My current favorite is a Kimson brush. The hair is ideal for my uses and is the best combination of softness/firmness, density and shape that I've yet found. It doesn't hurt that the horn handle is flat out gorgeous either!
Simpson Chubby super badger, they aint cheap....but you will get to one in the end so might as well jump on one.
Top three (at the moment) for me: Shavemac FGB 2007 Olde Apothecary (aka Sabrooney aka Rooney) 2/1 Finest Simpson Chubby #1 Super I usually face lather, and these three have a lot of backbone wih soft tips. Their density is good too. The Shavemac FGB 2007 has an awesome handle too. Just behind these, I'd probably have to say the pair of Shavemac FGBs for 2008 with the Kimson horn handles are simply outstanding. Softer than the top three, but still have great density that lends to some firmness of the knot. All of these have good flow through as well. Can't have a brush holding on to the lathery goodness.
I started with a boar hair (Omega) and I didn't like at all.. It seemed to be large and rough to the skin. Later I bought a badger hair (Semogue) the badger is very soft.. so after using a badger I guess you start apreciating the boar brushes (I did ) unfortunatelly personal experience is required.. I must try them (I keep using both! badger for home and boar in a travel kit) best regards Nuno
While all brushes can be used for soap and creams, I do have preferences for certain brushes which each. My favorite soap brush if my Rooney 3/1 Finest. My favorite cream brush is my Plisson 12 HMW.
having had gillette boar, kent bristle & Czeck & speake badger ( in use when travelling ) i now use a simpsons chubby # 3 super badger for my daily home shave. It is a hell of a good brush! IMHO
The omega resin handle boar brush is fantastic. For a boar brush it is remarkable soft but firm enough to handle any soap. Generates lather very well and is just plain awesome. To bad only one person on the entire intranets sells it and she is out of stock.
I have after a lot of testing realized that I like smaller brushes that is a bit floppy.. At home my fav is a Vulfix 1000A (pure badger 20mm) and at my second home I have a Muehle Best Badger with a 19mm knot..
My favorite would be the brush among my rotation that I use the most: The "Ever Roddy 300". It is an Ever Ready 300 refurbished with a silvertip badger knot by "The Knotty Badger". The knot is from "The Golden Nib".
Silvertip - Kent BK4 (Need I say anything else) Best - Omega 63183 (Almost as soft as silvertip but with a little more backbone. Very luxurious feel.) Both are superb. The Omega is slighlty smaller. Both do soaps, creams and face lathering extremely well. Both are extremely well made. Love them. Luxlover
I have a 23mm best bager from C&E that I like very much. It is large, but as I am using it to shave my legs the larger size actually is very useful
