I enjoy synthetic brushes but......

Keep in mind that youtubers are out to get views and subscriptions. I would look at that bit about not lathering well with badger as a bit of a ploy. I went 18 months without using a badger. When I finally did I was quite easily able to get the same great lather I enjoy with a synthetic. I just didn't care for the face feel nor the extra effort to get the lather quality I demand. Call me lazy but 6am Brian who's been up too late with 3 kiddos wants easy peasy lemon squeasy lathers.

Priceless, Brian. [Image: laughing.gif]

I am recently making the switch to all synthetic brushes. I had an omega boar brush which was great but it sheds too much. I tried other badger brushes but they smell so bad! And shed like crazy. I have no trouble with synthetics. No smell, no shedding, no difficult cleaning and maintenance....that's just my preference. I have a Muhle, Grooming co, Omega-S, and Nathan Clark Ubersoft. All great brushes. I still want to get the Plisson, Satin Tip, and Angel Hair from Fine

We've really seen a leap forward with the advent of good quality synthetic brushes the past few years.  From the wonderful Muhle and Edwin Jagger synthetics,  the Plisson to the very inexpensive Omega S brushes, Whipped Dog/Envy, Fine etc.  These brushes do it all and feel very nice against your beard as you're using them.

However while using synthetic brushes for awhile, I sometimes miss the sensation of natural hair against my face.  Whether it be the scrubbiness of a good boar brush, the amazing softness of silvertip, or a simple two-band, when I lather with a natural hair brush, I can feel on my face that I am lathering in a way that I don't feel with the synthetic brushes.  

I suspect that if I had never used a natural hair brush, I would never miss it.  Does anyone else go back and use a boar/badger/horse brush occasionally just for the face feel?

I always alternate between my synthetic brushes and my other brushes as they all have their own unique qualities. I love most of my brushes and I have about 30 different brushes. I have Badger, boar, horse hair and synthetics. My top 3 are:

Simpsons Chubby 2 Best Badger
Wolf Whiskers 26mm TGN Silver Tip in a RCE Chubby Handle
Whipped Dog 30mm Synthetic Blue Handle

does Nathan have a traditional website or just etsy?

I am recently making the switch to all synthetic brushes. I had an omega boar brush which was great but it sheds too much. I tried other badger brushes but they smell so bad! And shed like crazy. I have no trouble with synthetics. No smell, no shedding, no difficult cleaning and maintenance....that's just my preference. I have a Muhle, Grooming co, Omega-S, and Nathan Clark Ubersoft. All great brushes. I still want to get the Plisson, Satin Tip, and Angel Hair from Fine

My intent is not to pick on you, but that tells me that something other than the brushes are amiss when a bunch of brushes all exhibit the same shedding characteristic.

Before I write more, what brand were the badgers? I'm asking if they were $2 for 12 brushes direct from China or if they were name brand.

:-) I'm not trying to stop you from going to all synthetics either. Today they're good brushes.

OK, having written that, could you be mashing the brush? Only the outer tips of any brush should be in use, but lots of folks, and I caught myself doing this, use a brush and try to put the handle against the skin. That's a possibility in the natural fiber brushes shedding and the reason that I ask. The fibers can snap off and be pulled out since they aren't designed to be used that way. But that's just a guess. Only you can know and you'll see it in the mirror. If any more than the outer 1/3 of the knot is in play when lathering, pull the brush away from the face.

FWIW, I have at least one brush that once lather is built the fibers naturally splay all on their own and far more than 1/3 of the brush is in use because it has absolutely no backbone. There's nothing I can do about it, and that's not what I mean.

I am recently making the switch to all synthetic brushes. I had an omega boar brush which was great but it sheds too much. I tried other badger brushes but they smell so bad! And shed like crazy. I have no trouble with synthetics. No smell, no shedding, no difficult cleaning and maintenance....that's just my preference. I have a Muhle, Grooming co, Omega-S, and Nathan Clark Ubersoft. All great brushes. I still want to get the Plisson, Satin Tip, and Angel Hair from Fine

My intent is not to pick on you, but that tells me that something other than the brushes are amiss when a bunch of brushes all exhibit the same shedding characteristic.

Before I write more, what brand were the badgers? I'm asking if they were $2 for 12 brushes direct from China or if they were name brand.

:-) I'm not trying to stop you from going to all synthetics either. Today they're good brushes.

OK, having written that, could you be mashing the brush? Only the outer tips of any brush should be in use, but lots of folks, and I caught myself doing this, use a brush and try to put the handle against the skin. That's a possibility in the natural fiber brushes shedding and the reason that I ask. The fibers can snap off and be pulled out since they aren't designed to be used that way. But that's just a guess. Only you can know and you'll see it in the mirror. If any more than the outer 1/3 of the knot is in play when lathering, pull the brush away from the face.

FWIW, I have at least one brush that once lather is built the fibers naturally splay all on their own and far more than 1/3 of the brush is in use because it has absolutely no backbone. There's nothing I can do about it, and that's not what I mean.

Of course, I welcome feedback and recommendations from other shavers. It could have been due to miss use on my part. I don't want to mention the vendor of the badger brush because he is an excellent vendor and I don't want to air my problems that I had with his brush. His brushes were not cheap and not from China as far as I know I will still use my boar brush but I have since gotten rid of my badger brushes. I also have an issue with animal cruelty in the production of badger brushes. I was unaware that in China abuse and kill badgers for their hair!

The reason I wrote that was to try to find a solution to the shedding.

Obviously a move to synthetic also gets rid of the animal source. Entirely understood.

Does anyone else go back and use a boar/badger/horse brush occasionally just for the face feel?

Not me ... I started out with boar, then badger, then went synthetic ... I had tried badger (silvertip) since moving over and it reminded me of everything I hated about badger. Never again.

I'm a synthetic bigot

I am recently making the switch to all synthetic brushes. I had an omega boar brush which was great but it sheds too much. I tried other badger brushes but they smell so bad! And shed like crazy. I have no trouble with synthetics. No smell, no shedding, no difficult cleaning and maintenance....that's just my preference. I have a Muhle, Grooming co, Omega-S, and Nathan Clark Ubersoft. All great brushes. I still want to get the Plisson, Satin Tip, and Angel Hair from Fine

My intent is not to pick on you, but that tells me that something other than the brushes are amiss when a bunch of brushes all exhibit the same shedding characteristic.

Before I write more, what brand were the badgers? I'm asking if they were $2 for 12 brushes direct from China or if they were name brand.

:-) I'm not trying to stop you from going to all synthetics either. Today they're good brushes.

OK, having written that, could you be mashing the brush? Only the outer tips of any brush should be in use, but lots of folks, and I caught myself doing this, use a brush and try to put the handle against the skin. That's a possibility in the natural fiber brushes shedding and the reason that I ask. The fibers can snap off and be pulled out since they aren't designed to be used that way. But that's just a guess. Only you can know and you'll see it in the mirror. If any more than the outer 1/3 of the knot is in play when lathering, pull the brush away from the face.

FWIW, I have at least one brush that once lather is built the fibers naturally splay all on their own and far more than 1/3 of the brush is in use because it has absolutely no backbone. There's nothing I can do about it, and that's not what I mean.

I totally agree that the way you use the brush goes a long way in how much they last or shed fibers. As for some well known You Tube guys who say "load it as if you hate it" I totally disagree with this. These are natural bristles and not meant to be treated aggressively. You do not have to splay the brush in a bowl or on your face to get the best lathering or performance. Just treat the natural bristles as you would your own hair and the shedding will be kept to a minimum. These brushes take time to break in and they are well worth the effort as long as you buy a quality brush.