a Chubby, fully packed, pretty nice feeling - Joris Spirals - that one is pretty like a mop with stiff ends but sometimes I need such kind of massage - Merkur Vision Silver Tip - one of the best I have used, it does lather perfectly and this feeling... But I have a problem - it looses each time 4 up to 12(!) bristles each use Sythetic - Vulfix VS-1 - I really like this small guy Sometimes even most of all - Omega S-brush - really fine brush but I expected more from it. Still in rotation
I like soft bush tips, backbone, and a reasonable price. For me, it turned out that horse is ideal. Not that boar and Badger were bad, it is just that horse is better. For travel, synthetic seems like it would be ideal - as good as the better badger brushes and very quick drying. The latter is key in a travel brush.
I like synthetics, not quite as much as boar, but I only really LOVE badger (I have one horse hair brush but it doesn't get much love in my den).
If you asked me a year ago I would've said boar. Now that I've tried the luxury of a silvertip I have to give it the nod.
