No more badger brushes for Art of Shaving

I think synthetic hair is at a point right now that animal hair in shaving brushes is irrelevant for a lot of people.  I've used a badger brush maybe once in the past year.

See, I've gone the opposite direction. I was all aboard the synthetic train for awhile until I got curious about a higher end badger and picked up an Elite Manchurian. It's been my main brush ever since. It just feels "nicer" on the face. I can't really explain how, but when I use a synthetic now, it just feels cheap or fake somehow. They still produce excellent lather with ease and I still use them sometimes. I just prefer the face feel of the badger.

My experience has been similar except I do still enjoy synthetics, just not as much as Silvertip badgers. However, I feel my Whipped Dog ST is every bit as comfortable as the Thater I once owned. Another surprise favorite is my Vig Shaving Silvertip, which actually feels softer than the others. I haven't ever tried a Manchurian though so can't comment.

It's hard to believe AoS had no clue about the controversy with badgers in some parts of the world. Also, what do they mean they are going to look at developing alternatives to animal hair? Do they not realize those alternatives already exist? It's not like they were "developing" brushes to begin with, as I'm pretty sure they outsourced their brush making to Muhle, but I don't believe they have ever admitted it, just that they are made in Germany or by a German company. To be fair, I respect their desire to remove badger brushes from their line of products, I just don't believe they are being genuine. I do still love their Sandalwood shaving soap!

I think synthetic hair is at a point right now that animal hair in shaving brushes is irrelevant for a lot of people.  I've used a badger brush maybe once in the past year.

See, I've gone the opposite direction. I was all aboard the synthetic train for awhile until I got curious about a higher end badger and picked up an Elite Manchurian. It's been my main brush ever since. It just feels "nicer" on the face. I can't really explain how, but when I use a synthetic now, it just feels cheap or fake somehow. They still produce excellent lather with ease and I still use them sometimes. I just prefer the face feel of the badger.

I have been reading great reviews of those Elite brushes , specially the two band ones.Seems they’re as good as the old Rooney Heritage two band , which were nothing less than superb.

May I ask you if you have tried a Chubby 2 synthetic ?

Tieste, no I have never used the Simpson synthetic knot before. Is it any good?

The Elite Manchurians are nice compared to the less expensive 2-band and Silvertips I've tried. The hair has a different feel to it. I don't know how they compare to other higher end knots like Declaration, Paladin, etc.

Jeff, if you like strong backbone and very soft tips in a knot, then the Chubby 2 synthetic is excellent.
It is the best synthetic brush/knot I have tried.
Nonetheless, I still greatly prefer my 2-Band badger brushes, but use the Chubby 2 for my head shaves and traveling.

Go ahead and send me any badger brushes that you don't want anymore.

See, I've gone the opposite direction. I was all aboard the synthetic train for awhile until I got curious about a higher end badger and picked up an Elite Manchurian. It's been my main brush ever since. It just feels "nicer" on the face. I can't really explain how, but when I use a synthetic now, it just feels cheap or fake somehow. They still produce excellent lather with ease and I still use them sometimes. I just prefer the face feel of the badger.

I have been reading great reviews of those Elite brushes , specially the two band ones.Seems they’re as good as the old Rooney Heritage two band , which were nothing less than superb.

May I ask you if you have tried a Chubby 2 synthetic ?

Tieste, no I have never used the Simpson synthetic knot before. Is it any good?

The Elite Manchurians are nice compared to the less expensive 2-band and Silvertips I've tried. The hair has a different feel to it. I don't know how they compare to other higher end knots like Declaration, Paladin, etc.

Jeff, if you like strong backbone and very soft tips in a knot, then the Chubby 2 synthetic is excellent.
It is the best synthetic brush/knot I have tried.
Nonetheless, I still greatly prefer my 2-Band badger brushes, but use the Chubby 2 for my head shaves and traveling.

Jeff , I subscribe every word that Celestino have written about the Chubby 2 synthetic.To be honest , it has ruined my "appetite" for new badger brushes but , unlike Celestino , I prefer the synthetic over the Chubby 2 best badger.

Now I only interested in old badger brushes and looking forward to add 2 or 3 more chubby 2 synthetics (black , blue and maybe a marble color handles)

However , those Elite Manchurians seems to be very nice for their price and maybe its time to get one and see how they work.

I started out on synthetics and used them exclusively for about the first year. Then I bought some nice badgers ( Thater, Saville Row, Simpsons). Other than my S Brush, which I love, I haven't used a synthetic in over a year now.

Great companies risk significant loss to the bottom line and shareholder value to champion humane treatment of animals in China.

Perhaps, but that is not what is happening here. It looks like Proctor & Gamble caved into bullying from what many consider a fringe extremist group. One example of abuse does not necessarily prove that the practice is widespread. I have read lots of things regarding badger hair sources, but nothing more than unsubstantiated rumors, and never from unbiased parties. It would be helpful to know what is really going on.

Art of Shaving will have at least one very minor loss to their bottom line. I will never buy anything from them again. At least not until they prove that they are responding to substantiated fact rather than kowtowing to PETA.

How about some visual proof.

I no longer trust just the written word in any context.

Mickey

How about some visual proof.

I no longer trust just the written word in any context.

Mickey

Mickey, there is a video out there (on YouTube) that shows a guy at a Chinese badger farm pounding one in the head with a chair leg before finally putting it out of its misery.

My response is "What are they supposed to do? Skin them alive?" There's got to be more humane and effective ways to get the job done, but the badgers are eventually going to perish either way.