shopping for small, face lathering brush. (my first brush)

shopping for my first shaving brush. i'm looking at smaller travel sized ones.
i'll be using shave soap pucks and face lathering.

so far i'm considering...

the Simpsons 'Wee Scot'

Overall Length – 69mm
Handle Length – 31mm
Loft – 38mm
Knot – 15mm




Omega 599 Silvertip

Height: 75 mm
Loft: 45 mm
Knot: 18 mm



Whipped Dog 20mm silver tip. (drilled for shorter loft?)




Omega 11047 – “Mixed Midget” – Badger/Boar Shaving Brush


Total Height 75mm
Loft 43mm
Knot 23mm
Handle Height 30mm
Handle Waist 29mm

if you have/had any of these, or others that would be good i would love to hear from ya.

thanks

 

I have a WD 20mm synthetic I face lather with. I also have a smaller Semogue boar bristled brush I also face lather with. They are both amazing brushes. I think the boar works better for harder soaps then the synthetic does. It has more backbone to it but after a break in period it works amazingly. I also have an omega synthetic that I haven't used yet. It feels like its between the Semogue and the WD in stiffness. The handle is taller and heavier then either of the other brushes. I think the knot is about the same size between the 3 but without measuring I couldn't say for sure.

 

I don't have one of the brushes that you have on your list, but:

+1 on Semogue and WD

I have a Semogue 620, great little face lathering brush. It's boar, so it needs some breakin time (about a dozen or so shaves before it reaches its full potential).
Handle: 43mm - Loft: 50mm - Knot: 21mm - Total Height: 95mm



And the WD synthetic knot is my favorite synthetic, hands down. Especially for travel, since these fibres dry faster than natural hair brushes. The WD handles soap and cream equally well. But I have to admit: I don't own the 20mm, I have a 24mm WD.
If you're considering Whipped Dog brushes, just ask Larry for recommendations, he's a great guy to deal with.

Though the "Mighty Midged" and the "Wee Scot" should not be bad choices as well, from what I have read about them.

One last bargain I'd like to point out to you:

http://www.maggardrazors.com/product/omega-40033-boar-shaving-brush/

 

I simply love my Simpson Special 1 in Best. It was my first brush and I bought it thinking that if I'm not too happy with it I can always use it as a travel brush as it's small. Meanwhile it's become one of my favourites, and often sees more use than my PJ2. It can lather the hardest soaps, but unlike some of my other Simpsons, doesn't hog the lather. It's a great first brush.

http://www.maggardrazors.com/product/simpson-special-s1-best-badger-shaving-brush/

 

Also recommend a synthetic for travel, They dry fast. I use an old pill bottle that I drilled holes in the cap for ventalation. After use rinse, dry with towel put in container if multiple stops on trip, always dry when I take it out at next stop.

 

Ive got the Mixed Midget, along with some other small travel brushes and can attest to it performing big for a small brush. It does take some time to break in though so be prepared. It is quite a bit bigger than the Wee Scot which I find is too small for practical everyday use.

 

Heres what I was told about your first brush. "You won't fall in love with it" So with that said I'd go with the WD which is a great brush at a fantastic price point. Since you want a travel brush go synthetic, dries in no time.

 

wow, thanks so much everyone. i should have been more clear... i don't do a lot of traveling. just wanted a smaller brush. good to know about synthetics for a travel brush though.

i was thinking badger because that was most popular. if bore (after break-in) is better for face lathering maybe i should go that rout.

those Semogue acrylic handles look really sharp. all the other handles were meh to me. a Semogue 620 just might be the one.

thanks again guys

 

Semouge 610 is a great brush, 620 is scratchy. Or the 830. I'll tell you a really great brush is the Omega 10066 $9. Great brush!

 

what is the 610 made out of? it just says "Natural Bristle". even after break in the 620 is scratchy? [edit] shorter loft?

 

Boar, yes because of the different grades of hair. I have a 610 really nice brush, soft with enough backbone for any job.

 

ok cool. thanks

 

Scratchy? I don't think my 620 is scratchy at all. Broken in it's actually softer than my WD 2-band badger. I've even heard people state the opposite - that the 610 feels pricklier than the 620. But then again - everything about shaving is pretty much a matter of personal taste.

Well, my next brush (next year, I think) will be the Semogue 1460, which basically has the same knot than the 610, so I can compare the different hair grades then.

 

Look at the Omega 10066, for under $10 it's a winner.

 

Almost forgot to mention: If you want REALLY soft, then in my opinion there's nothing better than synthetic. And from all the synthetics I know (and I have and have had quite a few) my Whipped Dog 24mm is the most versatile. Very soft but with enough stiffness to handle even the hardest soaps well. And it face-lathers just great.

And - you know - these good forum folks are pretty much a bunch of enablers. So over time, before you realize what's happened, there will be more than one brush in your bathroom

 

Lots o' advice, but know this:

There is no such thing as a "face lathering" brush, or a "bowl lathering" brush, or a "soap" brush, or a "cream" brush, only "Personal Preference" brushes.

You gotta try a few to determine what works for you and what you like.
Some like badger, some like boar, some like synthetic, some like horse.
Some like scratchy, some like super soft.
Some like stiff, some like floppy.
Some like a short loft, some like a high loft.
Some like a large knot, some like a small knot.
Some like a teeny handle, some like a hefty handle.

All the advice, who you gonna believe?

The fun is in the hunt!

 

As I said - Enablers

But he's right - it all comes down to the question: What do YOU like?

 

Whipped dog prices are very nice. I suggested on a different thread to try then all. A badger, a boar and a synthetic all in 24mm would run about $77. You can get the badger and synthetic in smaller sizes both 22mm and 20mm. Smaller = less $$. Just a thought. I intend on getting one each of all his different badger knots after I get a job again. I'm also thinking of trying a 30mm boar and a 30mm synthetic. I'm going to make my own handles probably. All those knots will only cost me about $110.

 

The fine synthetic is a good little brush.