Chinese Synthetic Brushes

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My next installment of Chinese reviews will focus on synthetic brushes. My favourite knot size for synthetics is 24mm therefore it made complete sense for me to choose 26mm brushes for this. I've one from each of the well known manufacturers:

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Frank Shaving 26mm G4 - the latest generation of knot
Yaqi 26mm tuxedo - I could have gone for their newest generation (mew brown) but their tuxedos are excellent
Dscosmetics 26mm T4 - latest generation as per G4

As per most Chinese brushes, these have high glue bumps but have loosened somewhat after a few palm lathers. The exception is the dscosmetics T4 which has an insanely high glue bump - I've very low expectations for this brush.

First shave will be with the Yaqi tomorrow.
 
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Razor: Mongoose Mingoose
Blade: Personna (1)
Brush: Yaqi Tuxedo 26mm
Soap: Wickham Irish Fern
Pre: Proraso Cypress and Vetiver
ASL: Superdrug Forest Fresh
ASB: LEA

Firstly the brush. Just like the Sagrada Familia (SF), this brush whips up a lather with ease. It's densely packed so getting the splay was a little messy at the start but it painted on a luxurious lather. The handle shape feels nice as well. I'm inclined to say these tuxedo fibres feel a little less soft than the SF but that could be due to the difference in mileage. I like this brush and it's a keeper. Available for less than £12 delivered.

First use of the Mingoose today. It started off super smooth on the WTG pass but skipped a fair bit on my neck when going XTG. Hopefully this will stop as I dial this razor in as it seems to have great potential. If skipping becomes a common feature of using it though, it'll be off!
 
Morning Chris,
If you do not get on with "Skippy" I would like 1st refusal please. ;)
T
You'll be the first to know Tony.

After reading up a bit more on the skipping last night, I think the issue is more likely to be me rather than the razor (no surprise there). I'm lazy and don't pull my skin when I shave. I also had a rather dense lather on my neck from the Wickham's. I should probably try and get in to the good habit of pulling my skin taught when shaving.
 
The skin stretching i do using a Straight has carried over to my Safety razor routine and has improved my shaves massively.
A very good habit to pick up.
Likewise, I started wet shaving using straights and it's second nature for me to stretch when shaving with a DE. I think it's essential especially under the jawline.
 
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Razor: Mongoose Mingoose
Blade: Personna (2)
Brush: Dscosmetics T4 26mm
Soap: Signature Soaps Eboracum
Pre: Proraso Green
ASL: Signature Soaps Eboracum
ASB: LEA

It's a good job I set my expectations low with this brush. It's the worst synthetic I've ever owned. The glue bump makes it nearly unusable. This is going back - good riddance! Shame as the handle is really nice.

Fortunately the rest of the single pass shave was great thanks to the quality Signature Soaps. I love Eboracum. Brian's splashes are one of the few artisan aftershaves that don't irritate my skin.
 
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Razor: Mongoose Mingoose
Blade: Personna (2)
Brush: Dscosmetics T4 26mm
Soap: Signature Soaps Eboracum
Pre: Proraso Green
ASL: Signature Soaps Eboracum
ASB: LEA

It's a good job I set my expectations low with this brush. It's the worst synthetic I've ever owned. The glue bump makes it nearly unusable. This is going back - good riddance! Shame as the handle is really nice.

Fortunately the rest of the single pass shave was great thanks to the quality Signature Soaps. I love Eboracum. Brian's splashes are one of the few artisan aftershaves that don't irritate my skin.

A shame to read the DS synth is a stinker. I was tempted to buy it myself as I like the look of the handle.

I also share your love for Eboracum, it's pretty much the only artisan soap I've used which doesn't make my skin burn.
 
First use of the Mingoose today. It started off super smooth on the WTG pass but skipped a fair bit on my neck when going XTG. Hopefully this will stop as I dial this razor in as it seems to have great potential. If skipping becomes a common feature of using it though, it'll be off!

The blade may be a culprit. You may want to try a Chick or a Proline.
 
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Razor: Mongoose Mingoose
Blade: Personna (3)
Brush: Frank Shaving G4 26mm
Soap: PAA Astra Planeta
Pre: Proraso Wood and Spice
ASL: Floïd Suave
ASB: LEA

The FS G4 performed ok. I'd say the 24mm and 28mm variants I have are better but this is an ok brush. It flung a fair bit of lather around the place.

Another shit shave with the Mingoose and another fairly big weeper. The Personna is now out and the B-20 is loaded. It has two more chances with this blade before I declare it a piss poor piece of engineering and then subsequently sell it to Tony as an awesome razor he can't live without.

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Interestingly, the Yaqi is my favourite of the bunch and is the generation of fibre behind the T4 and G4. It's also the cheapest of the three - £12 rather than £18 for the FS brush.

I'm debating giving the FS G4 and the Yaqi another run out each but this time with some creams to see how they perform with those.
 
From reading online it seems like it's a lottery with the FS and DsCosmetic brushes whether you get one with a bad glue bump or one that's okay. I've got one of those DsCosmetic brushes that should be arriving this week so I'll report back on how I find the glue bump.

I do wonder if the best option is to get a handle and one of the G4/T4 knots separately and set them yourself.
 
From reading online it seems like it's a lottery with the FS and DsCosmetic brushes whether you get one with a bad glue bump or one that's okay. I've got one of those DsCosmetic brushes that should be arriving this week so I'll report back on how I find the glue bump.

I do wonder if the best option is to get a handle and one of the G4/T4 knots separately and set them yourself.
I believe you are better in buying the handle and knot separately.

If you were buying just one or two synthetics for your collection I'd actually recommend you buy either a) an AP Shave Co. complete brush or b) a handle from one of the Chinese manufacturers and an AP knot.

Even Suki from Frank Shaving has said the high glue bumps are just a thing of their brushes now. I'm fine with high glue bumps as some do mellow with use and help give a bit if backbone but I've had more problematic brushes than not lately.
 
I have intrinsically against Chinese goods if they are made properly. My guitar, my PC my ipad my phone are all made there. Which offers the best quality at the best price? Where do you buy these: Alibaba and Banggood? Synthetic brushes will be fine. I refuse to use badger because Chinese animal welfare is shall we say...lacking.
 
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