musicman1951 said:
There is no reason to avoid buying a brush that looks good to you, but I would gently suggest that's way down the list from one that works well for you. My first badger silvertip was a parker that looks a great deal like this with a wood handle. It is pretty, but it's the worst performing brush I own, and it was around $65. Lather hog like nobody's business and almost no backbone. My apologies to all the other Parker owners (I'm sure somebody likes it), but I think you can do better.
Thank you for saving me from making a mistake. As this was one of the ones I was feeling strongly about, and might have ordered it, and end up hating it. I suppose it makes a good show piece brush to display on a shelf, but I am not here to buy display brushes. Yes, I do care about looks, that is one factor most certainly, I won't deny that fact. But at the same time, I need a brush that functions great for me. As I am new to DE shaving, and having only experienced one shaving brush so far, I am developing opinions as I go.
Those Simpson brushes that people are showing off are really nice looking brushes, I just don't like the handles on them, mainly its the color, I don't like white. I do love the look of the Semogue finest badger brushes, love their black handles, and no doubt they are real quality, but the price on them is really up there. And since I just spent a lot of money on my razor, not looking to spend hundred or more on a shaving brush.
I have technically found a brush that I am also interested in, from the assistance of Chan. But I am also weighing my options, from the assistance I am receiving from all of you all. You guys have asked, what are my wants and desires regarding a brush? Well, you already know one of them, I want a brush that can last for one thing. So durability is most certainly a concern for a brush, thats kind of the starting point.
Now, I do want a brush that the hairs are soft on, which is why I chose badger to begin with. I know that I am not going to like bore brushes, cause they are going to be too scratchy for me. Having said that, I also need the brush to have some back bone too, I don't want it to complete flop on its face, and not spread the lather on my face very well. Oh and thats another thing too, lather whipping.
One of the things I've noticed about my current brush, is that it doesn't seem to whip up the lather very well. Either I am doing it completely wrong, (doubtful, as I've watched video's on whipping) or the brush is just not good at whipping up a lather. It just seems to be difficult achieving the proper lather. I am using Tabac soap incase that matters. Maybe its just the nature of Tabac, difficult to whip up and get consistency right.
Anyways, a brush with really nice soft hairs, with some backbone that it don't completely flop on itself, some good lather whipping action ability, great durability, and good looking as well. So far, as per Chan's recommendation, and your recommendation against the Parker, saving me from making a mistake there, I am currently thinking about getting a Maseto 30 knott silver tipped badger brush. I can get the Maseto 30 knott silver tip for around 60 bucks.
