Badger to Synthetic shift

Would you buy a badger brush again?

  • No, never again

    Votes: 37 49.3%
  • Yes, I would

    Votes: 28 37.3%
  • Maybe

    Votes: 10 13.3%

  • Total voters
    75
I've only bought the one badger, used it once and sold it as it gave the worst irritation I've ever had (I think it was down to the really fine nature of the badger hairs? I prefer thicker fibres/hairs/bristles) so I'd never buy another badger but I would buy another synth, but boars are the type of brushes I enjoy using the most, but for consistency/value/lack of shedding I find it difficult to beat a budget Plissoft/Tuxedo.
 
I recently bought a Mùhle synthetic for travelling due to fast drying etc. Love it and has changed my mind about synthetics. Produces loads of creamy lather with ease. So soft for face lathering. This is after using badger chubby 3 and badger SV brushes. I'll still use them as they are great, but don't think I'll buy natural again.
 
I still have all my badgers, boars and horses, and occasionally use them, but ever since synthetics changed from being roughly akin to some coarse mono fishing line offcuts stuck in a handle, to what they are today, I'm a big fan. I think the first ones I liked were Plisson and a simulated badger Muhle, and I've accumulated quite a few more since.

As a dedicated bowl latherer, I was attracted to the durability of synthetics and their resistance to damage when used hard in a bowl. They are also remarkable value for money, and whilst I prefer some to others, they all perform well enough for me.
 
I gave up on badger shortly after ... erm, using one. I hated it! Horrid clods of fur from a pretty horrid little creature. Best leave 'em alone to do their own thing.

I bought a synthetic really early doors after starting traditional shaving. It was a Kent Infinity, which I used pretty much exclusively for about a year before buying a Muhle Silvertip Fibre. At the time, that was pretty much it for choice. I have a good number of synthetics now with all manner of knots, handles and vintage re-knots - my choice is for their performance, while the animal welfare is a consideration quite a way down the list. On that, happy enough (still) to use a boar and I have one or two of those.
 
No more plastic, fake brushes! They were just a stepping stone for me on my way to boar.

Boar is natural and Earth-friendly and biodegradable.

Some good points.

Synths are very consistent, and the 1st shave with one will largely be the same as the 100th which is good in some ways but with a boar, the first is completely different to the 100th; the gradual evolution of a good boar is one of the most pleasing things in wet shaving. My synths will have a place in my rotation but there'll never bring as much pleasure or regular use as my boars. Great boar brushes can be bought very little as well, less than £5-6 for a good Omega brush if you can live with a cheap light plastic handle.
 
I gave up on badger shortly after ... erm, using one. I hated it! Horrid clods of fur from a pretty horrid little creature. Best leave 'em alone to do their own thing.

I bought a synthetic really early doors after starting traditional shaving. It was a Kent Infinity, which I used pretty much exclusively for about a year before buying a Muhle Silvertip Fibre. At the time, that was pretty much it for choice. I have a good number of synthetics now with all manner of knots, handles and vintage re-knots - my choice is for their performance, while the animal welfare is a consideration quite a way down the list. On that, happy enough (still) to use a boar and I have one or two of those.
What synthetic do you like the best?
 
What synthetic do you like the best?

Cashmere ...

To me, it's like a super-soft boar (which I do like). The density of the knot produces a lather that really suits me and the soaps that I like. Some knots produce more airy lathers, like the dark fibre knots from Haryali; the Tuxedo produces a very thick, dense lather which paints on like yoghurt, but the knot holds onto the lather more.

The other that I particularly like is the older generation from Haryali. I have used a lot of synthetic brushes and not found that fibre on other brushes. To my face, if the Muhle Silvertip fibre is the equivalent of a Silvertip badger, that Haryali knot is the Best badger. It's ever so slightly scritchier, but still soft and quite highbrow nevertheless. That fibre is very much like PurTech (if you remember that) but just refined somehow.

My hands down favourite brush is the Yaqi Dandelion - it's 24mm Cashmere knot in a long green handle. I quite fancy trying the Cashmere in 26mm.
 
As many people may remember, I sold a large collection of badger brushes a couple of years ago on ethical grounds and moved completely over to synthetics. Whilst I still maintain that a top end synth is only about 90% as good as a top end badger, it's certainly not a decision I've ever regretted making.
 
I never had an expensive badger, just TOBS, TAOS travel sized, and New Forest. I got through several Omega boars. But since the L'Occitane, RR Plissoft, and now various Yaqi's I haven't looked back.
 
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