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Since I have a bit of time, let me add my 2 cents:
First of all, if you have issues with your lather using a synthetic, it will not get any easier with a badger - maybe even on the contrary. In my experience, synthetics are the easiest to get very good lather with. The lack of water retention, makes it a bit harder to get to that super hydrated stage, but everything else, is easiest achieved with a synthetic.
On a side note, I find boars (and I had many of those), the hardest to get great lather with...I am not saying it cannot be achieved, I am just saying, you have to put in extra work.
Having said that, I love my badgers and I can highly recommend them. They bring a lot of joy to my shaves and if you are after that super hydrated, really slick lather, badgers are the best choice IMO (followed by horse, but that is another story).
As others have said before, the brush consists of a handle and a knot, and it is important to know what you pay for.
The problem is in your case, you have no idea what you want - and you cannot find it out, but just reading stuff - although it helps. So I would not recommend, going the custom route - you might not like what you get and it would be a shame. I would reserve this for a bit further down the track, when you have a bit more experience...
I would recommend you to get a couple of solid, but economic brushes, to find out what you like. Maybe a Whipped Dog Silvertip with a lower loft and a Whipped Dog High Mountain with a standard loft, one with the standard handle and one with the longer handle, both 24mm knots.
They are really great brushes at that price point (I used to have 2 and a friend just recently got a new one) - the knots are great, the handles are solid and nice, but more importantly, Larry stands 100% behind his products and takes care of you, if something goes wrong.
Those 2 brushes will cost together much less than a Duke, but will give you way more insight, what you actually like. And they will definitely show you, what the whole badger hype is all about (in a good way). Once you have experience with those, you can make a much more informed decision, which knots and handles you (might) like.
If you want to go for the best complete package: I can highly recommend Paladin and Shavemac. Simpson has unfortunately a lot of variation in their knots at the lower end (Best hair) and a very high premium on their higher end (Super and 2-bands). Thater gets really nice reviews (and are still on my to try list), but the lack of customisation is always a deal breaker for me.
If you want to go fully custom, pick a handle (maker) you like and go for a Shavemac knot. Again from personal experience I can highly recommend Doug Korn, Rudy Vey and Nathan Clark.
If you want to go premium economy, have a look at Vie-Long knots/brushes. I have an Epsilon 2-band knot of theirs, and it is fantastic (and at that price point a bargain I might add).
But most important of all: don't try to find the ideal brush for the rest of your life. Enjoy the experience of trying different brushes!
First of all, if you have issues with your lather using a synthetic, it will not get any easier with a badger - maybe even on the contrary. In my experience, synthetics are the easiest to get very good lather with. The lack of water retention, makes it a bit harder to get to that super hydrated stage, but everything else, is easiest achieved with a synthetic.
On a side note, I find boars (and I had many of those), the hardest to get great lather with...I am not saying it cannot be achieved, I am just saying, you have to put in extra work.
Having said that, I love my badgers and I can highly recommend them. They bring a lot of joy to my shaves and if you are after that super hydrated, really slick lather, badgers are the best choice IMO (followed by horse, but that is another story).
As others have said before, the brush consists of a handle and a knot, and it is important to know what you pay for.
The problem is in your case, you have no idea what you want - and you cannot find it out, but just reading stuff - although it helps. So I would not recommend, going the custom route - you might not like what you get and it would be a shame. I would reserve this for a bit further down the track, when you have a bit more experience...
I would recommend you to get a couple of solid, but economic brushes, to find out what you like. Maybe a Whipped Dog Silvertip with a lower loft and a Whipped Dog High Mountain with a standard loft, one with the standard handle and one with the longer handle, both 24mm knots.
They are really great brushes at that price point (I used to have 2 and a friend just recently got a new one) - the knots are great, the handles are solid and nice, but more importantly, Larry stands 100% behind his products and takes care of you, if something goes wrong.
Those 2 brushes will cost together much less than a Duke, but will give you way more insight, what you actually like. And they will definitely show you, what the whole badger hype is all about (in a good way). Once you have experience with those, you can make a much more informed decision, which knots and handles you (might) like.
If you want to go for the best complete package: I can highly recommend Paladin and Shavemac. Simpson has unfortunately a lot of variation in their knots at the lower end (Best hair) and a very high premium on their higher end (Super and 2-bands). Thater gets really nice reviews (and are still on my to try list), but the lack of customisation is always a deal breaker for me.
If you want to go fully custom, pick a handle (maker) you like and go for a Shavemac knot. Again from personal experience I can highly recommend Doug Korn, Rudy Vey and Nathan Clark.
If you want to go premium economy, have a look at Vie-Long knots/brushes. I have an Epsilon 2-band knot of theirs, and it is fantastic (and at that price point a bargain I might add).
But most important of all: don't try to find the ideal brush for the rest of your life. Enjoy the experience of trying different brushes!
