What are your opinions on budget brush?

Best brushes when on a budget ?

Depends on what the budget is. $5? $10? $25? $50? $100? $250? There are good choices is those ranges. Also depends on whether you are looking for synthetic, boar, badger, or horse hair knots.

I presume when you state you are looking for a shaving brush on a budget that you are talking about getting an inexpensive brush. If you are talking about spending less than $25, I would suggest you forget about badger brushes and look for either a boar or a synthetic brush. There are badger brushes that sell for under $25, but I would suggest you avoid them. High quality badger hair is expensive. Thus, the only way to make an inexpensive badger brush is to use low quality hair, make the knot small in diameter, or make with knot with a low density of hair. If your budget exceeds $50, then you can start to purchase some decent quality badger brushes.

Semogue, Zenith and Omega make decent boar brushes. They do take some time to break in, but once the tips split, they can be amazing brushes.

Synthetic brushes with plain handles are inexpensive. If you want a fancy handle, expect to pay more.

Although knot diameter is a matter of personal preference, many shavers find that 24-26mm is the sweet spot. If you like to face lather, get a brush with a fan shaped knot. If you bowl lather, you might prefer bulb shaped knots.

A classic Omega 49 (boar) was my first brush, and still among my favorites. It is very well broken in and very soft. Truly the best $10 I have spent in shaving. Very much worth it.

A also started with a 24 mm Yaqi synthetic brush, and it is also a very satisfactory brush. 

I had to pack away all my shaving gear two months ago, and have been using those two brushes again exclusively. No regrets.

I got my Stirling "2-Band Synthetic" from topofthechain.ca for CAD$24.99, and it is my favourite synthetic. I love the retro look of the easy-to-grip handle and the 24 mm Tuxedo knot is great.



I'm also quite happy with my "Fendrihan Classic Pure Grey Badger Shaving Brush", 22 mm, for CAD$27



Omega 49? Can't stand it. I find it to be clownishly large and way too floppy. Feels like more of a neck duster.

On the other hand, I quite like my little Omega 10086 Travel Brush (boar), in spite of it only having an 18 x 42 mm knot. 
They're CAD$12.50 nowadays, at Fendrihan. For a long time, it was the only boar that I liked.


It has a surprising amount of backbone. I tend to save it (and the Wee Scot) for soaps that I like but are nearly done and hard to replace.

Another option, if you're into DIY, is to buy a nice vintage handle with character, but with a crappy worn-out knot, and re-knot it with a decent synthetic or badger knot. The best of all three worlds (handle, knot, price).
Before:


After:



(Just don't buy the original brush from an antique shop, like I did in this case. It was something like $25 or so, but I just had to have that handle.)

Razorock Plissoft $12.99

Depends on what the budget is. $5? $10? $25? $50? $100? $250? There are good choices is those ranges. Also depends on whether you are looking for synthetic, boar, badger, or horse hair knots.

Depends on what you want, which frankly you won't know starting off. Throw into this are you willing to go the used route? Plenty of barely used brushes out there looking for a home they'll get frequent use in. You'll open a floodgate if you are willing to do this.

Simpson T3 synthetic

Absolutely a lather maker. Used to be really cheap. I think prices have gone up a little bit.

Whenever I try a new soap, or I am really wanting a no fail lather, this is the one.

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A nice Semogue boar brush. Reasonably priced, break in well, great performers and last a long time .

A nice Semogue boar brush. Reasonably priced, break in well, great performers and last a long time .

Maybe not my Semogue 620.
The knot feels thin, lack backbone, and the knot (on mine) is actually able to turn in the handle. Maybe the ferrule is keeping it from falling out because it (the ferrule) does not turn.

I do like the size and geometry of the handle though, so I might just re-knot it someday with a Tuxedo or SilkSmoke.



Note the hair elastic I put on it to reduce the splay. I move it to the handle after use.