Thread: How important is the brush?

I am new to straight razor shaving having only about 10 shaves done. I have been using an Omega Stripey 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush that I got for cheap online.

I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to invest $50 - $75 in a "better" brush. I have been looking at some of the handmade brushes on ebay and other sites.

Is it worth it or should I concentrate more on other areas for now?

Shoot, I'm still using a VDH brush I bought when I started and it's been just fine. I don't feel any compulsion to change unless I run into a C-Note for free or my cheapie breaks down. Really, if you can afford that luxury, go for it...but remember that you can feed your family for a week on $150, or you can get a new razor, or whatever....there's lots of options out there.

A razor will, in all likelihood, make less of a difference than the step from a bottom line brush to one of these brushes. The one I own makes a huge difference to the Simpson "Commodore", for example. The luxury of the soft tips is just an added value. The Thäter just makes lathering so much easier.

Some of the Knots out there in that price range of brush, are really really good, some hmmmm not so much...

So that leaves you just two choices, you can spend the money and go to a reputable vendor, selling name brand, quality brushes (like that Thater) or you can wait until you are very positive about what to spend your money on...

It is like a fine pair of shoes. There is a point where spending more $ really delivers the goods in quality and comfort. You can get from point A to point B with the cheaper shoes but they don't give you the quality, comfort or longevity of the more expensive brand. You get what you pay for. My high dollar brushes were worth the price of admission.

+1 on the VDH LOL

First you need to buy the necessary things and once you have them then you can buy the things that are important but not really required and then you can upgrade the items you already bought. Of course if your a rich guy then all this doesn't matter.

So the question to ask yourself is do I have everything I need to shave with and maintain my razor. If you do and want to upgrade then you need to decide what to upgrade. Personally I've found a great brush goes a long way towards increasing my enjoyment of shaving. Of course many love their boars so you need to decide. If you do buy a brush I would get one from a major brush manufacturer unless the handle end is more important to you than the business end.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

So the question to ask yourself is do I have everything I need to shave with and maintain my razor. If you do and want to upgrade then you need to decide what to upgrade. Personally I've found a great brush goes a long way towards increasing my enjoyment of shaving. Of course many love their boars so you need to decide. If you do buy a brush I would get one from a major brush manufacturer unless the handle end is more important to you than the business end.

I have everything I need at this point. I just feel that I skimped on the brush. I think I will take the majority opinion and go in for a better brush from one of the major manufacturers. It seems logical. I will look on SRD at the Thaters.

Prehaps I will start with their $42.99 brush to hold me over until I am ready to drop $100+ on a brush. The post above did state that I would see a difference with that brush over my current one, so for that price, it is worth it.

Originally Posted by red96ta

Shoot, I'm still using a VDH brush I bought when I started and it's been just fine. I don't feel any compulsion to change unless I run into a C-Note for free or my cheapie breaks down. Really, if you can afford that luxury, go for it...but remember that you can feed your family for a week on $150, or you can get a new razor, or whatever....there's lots of options out there.

Insert my quiet applause here.

A sharp razor and a confident technique are worth a thousand times more than a fancy brush. Don't get me wrong, I'd like a fancy brush, there's just better ways to spend money. Put one on your Christmas list.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

A razor will, in all likelihood, make less of a difference than the step from a bottom line brush to one of these brushes.

What!?!?!?

I would totally prefer to have a bottom rung brush and a great razor than the best brush and a mediocre razor.

I wound up buying a really nice brush a ways back, but I still use my cheap-0 boar bristle about half the time. If it was between a nice brush and a nice razor, I say razor all the way. Keep in mind, this is only the correct answer and you don't have to listen to me.