is it wrong that ...

I have almost as many boar brushes as badger and it doesn't seem to matter if it's a $10 brush or a really expensive $20 brush, boar can be great. The soaking is easy, I fill both chambers of my scuttle with hot water to warm up while I shower and I just drop the brush in the water to soak. It's nice and soft when I'm ready to shave. I started out with badgers and some weren't cheap, it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is. It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

I have almost as many boar brushes as badger and it doesn't seem to matter if it's a $10 brush or a really expensive $20 brush, boar can be great.  The soaking is easy, I fill both chambers of my scuttle with hot water to warm up while I shower and I just drop the brush in the water to soak. It's nice and soft when I'm ready to shave.  I started out with badgers and some weren't cheap, it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is.  It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

My routine too Marko. I rinse my brush under the tap as the water warms, fill a bowl/mug then drop the brush in prior to getting in the shower. By the time I get out, regardless of boar, badger, horse it is ready to go.

I have almost as many boar brushes as badger and it doesn't seem to matter if it's a $10 brush or a really expensive $20 brush, boar can be great.  The soaking is easy, I fill both chambers of my scuttle with hot water to warm up while I shower and I just drop the brush in the water to soak. It's nice and soft when I'm ready to shave.  I started out with badgers and some weren't cheap, it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is.  It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

William, for me, Mark nailed it.

...it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is. It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

I think that is the hardest for some to admit. Who wants to realize their $10-30 brush outshines their $100-300 brushes. I feel the same way about $70 soaps and $300 razors.

I'll be there first to admit, I never thought a synthetic would be as good or better than Rooney Super, Simpson Manchurian, Kent Silvertip and all the other Brushes that now collect dust on my shelf.....but they are. And if I am completely honest with myself, my $15 Semogue undied boars are just as good too. I never found this brush or that brush to make better lather. Some feel better in the hand, some are prettier, some are softer on the face.....but they all make the same quality lather and can be applied gently with paint strokes if they are rough.

The biggest struggle I am having now, is deciding if I want to let go of a bunch of expensive Brushes or hold on to them. I don't need the money or space, my wife doesn't care, but I feel bad with such sought after brushes just sitting. Every time I grab one, I'm now let down. Most of my collection is made up of hard to acquire or no longer available brushes.

I guess it isn't a bad mental struggle to have.

All evidence has been buried. All tapes have been erased.

...it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is.  It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

I think that is the hardest for some to admit.  Who wants to realize their $10-30 brush outshines their $100-300 brushes.  I feel the same way about $70 soaps and $300 razors.

I'll be there first to admit, I never thought a synthetic would be as good or better than Rooney Super, Simpson Manchurian, Kent Silvertip and all the other Brushes that now collect dust on my shelf.....but they are.  And if I am completely honest with myself, my $15 Semogue undied boars are just as good too.  I never found this brush or that brush to make better lather.  Some feel better in the hand, some are prettier, some are softer on the face.....but they all make the same quality lather and can be applied gently with paint strokes if they are rough.

The biggest struggle I am having now, is deciding if I want to let go of a bunch of expensive Brushes or hold on to them.  I don't need the money or space, my wife doesn't care, but I feel bad with such sought after brushes just sitting.  Every time I grab one, I'm now let down.  Most of my collection is made up of hard to acquire or no longer available brushes.

I guess it isn't a bad mental struggle to have.

All evidence has been buried.  All tapes have been erased.

Good points @bruce and from what I have seen of your collection it is top tier!

I have some higher end brushes I suppose but most of what motivates me now to pick up something new is really the handle or the desire to support a particular artisan. I love the artistry associated with something that to be honest is about what I think looks cool vs. what fills some perceived performance gap.

On the other hand, I do like using a variety of brushes [scritchy, scrubby, soft, lofty, etc.] but don't make purchasing decisions on SOTD, etc. I just get stuff that I like and believe I would like using. I also have never sold anything on any BST in over 11 years of shaving. Have given plenty away but don't turn products as a rule chasing the latest and greatest fads. Having said that, I do love the value products I have and particularly those I have stumbled upon under the radar and like sharing the same with the community.

Peter at @wolfwhiskers added some text to his knot page that I think sums things up regarding various knot types:

"I recommend that you don't overthink it, honestly. Every knot I set will perform and create lather. Do some research on the group forums, but don't give yourself a headache or lose sleep trying to find the perfect brush."

@Bruce and kwsher, you have expressed thoughts that I have long held, also. Wet shaving is big enough to support all the ideas on this subject but I would always encourage a newbie to start inexpensively. That person just might find that bargain brush turning into a lifelong friend. Bruce's eye opening experience with inexpensive synthetics has been mine, as well, and Kevin's quote from Peter's site, Wolf Whiskers, is spot on.

...it seems almost wrong that a boar brush at a fraction of the price can be as good or better than some of those badgers but there it is.  It's like finding that cheap wine that you actually really like so it's not a compromise. Good and cheap. Can you get any better than that?
Mark

I think that is the hardest for some to admit.  Who wants to realize their $10-30 brush outshines their $100-300 brushes.  I feel the same way about $70 soaps and $300 razors.

I'll be there first to admit, I never thought a synthetic would be as good or better than Rooney Super, Simpson Manchurian, Kent Silvertip and all the other Brushes that now collect dust on my shelf.....but they are.  And if I am completely honest with myself, my $15 Semogue undied boars are just as good too.  I never found this brush or that brush to make better lather.  Some feel better in the hand, some are prettier, some are softer on the face.....but they all make the same quality lather and can be applied gently with paint strokes if they are rough.

The biggest struggle I am having now, is deciding if I want to let go of a bunch of expensive Brushes or hold on to them.  I don't need the money or space, my wife doesn't care, but I feel bad with such sought after brushes just sitting.  Every time I grab one, I'm now let down.  Most of my collection is made up of hard to acquire or no longer available brushes.

I guess it isn't a bad mental struggle to have.

All evidence has been buried.  All tapes have been erased.

The problem is the cheapskates that want high end on the cheap. You are better off keeping them or risk been harassed for pricing the brushes accordingly.

I watched this Ted Talk a few days back (its 14 minutes long) on the subject of the price of happiness and whether spending more on something makes us happier.  Its very interesting. He discusses an experiment where people blind tasted various wines while being hooked up to a functional MRI on their brain.  The subjects were given cheap wine but told it was some rare and expensive vintage.  Their brain's pleasure centres lit up like Christmas trees.  They weren't lying, they actually did enjoy it more if they thought it was expensive.  Explains a lot about human nature and the psychology of marketing.

http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_wallac..._happiness

Great opinions and conversation.

The biggest part for me is that as I am getting into this wet shaving pretty aggressively in the past month....I feel like I know there is homage to be paid to the idea that a synthetic is kind of faux pas ... when dealing with the whole tradition of wet shaving.

As it sits now, I like innovative razors and soaps from artisans.... but am ordering my first brush from a maker.... but he doesn't use boar hair...only badger...so I will bend and buy it in badger as I love the handle.

I'm a relative newb to the world of TWS, it will be one year in February. I just received my first badger brush last week, a Semogue SOC. Granted its not a "high end" badger brush, but it is the most expensive brush I own. I've only used it twice so the jury is still out, but I can't see myself liking it more than my favorite brush I've used so far, the $10 RazoRock Plissoft. I also have a cheap little Omega boar that came in my Maggard starter kit (works great but small), an Omega S-brush (okay but loft is too high so its hard to splay), and a Zenith boar brush that's huge and also works great. I like using the boars if I want a little more scrub/backbone, but the Plissoft whips up a great lather and feels awesome on the face. I don't see the need for me to acquire any high end brushes, but if that's your cup of tea, go for it!