As a person who's used brushes for 44 years now in may shapes and forms, all that really matters is what you enjoy. I have a 8 dollar synthetic that used the most due to the feel in the hand and face. Once in awhile I'll break out the badger brush for softer shave, but they soak up the lather more than say a synthetic brush. I have a horse or boar brush with lots of loft for using in a deep mug when shaving with Williams and using my grandfathers razor and mug. Just need to soak the natural hair brushes for a few minutes before using to get the most out of them for a soft feel on the face. I really enjoyed this video as its near and dear to my daily activity of shaving with a classic DE razor. Thanks for sharing!
Exactly! A Lada gets you from point A to B just as a Lamborghini does! It's always a question of choice and budget but the essential task still gets done!
It is like the blade on a DE razor, the one that likes me it is maybe the worst for your face, or like the wine, if you like a 25 dollar bottle more than a 200 dlls bottle it is ok right?. Cheers.
What a lot of people don't know, when dealing especially with badger hair brushes, while there are different grades of badger hair, most times the knots are produced in China where all the badger hair originates and then placed in brand name handles through a contract with that company. What I mean by that is a $25 badger knot is sold to a company with a famous brand name in the wet shaving world and placed into a handle and sold for $150-$300. That very same $25 knot produced by the same company can be placed in a no name, or lesser known name handle and will be sold for $50. The business end of the brush is the knot and that is a brush's most important component. Many people get ripped off by big name companies who make tons of money off of wet shavers who think they are actually getting something better when they're not. That is a fact.
I recently moved from an expensive Golddachs badger brush via a short excursion to synthetics (dreadful plastic stuff) on to cheap Omega boar brushes. The boar brushes are just better once they are broken in a bit.
So exact same thing as people who buy soaps from fartisans. I grew up on a farm, I know how much it costs to make a soap, I can look up how much fragrances, oils and other stuff used in soaps as an additive just for smell and few quite irrelevant properties costs, I know that those overpriced soaps aren't worth even 10% of what people pay for them 🤣
I took a vacation to London as part of my college graduation present in 1994 and I bought a very high quality shaving brush at Truefitt And Hill. I used that brush with both shaving soaps and foaming creams every single morning since then until six months ago when I accidentally dropped it and the base cracked. It might have still been the same in 28 more years. I followed the care instructions and that brush was just as good and functional in 2022 as the day I bought it. I remember it cost £125 and at that time and the exchange rate wasn't anywhere near as good as it is now so it was almost a $300 purchase for me which was a major extravagant splurge for me at that time. But looking back that £125 purchase 28 years ago it's only cost me about $10.75 per year. This is a perfect example of why you should always buy the best you can afford because over time I got to experience a very luxurious lather every day plus it reminded me from time to time of the wonderful trips I've had to London. I thing taking this approach in both apparel and accessories is the right way to go and luckily I learned this from my father and grandfather.
I like my synthetic "silvertip fiber" from Mühle ~60$. Has backbone and is supersoft, holds a little less water than a good badger but it dries very fast after using. I think it didn't loose more than 1, 2 fibers in 5 years and look like new 👍 By the way i like to foam up directly in the face... 😊
I stopped using silvertip badger when I became aware of the cruel Chinese harvesting practices. I find the Muhle synthetic version performs far better as well as giving me peace of mind.
I just got probably the same model. Glad to hear it holds up over a long time :D While animal welfare wasn't my main focus when I bought it, I heard that some even prefer synthetic ones. Sad to hear a lot of them are from China, where animal right aren't that strong. (But even Europe still has some problems with proper animal handling when it's about hair or pelts.) But "Ivory handles" really left a bad taste in my mouth when I saw them in the video. I just hope those are all "legacy" ones that got recycled, but there are people out there that want new ones for sure. Like, it's not something you display for everyone to see & there are so many non-extinction-inducing beautiful alternatives too.
Could you do a video on the straight razor and everything needed to maintain them? I'd really like to learn how so i can stop buying razorblades all together. Great video!
Nice video, but I feel it neglected one important accessory. I recommend buying a brush stand with any shaving brush. It gives you a place to safely store the brush and allows it to dry properly.
My first was a cheap Omega. Was good but nothing special. My second was a Muhle badger brush. I really enjoyed it. But nothing beats my Simpson best badger brush.
I've been using a Simpson Duke 3 Synthetic since it's the best compromise between a premium-quality brush and an affordable price. It whips lather like nobody's business and will probably outlive me. After many years of use, it still looks as if I had taken it out of the box just this morning. Honestly, you don't need any other or any more brushes than that one Simpson. Yes, the initial price is quite steep for a synthetic bristle with a faux ivory handle, but it will just last for your entire life unless you lose it.
Your beard looks terrific ! Personally, I'm loving shaving again after going bearded for 12 years - now I rock a moustache and grow, trim and play with several moustache and goatee variations... and I shave with my dad's old 1960's double edge...it does a perfect job, feels great and is an excellent challenge to edge the whiskers, that I quite enjoy. As a retiree, not having to rush to get groomed is a pleasure, and shaving is one of those things that can be thoroughly enjoyed, with the right gear and a cheerful attitude. Keep up the great videos! They always make me feel good.
I don’t know what they were made of but they had Made in England inscribed on them. My dad was a bit of a dandy so I’m sure they were top of the line. He was very dark & had a mustache all my grown life. Shaving was important. Used Noxema & a regular two sided razor.
Been a fan of the synthetic shave brushes from Phoenix shaving accouterments. Silky feel, holds lather long enough for a 2nd pass without sitting in the shave bowl.
I have just recently purchased a badger-hair brush after using boar-hair for many years. The difference with feel on my face was remarkable! The badger produced a softer, more luxurious lather.The brand I purchased was Vulfix, part of the Simpson brand, well-respected company based in England.
A real man would go out into the forest, grab the nearest badger, rub some soap on it then wipe the badger around his face. Same goes for boar and horse but they are a little harder to lift up and rub your face with.
I bought a Kent shaving brush with pure English badger hair back in 06 for $30. I used it daily for over a decade before growing my beard out. Now its used every few weeks when I shape my beard. It has produced a quality shave and a fine lather all these years. It is only in the last few months that some of the bristles have started to come loose, however that has seemed to stop. I am sure its not the best shave it could be but for the price the quality far and a way more than one would expect. Highly recommend all Kent beard care products.
I have two silver-tipped Badger brushes. At home, I have a Kent and for the road I have one purchased on sale a West Coast Shaving. The Kent is slightly superior in feel and performance, but given the difference in cost, the WCS brush is a deal. I tried boar, which I found too stiff, and was underwhelmed by synthetic brushes. I have never tried lower grades of badger. I do both bowl (scuttle) lathering and face lathering, depending on how much time that I have. It is all good.
I have a number of really expensive brushes and prefer my regular 26 mm boar. If you are having issues with your boar, it might be because it isn't broken in. Pro tip- In order to break in a brush, use a hair brush on. That can save about 3 months of break in time.
@@gregmccormack5709 I have omega boar that went from useless straw that scrapes my face to amazing, soft brush in 3 days of soaking in salty water and drying it off by forcefully rubbing into a towel with some minimal splaying every 24 hours. Didn't notice it improving beyond that and I don't really care for it to get any "better", people who use boar brushes from the get go are some sort of masochists.
I use a two tone acrylic handle black and white synthetic shaving brush from Fendrihan. At 18.50 CDN, that brush with a tube of proraso is perfect. Never sheds, cheap enough to keep one at the gym. I have had Simpson, and plisson, and I can't say they were better.😊
Local water quality can come into play when selecting a brush. Where I live, we have very hard water. This stiffens natural bristles, so you get broken bristles no matter the quality of the brush or how thoroughly you wash them. I need to use synthetic bristles for this reason, but the quality is so high that I don't mind.
I wish I watched this 2 hours ago. I just paid $50 for a pure badger brush from Muhle because of the nice handle design and good reviews. Hopefully, I wasn't ripped off. Maybe I'll try to find something with better quality fur.
shave with any bar soap? cut the bar soap up put in a mug, cover the soap with a small amount of water, microwave for a minute or so? if it Foam up stop. let cool you just went it to congeal' place in the sun, until soap hardens Larry
Pardon me, but I was wondering if anyone could please point me in the direction of a decent channel in the same style as this lovely one, but for ladies instead? I seem to be having a difficult time locating a timeless style and etiquette ladies channel that isn't a history bounding vlogtuber. Not that I have an issue with them, just not what I'm looking for.
In the United States, we're quite spoiled to have many artisan brushmakers in the country. There are some on the very expensive side like Wolf Whiskers and Declaration Grooming, and some on the more affordable side like Phoenix Shaving. Which one you choose to buy from depends on your style and your budget. If you like badger hair brushes and have lots of money, Wolf Whiskers or Delcaration Grooming might be more your speed. But, if you're broke or thrifty and like synthetic brushes, Phoenix Shaving is definitely the way to go. Qualith synthetic shaving brushes for a very fine price.
I've wondered why the foaming brushes have gone to all the bristles in one sheathe or collar? It seems they used to be several small bunches of bristles each coming out of the main handle which I thought makes the brush stronger and maybe keeps more moisture from setting in the handle area of the brush🤔...I wonder.
While I highly appreciate these types of videos, could you do more videos on the history of menswear. Such as where the sweater came about, or how Beau Brummell’s suits became the modern suit.
I like the tale of the Irish Knit sweater. Every cable knit was for a different clan. That’s how the fishermen could ID the bodies if they washed up. The sweater design
We've got you covered! Find out about Beau Brummell here: www.gentlemansgazette.com/beau-brummell-the-original/? and sweaters here: www.gentlemansgazette.com/the-sweater-guide/?
Tried several natural fiber brushes and they always have this very distinct smell. Tried synthetic from Mühle and never looked back. It's not cheap but superior in every aspect for me.
Another interesting topic. Thank you for the education. I did not know all this information, never thought about the deep things of shaving, even though i am a lady, I like this channel to learn more about mens things. I still have my fathers brush.
6:20 I own that exact brush and its hot garbage. Holds too much water so every time you go to lather it just sucks the water up like a sponge and you spend half the time wringing it out.
How can we find out how the hairs are bound and how that binding is attached to the handle if buying online? Does Fort Belvedere have a haberdashery section for shaving products?
Retailers of high-quality brushes will be pleased to inform you of how the bristles are bound - after all, it helps justify the price! No Fort Belvedere shaving section just yet, but watch this space! 😉
For mi the best brand for shaving products especially for shaving brushes is Mühle in Germany! I have three diferent sets with doubles cromeholders. All with silvertip badger. This is for mi the best material for a brush. It makes more spoon with more volume and give you a wonderful massage in your face. For me is this every morning like a soothing treatment for face and skin. My favourite set is the Purist line with silvertip and karolina masur birch. The wood has a dreamlike grain, which alone is a real delight to look at. And the handling is perfect. The sets are combined with safety razors/close comb. I am very interesting in your next video about this very interesting theme. Best wishes from the 🎄🏝🎅🏼. Michael
I own several boar and badger brushes, as well as synthetic ones, and I use and rotate them daily. Wet shaving is a hobby for me. That being said, I cannot agree with Omega brushes being labelled as "cheap" and having an X mark next to them. While not costly (here in Poland some of them cost the equivalent of $10), they are, in my opinion, very well made. The boar bristle is enjoyable when I'm in the mood for a more exfoliating, energising shave, the handles are made of nice wood, and the solid backbone allows them to age gracefully. Other than that I enjoyed your video immensely, as always. I do hope theres more wet shaving vids to come! P.S.: I do recommend the brands: Omega, Mühle, Kent, Edwin Jagger, and Simpson for your brush brands video!
@@antonyfernandez9536 that's the point, you can't just put them all into one "bad" category. Then again, maybe it's some of my nostalgia speaking, as they were the first ones I got when I first started
@@dorekborek I got a beautiful super badger from omega has the worse backbone of any brush I’ve come across. I have a cheap mixed hair brush from Italy and it’s better than any other brush I own, I just rotate between my Extro Cosmesi mixed and alpha rubber set with a g4 knot.
@@andreaspeters3773 I usually use a combination strategy, especially with English cremes that come hard in a round tub: I take some on my finger and rub it onto my face with my hands and then I also load some up onto my brush and proceed to lather on my face normally. Works beautifully with my Kent Infinity SilverTex
I used a cheap shaving brush and it broke within a couple of days. The brush became detached from the handle once a little water got on the adhesive. I barely got three shaves out of it. Now I guess I have to invest in a more expensive one.
I'd be super interested to know your takes on the Stirling Soap Company's products for shaving?!??! Mainly, because it is made here in America (I think), and seems like an interesting option.
Like most things in life... get the highest quality you can afford. Shop around.... there is so much to choose from now that it is well worth your time to research. Over all... I believe you can get yourself a very good shaving brush for around $50-75 ... take care of it and it will last you a very long time.
Preston, perhaps you can answer a question re: shaving brushes and shaving oil. I have read that the two do not mix and that one should only use a water soluble pre-shave, if cream or soap is to be applied with a brush. Is this the truth or an urban legend? Thanks, Bruce
It is my understanding that the issue with oils and brushes is that the oil can soak into the hairs and make them stiff, greasy, or otherwise compromise their functionality. So, I would definitely avoid applying beard oils directly to a brush, especially one with natural bristles. In my experience, however, if you apply the oil to your beard directly and give it sufficient time to soak in, I do not think that you need to worry about oils transferring from your beard hairs onto the brush bristles sufficiently to potentially damage the brush.
I've tried almost all types of brushes (boar, badger and synthetic), except horse and I find synthetics to be much better compared to anything else and they are in general quite inexpensive. The other reason why I would never buy an expensive brush even if it's synthetic, is because some of my most used synthetic brushes have developed the so called ''donut hole'' in the middle and while the brushes are technically usable, they look hideous and I wouldn't want that to happen on an expensive brush. For me, shaving brushes are not something that is ment to last decades of extensive usage, although it's not uncommon for some folks to use 1 or a few brushes for many years without any issues. Razor on other hand are entirely different story for me. I have a passion for razors and I can spend a few hundreds on a razor without thinking too much, since that razor will easily outlive me and I can always sell it and get some, most or in some cases even more than what I've paid.
I love the channel, and the videos/topics, but I wish the background music/drumming would stop after the intro. It can get a little annoying after a time.
After doing some research and seeing how thousands of badgers are killed in China for the hair (it's not a farm animal and can't be raised like sheep for example) I will never buy another badger brush again. Synthetic is the same quality or better so I'll stick with that.
Also, I wish you lads would give us the brushes you guys ACTUALLY use, if you use them. As in, it would be great to have a recommendation of a few companies that you recommend? I bought a Stirling Soap Company Silver Tip Badger, but I am not sure how good it is....
2:35 - didn't the introduction of self-foaming shaving creams kind of eliminate the need for the brush? I shave with a classic safety razor, but don't use the brush and don't really undertand why it's necessary. TBH, most of the "advantages" of the shaving brush named in the video, are subjective.
My two cents I’ve had high end badger brushes which are garbage, as well as synthetic and boar brushes. Mixed badger and boar brushes are excellent but not very common.
Greetings, I am a mens formal wear/smart casual neophyte, I have just recently got into menswear clothing because of self-beautification and for the sake of my liking and contentment however I quickly ran into a problem, Sven always preaches to purchase high-quality clothing as they last longer however I am quite young and still physically growing, should I still abide by that principle? Or should I await to fully grow then start investing?
Hi Azar, thank you for your support! As our bodies do grow and change with time, there's never really one set time when you'll "stop" growing. Dress for the body you have now, as high-quality clothing lends itself to being altered easier than low-quality alternatives.
I use natural oils when I shave so this video isn't for me but I will leave a 👍 a comment and a view for you, especially because I don't want to miss any of Preston's Puns
Thank you for your support! You have a shaving routine that works for you, and we're pleased to have you here even if it is just for the entertainment factor! 😄🙌
You've got to figure what works for you. The brushes do many great things for the skin, in addition to lathering. I've had fancier brushes and even a "vegan" brush but find an Italian Omega brand hog bristle brush works best for me.
I don't think synthetic brushes are worth anything. I have one made of musco real or Claus porto from Portugal, very nice handle but the bristles are much too hard, almost as hard as pig hair and do not retain water. Then I have one from Vielong from Spain with badger hair, these are very poorly made because they lose a lot of hair and are still quite pricey, I think the best badger hair brush is the one from the Dovo brand from Solingen Germany, price-quality wise.
Mühle Olive Wood Silvertip Badger Hair Handmade in Germany 🇩🇪 £122 worth every penny! Preston your English so why do you always say prices in Dollars? Also Dollars come in American, Australian, Canadian & New Zealand which have different values! Don't betray your heritage your British (English) so say in £'s please, thank you Rupert
Luxury shaving brushes are such a comically upper-class thing to me that it's hard not to giggle. I can't even be bothered with non-electric shaving, honestly. I'd rather not spend as much time as I do getting ready in the morning just to get a slightly better shave.
@@themoderndandy713 I can see that. As someone who shaves with a safety razor I’m a little glad I only have to shave every other day and not in the morning. It’s undoubtedly a better shave but it does take time to do it right.
As a person who's used brushes for 44 years now in may shapes and forms, all that really matters is what you enjoy. I have a 8 dollar synthetic that used the most due to the feel in the hand and face. Once in awhile I'll break out the badger brush for softer shave, but they soak up the lather more than say a synthetic brush. I have a horse or boar brush with lots of loft for using in a deep mug when shaving with Williams and using my grandfathers razor and mug. Just need to soak the natural hair brushes for a few minutes before using to get the most out of them for a soft feel on the face.
I really enjoyed this video as its near and dear to my daily activity of shaving with a classic DE razor. Thanks for sharing!
Badger hair that's cruel to badger's.😑
Exactly!
A Lada gets you from point A to B just as a Lamborghini does!
It's always a question of choice and budget but the essential task still gets done!
@@repentbeforeitstoolate..8239I’m pretty sure my 30 dollar best badger brush is synthetic. A lot of companies won’t even use real badger anymore
It is like the blade on a DE razor, the one that likes me it is maybe the worst for your face, or like the wine, if you like a 25 dollar bottle more than a 200 dlls bottle it is ok right?. Cheers.
I have synthetic Simpson brush and it’s amazing. Super soft, doesn’t shed and retains lots of water. Plus it has timeless ivory style handle.
omg is between best brushes in the world , congrats man ; it's a great model
I'm a novice with a brush and soap, but I like my Simpson Trafalgar T3 and Prorasso soap.
Great brush!
Very informative Preston, great job! It is encouraging there is somewhat of a revival in traditional shaving methods.
I use a Taylors of old Bond street silver tip shaving brush with their shaving creams.A start for the day.
What a lot of people don't know, when dealing especially with badger hair brushes, while there are different grades of badger hair, most times the knots are produced in China where all the badger hair originates and then placed in brand name handles through a contract with that company. What I mean by that is a $25 badger knot is sold to a company with a famous brand name in the wet shaving world and placed into a handle and sold for $150-$300. That very same $25 knot produced by the same company can be placed in a no name, or lesser known name handle and will be sold for $50. The business end of the brush is the knot and that is a brush's most important component. Many people get ripped off by big name companies who make tons of money off of wet shavers who think they are actually getting something better when they're not. That is a fact.
I recently moved from an expensive Golddachs badger brush via a short excursion to synthetics (dreadful plastic stuff) on to cheap Omega boar brushes. The boar brushes are just better once they are broken in a bit.
@@wayneholmes637Agree 100%.
So exact same thing as people who buy soaps from fartisans. I grew up on a farm, I know how much it costs to make a soap, I can look up how much fragrances, oils and other stuff used in soaps as an additive just for smell and few quite irrelevant properties costs, I know that those overpriced soaps aren't worth even 10% of what people pay for them 🤣
I just purchased 3 YAQI Synthetic brushes from AliExpress for 70 dollars Total and they're Fantastic!
I really like Mühle’s offerings in razors and brushes
I took a vacation to London as part of my college graduation present in 1994 and I bought a very high quality shaving brush at Truefitt And Hill.
I used that brush with both shaving soaps and foaming creams every single morning since then until six months ago when I accidentally dropped it and the base cracked.
It might have still been the same in 28 more years.
I followed the care instructions and that brush was just as good and functional in 2022 as the day I bought it.
I remember it cost £125 and at that time and the exchange rate wasn't anywhere near as good as it is now so it was almost a $300 purchase for me which was a major extravagant splurge for me at that time.
But looking back that £125 purchase 28 years ago it's only cost me about $10.75 per year.
This is a perfect example of why you should always buy the best you can afford because over time I got to experience a very luxurious lather every day plus it reminded me from time to time of the wonderful trips I've had to London.
I thing taking this approach in both apparel and accessories is the right way to go and luckily I learned this from my father and grandfather.
It may have a warranty!
I like my synthetic "silvertip fiber" from Mühle ~60$.
Has backbone and is supersoft, holds a little less water than a good badger but it dries very fast after using. I think it didn't loose more than 1, 2 fibers in 5 years and look like new 👍
By the way i like to foam up directly in the face... 😊
I stopped using silvertip badger when I became aware of the cruel Chinese harvesting practices. I find the Muhle synthetic version performs far better as well as giving me peace of mind.
@@glennet9613 you're right.. that's also a bonus👍
Same here. Animal torture cannot be tolerated. I have two Silvertip Fibers, a thick one and the travel version and they both work perfectly.
I just got probably the same model.
Glad to hear it holds up over a long time :D
While animal welfare wasn't my main focus when I bought it, I heard that some even prefer synthetic ones.
Sad to hear a lot of them are from China, where animal right aren't that strong. (But even Europe still has some problems with proper animal handling when it's about hair or pelts.)
But "Ivory handles" really left a bad taste in my mouth when I saw them in the video. I just hope those are all "legacy" ones that got recycled, but there are people out there that want new ones for sure. Like, it's not something you display for everyone to see & there are so many non-extinction-inducing beautiful alternatives too.
@@MrRX333 you can be sure that is just ivory colored plastic.
Could you do a video on the straight razor and everything needed to maintain them? I'd really like to learn how so i can stop buying razorblades all together. Great video!
Do a TH-cam search, thousands of shaving channels out there, hundreds of which are straight razor related.
I have a 26 mm Yaqi synthetic brush that I love. Great backbone and is super soft.
Nice video, but I feel it neglected one important accessory. I recommend buying a brush stand with any shaving brush. It gives you a place to safely store the brush and allows it to dry properly.
My first was a cheap Omega. Was good but nothing special. My second was a Muhle badger brush. I really enjoyed it. But nothing beats my Simpson best badger brush.
I've been using a Simpson Duke 3 Synthetic since it's the best compromise between a premium-quality brush and an affordable price.
It whips lather like nobody's business and will probably outlive me. After many years of use, it still looks as if I had taken it out of the box just this morning.
Honestly, you don't need any other or any more brushes than that one Simpson. Yes, the initial price is quite steep for a synthetic bristle with a faux ivory handle, but it will just last for your entire life unless you lose it.
You’re not fooling us Preston. We know Sven and Kyle use electric razors.
Some of the team enjoy electric, some enjoy traditional, and there are combinations of both methods. It's all about what works best for you!
😂😂
@@gentlemansgazettewhy does it seem you're only covering traditional shaving then? Is electric not enough "gentlemanish" for you
@@11DAVIDELEVENElectric shaving is much more straightforward. I don’t think they really need to cover it the way they would for other methods.
Your beard looks terrific ! Personally, I'm loving shaving again after going bearded for 12 years - now I rock a moustache and grow, trim and play with several moustache and goatee variations... and I shave with my dad's old 1960's double edge...it does a perfect job, feels great and is an excellent challenge to edge the whiskers, that I quite enjoy. As a retiree, not having to rush to get groomed is a pleasure, and shaving is one of those things that can be thoroughly enjoyed, with the right gear and a cheerful attitude. Keep up the great videos! They always make me feel good.
I don’t know what they were made of but they had Made in England inscribed on them. My dad was a bit of a dandy so I’m sure they were top of the line. He was very dark & had a mustache all my grown life. Shaving was important. Used Noxema & a regular two sided razor.
Been a fan of the synthetic shave brushes from Phoenix shaving accouterments. Silky feel, holds lather long enough for a 2nd pass without sitting in the shave bowl.
I have just recently purchased a badger-hair brush after using boar-hair for many years. The difference with feel on my face was remarkable! The badger produced a softer, more luxurious lather.The brand I purchased was Vulfix, part of the Simpson brand, well-respected company based in England.
A real man would go out into the forest, grab the nearest badger, rub some soap on it then wipe the badger around his face. Same goes for boar and horse but they are a little harder to lift up and rub your face with.
I bought a Kent shaving brush with pure English badger hair back in 06 for $30. I used it daily for over a decade before growing my beard out. Now its used every few weeks when I shape my beard. It has produced a quality shave and a fine lather all these years. It is only in the last few months that some of the bristles have started to come loose, however that has seemed to stop. I am sure its not the best shave it could be but for the price the quality far and a way more than one would expect. Highly recommend all Kent beard care products.
What serendipitous timing! Mine broke this morning 😂
Whoops! Hopefully, you found a good replacement?
I have two silver-tipped Badger brushes. At home, I have a Kent and for the road I have one purchased on sale a West Coast Shaving. The Kent is slightly superior in feel and performance, but given the difference in cost, the WCS brush is a deal. I tried boar, which I found too stiff, and was underwhelmed by synthetic brushes. I have never tried lower grades of badger. I do both bowl (scuttle) lathering and face lathering, depending on how much time that I have. It is all good.
Great that you're getting into shaving/grooming. You guys should do a video on quality double edge razors.
This channel must be run by mindreaders, because they always manage to upload a video of something I was seeking help with.
As a shaving brush collector i could gladly help you out
I have a number of really expensive brushes and prefer my regular 26 mm boar. If you are having issues with your boar, it might be because it isn't broken in.
Pro tip- In order to break in a brush, use a hair brush on. That can save about 3 months of break in time.
Very true! I have a Omega boar that was nothing special but after a few years of use it's pretty great now.
@@gregmccormack5709 I have omega boar that went from useless straw that scrapes my face to amazing, soft brush in 3 days of soaking in salty water and drying it off by forcefully rubbing into a towel with some minimal splaying every 24 hours. Didn't notice it improving beyond that and I don't really care for it to get any "better", people who use boar brushes from the get go are some sort of masochists.
The Yaqi 26mm mysterious space synthetic will be the best brush you will ever use, it is a lather monster.
I use a two tone acrylic handle black and white synthetic shaving brush from Fendrihan. At 18.50 CDN, that brush with a tube of proraso is perfect. Never sheds, cheap enough to keep one at the gym. I have had Simpson, and plisson, and I can't say they were better.😊
I had to re-glue mine with gorilla glue and it is working all right. I need to figure out where to get a good brush. Thanks for the video!!!
Thank you Mr. Preston. I needed this information.
Local water quality can come into play when selecting a brush. Where I live, we have very hard water. This stiffens natural bristles, so you get broken bristles no matter the quality of the brush or how thoroughly you wash them. I need to use synthetic bristles for this reason, but the quality is so high that I don't mind.
Simpson Chubby Best. It’s unreal and I love it.
I wish I watched this 2 hours ago. I just paid $50 for a pure badger brush from Muhle because of the nice handle design and good reviews. Hopefully, I wasn't ripped off. Maybe I'll try to find something with better quality fur.
Stubble looks alot better on Preston, better than a babyface.
shave with any bar soap? cut the bar soap up put in a mug, cover the soap with a small amount of water, microwave for a minute or so? if it Foam up stop. let cool you just went it to congeal'
place in the sun, until soap hardens Larry
Got a Omega 10098 Boar, quite affordable. Soak it up to 15 minutes, it becomes very soft. Easy lather. But it takes time to dry.
Thanks. I’ve had good luck with cheaper brushes that I receive for Christmas. I did get one that smelled very much like roadkill.
6:42 - why are you showing a painted boar brush and calling it a badger?
My personal preference in brushes is Semogue 1800 or similar (e.g. 1305).
Pardon me, but I was wondering if anyone could please point me in the direction of a decent channel in the same style as this lovely one, but for ladies instead? I seem to be having a difficult time locating a timeless style and etiquette ladies channel that isn't a history bounding vlogtuber. Not that I have an issue with them, just not what I'm looking for.
Exactly what I was thinking about looking up! Perfect!
In the United States, we're quite spoiled to have many artisan brushmakers in the country. There are some on the very expensive side like Wolf Whiskers and Declaration Grooming, and some on the more affordable side like Phoenix Shaving. Which one you choose to buy from depends on your style and your budget. If you like badger hair brushes and have lots of money, Wolf Whiskers or Delcaration Grooming might be more your speed. But, if you're broke or thrifty and like synthetic brushes, Phoenix Shaving is definitely the way to go. Qualith synthetic shaving brushes for a very fine price.
Well guys I just love this channel.
I've wondered why the foaming brushes have gone to all the bristles in one sheathe or collar? It seems they used to be several small bunches of bristles each coming out of the main handle which I thought makes the brush stronger and maybe keeps more moisture from setting in the handle area of the brush🤔...I wonder.
The Yaqi synthetic ones are absurdly good for the price. I've rejected other badgers and boar brushes after getting the 30mm.
While I highly appreciate these types of videos, could you do more videos on the history of menswear. Such as where the sweater came about, or how Beau Brummell’s suits became the modern suit.
I like the tale of the Irish Knit sweater. Every cable knit was for a different clan. That’s how the fishermen could ID the bodies if they washed up. The sweater design
The huge influence of horse riding on British menswear is a fascinating and weird subject.
We've got you covered! Find out about Beau Brummell here: www.gentlemansgazette.com/beau-brummell-the-original/? and sweaters here: www.gentlemansgazette.com/the-sweater-guide/?
Kilroy was here (can you do another episode on razor blades?)
Tried several natural fiber brushes and they always have this very distinct smell. Tried synthetic from Mühle and never looked back. It's not cheap but superior in every aspect for me.
Another interesting topic. Thank you for the education. I did not know all this information, never thought about the deep things of shaving, even though i am a lady, I like this channel to learn more about mens things. I still have my fathers brush.
wait but u r a girl, y would u be interested in guys' stuff tho?
@jake9854 learning about different things is what I like to do, that's all.
I now prefer the 'Synthetic' brushes over the more expensive Badger products.
I prefer not rubbing plastic in my face so I'll stick to boar.
@templeofdelusion I understand. The one I have (Simpson Chubby 2 ) is very soft, and in some ways outperforms my more expensive Badger.
6:20 I own that exact brush and its hot garbage. Holds too much water so every time you go to lather it just sucks the water up like a sponge and you spend half the time wringing it out.
This was a good video. Thanks!! 😀
How can we find out how the hairs are bound and how that binding is attached to the handle if buying online? Does Fort Belvedere have a haberdashery section for shaving products?
Retailers of high-quality brushes will be pleased to inform you of how the bristles are bound - after all, it helps justify the price! No Fort Belvedere shaving section just yet, but watch this space! 😉
@@gentlemansgazette Thank you! I shall.
I'm looking forward to a video on the different shapes of bristles (bulb, fan, etc.)
For mi the best brand for shaving products especially for shaving brushes is Mühle in Germany!
I have three diferent sets with doubles cromeholders. All with silvertip badger. This is for mi the best material for a brush. It makes more spoon with more volume and give you a wonderful massage in your face. For me is this every morning like a soothing treatment for face and skin.
My favourite set is the Purist line with silvertip and karolina masur birch. The wood has a dreamlike grain, which alone is a real delight to look at. And the handling is perfect. The sets are combined with safety razors/close comb.
I am very interesting in your next video about this very interesting theme.
Best wishes from the 🎄🏝🎅🏼.
Michael
Am I the only one who shaves at night before bed?
I prefer that as well currently
can i use this to make matcha
I have no idea who made my brass set or when. It was my dads my grand dads and great grand dads. The engraving has been worn off
What an education! Thanks GG.
I own several boar and badger brushes, as well as synthetic ones, and I use and rotate them daily. Wet shaving is a hobby for me. That being said, I cannot agree with Omega brushes being labelled as "cheap" and having an X mark next to them. While not costly (here in Poland some of them cost the equivalent of $10), they are, in my opinion, very well made. The boar bristle is enjoyable when I'm in the mood for a more exfoliating, energising shave, the handles are made of nice wood, and the solid backbone allows them to age gracefully.
Other than that I enjoyed your video immensely, as always. I do hope theres more wet shaving vids to come!
P.S.: I do recommend the brands: Omega, Mühle, Kent, Edwin Jagger, and Simpson for your brush brands video!
Do agree with you about omega they make some good brushes but they do make some bad ones.
@@antonyfernandez9536 that's the point, you can't just put them all into one "bad" category. Then again, maybe it's some of my nostalgia speaking, as they were the first ones I got when I first started
@@dorekborek I got a beautiful super badger from omega has the worse backbone of any brush I’ve come across. I have a cheap mixed hair brush from Italy and it’s better than any other brush I own, I just rotate between my Extro Cosmesi mixed and alpha rubber set with a g4 knot.
I love my Mühle silvertip synthetic ~60$....backbone, soft and dries very fast
I mostly foam up directly in the face😊
@@andreaspeters3773 I usually use a combination strategy, especially with English cremes that come hard in a round tub: I take some on my finger and rub it onto my face with my hands and then I also load some up onto my brush and proceed to lather on my face normally. Works beautifully with my Kent Infinity SilverTex
I used a cheap shaving brush and it broke within a couple of days. The brush became detached from the handle once a little water got on the adhesive. I barely got three shaves out of it. Now I guess I have to invest in a more expensive one.
I'd be super interested to know your takes on the Stirling Soap Company's products for shaving?!??! Mainly, because it is made here in America (I think), and seems like an interesting option.
Semogue brushes from Portugal FTW
Video starts at 5:00
Thanks for that
Like most things in life... get the highest quality you can afford. Shop around.... there is so much to choose from now that it is well worth your time to research. Over all... I believe you can get yourself a very good shaving brush for around $50-75 ... take care of it and it will last you a very long time.
Preston, perhaps you can answer a question re: shaving brushes and shaving oil. I have read that the two do not mix and that one should only use a water soluble pre-shave, if cream or soap is to be applied with a brush. Is this the truth or an urban legend? Thanks, Bruce
It is my understanding that the issue with oils and brushes is that the oil can soak into the hairs and make them stiff, greasy, or otherwise compromise their functionality.
So, I would definitely avoid applying beard oils directly to a brush, especially one with natural bristles. In my experience, however, if you apply the oil to your beard directly and give it sufficient time to soak in, I do not think that you need to worry about oils transferring from your beard hairs onto the brush bristles sufficiently to potentially damage the brush.
@@ebdaniels8774 TY
Great info!
I've tried almost all types of brushes (boar, badger and synthetic), except horse and I find synthetics to be much better compared to anything else and they are in general quite inexpensive. The other reason why I would never buy an expensive brush even if it's synthetic, is because some of my most used synthetic brushes have developed the so called ''donut hole'' in the middle and while the brushes are technically usable, they look hideous and I wouldn't want that to happen on an expensive brush. For me, shaving brushes are not something that is ment to last decades of extensive usage, although it's not uncommon for some folks to use 1 or a few brushes for many years without any issues. Razor on other hand are entirely different story for me. I have a passion for razors and I can spend a few hundreds on a razor without thinking too much, since that razor will easily outlive me and I can always sell it and get some, most or in some cases even more than what I've paid.
4:26 thought that was Felix!
Do you recommend Proraso's boar hair brush?
I would love to buy the Shaver do you sell sets or each individually
I love the channel, and the videos/topics, but I wish the background music/drumming would stop after the intro. It can get a little annoying after a time.
After doing some research and seeing how thousands of badgers are killed in China for the hair (it's not a farm animal and can't be raised like sheep for example) I will never buy another badger brush again. Synthetic is the same quality or better so I'll stick with that.
Also, I wish you lads would give us the brushes you guys ACTUALLY use, if you use them. As in, it would be great to have a recommendation of a few companies that you recommend? I bought a Stirling Soap Company Silver Tip Badger, but I am not sure how good it is....
I like bearded Preston :)
Very nice shirt. What brand and/or where can I purchase it/similar?
The 30 dollar bevel brush from target is really all you need. I’m sure there’s better ones but to each their own.
2:35 - didn't the introduction of self-foaming shaving creams kind of eliminate the need for the brush? I shave with a classic safety razor, but don't use the brush and don't really undertand why it's necessary. TBH, most of the "advantages" of the shaving brush named in the video, are subjective.
a brush can hold lather for 3-4 passes, sure your hand can do the same, but it's not nearly as convenient.
I really like my Vikings Blade Dark Stallion ($40-$45)
My two cents I’ve had high end badger brushes which are garbage, as well as synthetic and boar brushes. Mixed badger and boar brushes are excellent but not very common.
Badger brushes are cruel.😑
Greetings, I am a mens formal wear/smart casual neophyte, I have just recently got into menswear clothing because of self-beautification and for the sake of my liking and contentment however I quickly ran into a problem, Sven always preaches to purchase high-quality clothing as they last longer however I am quite young and still physically growing, should I still abide by that principle? Or should I await to fully grow then start investing?
Hi Azar, thank you for your support! As our bodies do grow and change with time, there's never really one set time when you'll "stop" growing. Dress for the body you have now, as high-quality clothing lends itself to being altered easier than low-quality alternatives.
I've shaved all of my life and I've never used a brush.
I don't think that elephant ivory is available for handles anymore.
1:00 the most horrific technique i saw for straight razor
Thanks.
Semogue 1305. Twenty bucks.
Looks like little boy Preston grew up
How about, what's the least expensive thing that still works decently?
I use natural oils when I shave so this video isn't for me but I will leave a 👍 a comment and a view for you, especially because I don't want to miss any of Preston's Puns
Thank you for your support! You have a shaving routine that works for you, and we're pleased to have you here even if it is just for the entertainment factor! 😄🙌
Man, keep your beard!!!! It looks a lot better
Preston is so handsome.
You've got to figure what works for you. The brushes do many great things for the skin, in addition to lathering.
I've had fancier brushes and even a "vegan" brush but find an Italian Omega brand hog bristle brush works best for me.
Your hair doesn’t look bad with no product in it
Do people even use brushes anymore?
I don't think synthetic brushes are worth anything. I have one made of musco real or Claus porto from Portugal, very nice handle but the bristles are much too hard, almost as hard as pig hair and do not retain water. Then I have one from Vielong from Spain with badger hair, these are very poorly made because they lose a lot of hair and are still quite pricey, I think the best badger hair brush is the one from the Dovo brand from Solingen Germany, price-quality wise.
using your hand is favoured by many high quality shaving venues for feeling
Mine one brush costs only 200 rs in India🇮🇳 🐯🦁
Mühle Olive Wood Silvertip Badger Hair Handmade in Germany 🇩🇪 £122 worth every penny!
Preston your English so why do you always say prices in Dollars? Also Dollars come in American, Australian, Canadian & New Zealand which have different values! Don't betray your heritage your British (English) so say in £'s please, thank you Rupert
Can bet it was made in china and is sold in exact same form just without branding for $12 on amazon 🤣
Don’t buy the high end brunch from The Art of Shaving. I had two of them fall apart on me.
It’s hard to take anyone seriously who says Darby when it’s spelled derby
Me seeing them label a brush I'd consider super expensive as cheap:
👁️👄👁️
Luxury shaving brushes are such a comically upper-class thing to me that it's hard not to giggle. I can't even be bothered with non-electric shaving, honestly. I'd rather not spend as much time as I do getting ready in the morning just to get a slightly better shave.
@@themoderndandy713 I can see that. As someone who shaves with a safety razor I’m a little glad I only have to shave every other day and not in the morning. It’s undoubtedly a better shave but it does take time to do it right.
Handmade in Germany 🇩🇪 don't be jealous 🤢