My first brush was a Vulfix 1000A. That's a little bit of a lie. Years ago, I decided I wanted to try shaving with a brush because I thought it would be cool. I bought some kind of inexpensive kit in a drugstore that included a brush, a mug, and some soap. That was literally my first brush, but I have no idea what it was. Needless to say, it wasn't a very positive experience and I abandoned it soon after.
Black Handled VDH Boar that came in the kit. Good handle, terrible knot. I thought it was ok until I set it aside and used my two Omegas exclusively for a couple of months. Picked the VDH back up and it felt like I was trying to lather with a straw broom.
VdH here. Then a Parker, then a Simpson Duke pure. Still have the VdH to dust guitars. The Parker and horrible Duke in Pure have found better homes.
The simple but effective Tweezerman. It served me well and every now and then I still let it come out for a walk. The wife and daughters use for their legs alot
My very first brush was given to me by the friend who got me started in all this insanity/nirvana. I still have it, it is a Art of Shaving travel sized badger brush. My next brush was a good ole VDH boar, it would lost a couple of bristles when I used it, but otherwise worked very well. My son is now using it along with the VDH ceramic bowl. This was followed by a Tweezerman, Parker, Vie-Long and a couple of no-name brushes. All of these brushes were acquired during my first year. The last brush I bought and still use today after many years is the bestshave.net #6 horse(?) hair brush. It's still VERY inexpensive, a GREAT latherer, has wonderful backbone and it loses maybe 2 or 3 hairs a year.
The red and white Burma shave brush for me. By itself though, no kit. And used to use it with Colgate (I think, Walmart carried it and it smelled a little like baseball card gum) soap back before I had a clue on how to make lather. I would just have this loose slurry on my face when I shaved. If only I would have known to whip it, whip it good back then. Wasn't using DEs back then but disposables. This was around 2003 time frame.
I also started with the VDH blue green bowl and brush set. I still have it, but I don't use it anymore.
I started with a Perfecto Badger I picked up from Amazon. It worked, but wasn't a good brush. I still regret not starting with an Omega or Semogue boar, and I have since gotten rid of the brush.
Mine can be seen in the first post in this thread ... http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/your-first-traditional-shaving-kit.37827/
Mine was a VDH boar I bought at Walgreen's. Thing shedded like crazy! My first badger was an Escali - still have it and surprisingly it did not shed very much, but it's been regulated to the travel bag now. My current brush is a Simpson Commodore 2
My first brush was a piece of junk Marvy brush from Sally's beauty Supply. It fell apart after about 5-6 weeks. I thought it was normal for a brush to loose hairs but they were falling out in handfuls lol. I was amazed when I got an Omega S Synthetic and it hasn't shed a hair since I got it. Should have listened to some of the suggestions around here in the first place but hindsight is always 20-20.
My first brush was an Ever-Ready C40 boar that I purchased at Wal-Mart in the early 90s. I used it a few times with Williams (?) soap and a cart and then returned to my trusty Norelco electric for the next 20 years. I recently found the C40, and I have used it a few times. It mostly decorates my shaving shelf now. About three years ago, I started wet shaving using an Omega Synthetic brush that has since been discontinued. I gave it to a friend who is getting into wet shaving a few months ago. Every now and then, I see a brush like it in @HolyRollah 's SOTD photos. I still can't believe he took my friend's brush.
It was so long ago...I can't really remember...it was likely an inexpensive drug store boar brush...I used it until all the bristles fell out and then bought another inexpensive drug store brush...
