So I want to begin wetshaving. I'm picking up a Crabtree and Evelyn "Best Badger" brush. It's supposedly a very good deal for the brush. It's a low end silver tip badger hair with a reasonable price.
Badger hair brushes seem to be the the main type, but there are boar hair brushes. A more densely packed brush is usually better. There are a few different shapes of the hair arrangement, one that looks a bit like a flat peak, and the other that looks much more rounded, there are some combinations and ones that flare a lot as well.
The higher end brushes seem to be those with a dense pack, quality build, and silver tip. The badger hair with silver tips is supposed to be the finest and best feel on the face.
If you want to use soap and cream for your lather a brush with a bit more rigidity is recommended, if just cream, less-rigid to floppy is fine.
You can even go much cheaper if you want to experiment. The boar hair brush bristles are more rigid, and the hair is pretty soft on the ends. These even do well with the soap and cream combo.
Post your brushes :x
Badger hair brushes seem to be the the main type, but there are boar hair brushes. A more densely packed brush is usually better. There are a few different shapes of the hair arrangement, one that looks a bit like a flat peak, and the other that looks much more rounded, there are some combinations and ones that flare a lot as well.
The higher end brushes seem to be those with a dense pack, quality build, and silver tip. The badger hair with silver tips is supposed to be the finest and best feel on the face.
If you want to use soap and cream for your lather a brush with a bit more rigidity is recommended, if just cream, less-rigid to floppy is fine.
You can even go much cheaper if you want to experiment. The boar hair brush bristles are more rigid, and the hair is pretty soft on the ends. These even do well with the soap and cream combo.
Post your brushes :x
will post tomorrow!
nestor, you're up!
true that. i'm actually back in london right now so i don't have it with me, but I have an italian boar hair brush. I use it with shave cream and shave soap, depends on what i feel like that day. i find the boar hair fine - i've heard that the badgers build lather much faster than boars (like half the time) but i don't mind the 45 seconds or so it takes for me.
when i get $$ i'll totally rock a silvertip badger. maybe i should say when i get $$$$$.
when i get $$ i'll totally rock a silvertip badger. maybe i should say when i get $$$$$.
is this what you have, dp?
medium pearl
medium ebony
recommended?
also, what about soap and cream?
tabac ($22)
taylor ($29)
harris ($35)
trumper ($36)
truefitt and hill ($45)
medium pearl
medium ebony
recommended?
also, what about soap and cream?
tabac ($22)
taylor ($29)
harris ($35)
trumper ($36)
truefitt and hill ($45)
i wish i had this hydroplane stuff so i could give you my opinion of that, lr. it sounds better than the cream i have now (baxter - i've tried a few other kinds, and so far this one was the best)
also, i don't use a brush right now, but they are recommended for all soaps and most creams. the hydroplane doesn't require a brush.
also, i don't use a brush right now, but they are recommended for all soaps and most creams. the hydroplane doesn't require a brush.
i don't like soap because i'm too impatient and WAY too rushed in the morning.
bump @ dp
> is this what you have, dp?
> is this what you have, dp?
woops i missed that, yeah i have the first one (or something similar). its the best one i found in the price range. i'm sure you can find ones more suited to what you like, whether its more dense or more floppy, somewhat related to the way you like to work with your soap/cream combination. overall i think it was a good choice.
nestor: i was wondering if the impatience was due to the caffeine intake? :D
building soap is time consuming. if you want an experience, go for soap and cream and build your lather right. i thought i posted the process i used here, maybe it's in another thread, here it is again.
preheat mug with hot water
soak brush, drain some of the water from the brush
empty mug of water (might want to let the hot water sit in the sink and heat the outside of the mug)
add a thumbnail size wad of cream (err on smaller size, not much cream is needed, it expands)
start whipping with partially drained brush
vigorously whip til peaks form on brush (0.5-1.5min for badger, more for boar)
remove the bulk of the cream from brush in mug
dip brush half way in water
with brush: small circles in soap dish for 5-15sec
with soaped up brush, stir in mug-cream a bit
apply warm, glorious shave soap+cream to face, face, face
this is the most man-glamorous hygeine option in the universe afaik
nestor: i was wondering if the impatience was due to the caffeine intake? :D
building soap is time consuming. if you want an experience, go for soap and cream and build your lather right. i thought i posted the process i used here, maybe it's in another thread, here it is again.
preheat mug with hot water
soak brush, drain some of the water from the brush
empty mug of water (might want to let the hot water sit in the sink and heat the outside of the mug)
add a thumbnail size wad of cream (err on smaller size, not much cream is needed, it expands)
start whipping with partially drained brush
vigorously whip til peaks form on brush (0.5-1.5min for badger, more for boar)
remove the bulk of the cream from brush in mug
dip brush half way in water
with brush: small circles in soap dish for 5-15sec
with soaped up brush, stir in mug-cream a bit
apply warm, glorious shave soap+cream to face, face, face
this is the most man-glamorous hygeine option in the universe afaik
> i have the first one (or something similar)
i don't think this one is silver tip. those models cost upward of $80
thanks for the post. one can use soap and cream at once? intense.
i don't think this one is silver tip. those models cost upward of $80
thanks for the post. one can use soap and cream at once? intense.
yeah, or you can do it in stages
soap lather
rinse brush
cream lather
rinse brush
i find that the soap on its own is pretty slick but not as rewarding, and the cream alone is alright, but misses the lubrication. find out what works for you, but when i tried for a while i liked this way, because the tips of the brush will be soapy lubricated and then the cream fills everything out!
see superlathering for more details :D
soap lather
rinse brush
cream lather
rinse brush
i find that the soap on its own is pretty slick but not as rewarding, and the cream alone is alright, but misses the lubrication. find out what works for you, but when i tried for a while i liked this way, because the tips of the brush will be soapy lubricated and then the cream fills everything out!
see superlathering for more details :D