Hey Everyone, I've been using the Omega S-brush I purchased with my Maggard starter kit and like how it works. I've been exclusively face lathering with Proraso white, Fauldings cream and MWF and I've built decent lather (IMHO) with each. Saturday I shaved in the morning following a session of multiple lather tests and noticed my skin was a bit sensitive to the brush tips by the end. I have no real complaints about the brush performance but wonder if there is a relatively affordable brush out there that has the backbone of a synthetic but softer tips. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jay
My opinion, too long with the "session of multiple lather tests", followed by shaving. You scrubbed your face raw, first with the bristles, then with sharp steel. No real need for anoth... never mind.
I agree with razorburn. the Fine angel hair is a great brush. I picked one up recently and it is great. I also have the Omega s synthetic brush and it is also a great brush. the sensitivity could have come from the soap/cream you were using. some people around here get irritation from the fragrance oils in some soaps. sometimes the irritation comes from putting lather on skin that has been recently shaven.
Probably right about the multiple lathers. My skin was irritated by the brush time, no so much by the razor.
For the price, it seems like a good option since I don't have any other brush to compare it to. Thanks, Jay
Yeah, but how many people actually start off with a decent brush? I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the shavers under 40 on this forum started off with either a "Burma Shave" gift set brush, a Van Der Hagen starter set brush, or a Shea Moisture shave brush. None of which are high quality brushes.
I've been very happy with my starter kit Omega S-brush. With all the tribulations some folks have lathering MWF, I've been amazed at how easily my brush loads and generates lather. In fact, if I load for more than 15 seconds or so, I get so much lather that is tends to drop off in large dollops if I'm not careful...still with enough for 4 passes or more. What I'm looking for now is something with a different face feel but still enough backbone to load efficiently. One time I watched a video of someone loading their brush for over a minute and I copied their technique. This led to a hilarious mess in the bathroom that had my wife just shaking her head in laughter. Jay
Hmm. In that case I would recommend a Whipped Dog High Mountain, 20mm or larger, set at 48mm or shorter. It will have plenty of backbone, though less than a boar, and will give you a different face feel. It will take longer to dry though, so keep that in mind. Another option would be the 830 Semogue. Once broken in, it has the softest tips I've ever found on a boar brush, and fairly good backbone as well. Otherwise, consider a new synthetic. The H.I.S. brush has really soft tips. Those have excellent backbone and a soft face feel. They don't splay like a natural bristle brush, so you might find that a detriment.
I've been curious about the drying issue. Is it really necessary for a brush to fully dry between uses? Do people have any real problems when brushes don't dry completely or is this another theoretical problem that gets regurgitated so much on the web that everyone keeps repeating it until they believe it as well? Thanks, Jay
I honestly don't know. I would think that a brush that never has a chance to dry out will have a significantly shorter lifespan than a brush that does get dried out. There's also health considerations to think of. A wet dark environment is the perfect place for microorganisms to grow.
I understand the idea of a wet brush being a wonderful breeding ground for all kinds of things but if a badger brush takes a day or longer to dry, there is plenty of time for that growth to occur as well. Once established, there are plenty of bugs that do just fine in a relatively dry environment. Used everyday, a brush that doesn't dry completely may get rinsed clean daily and be in better shape in the long run...just a thought? It's too early to be thinking this much...off to work! Jay
