Synthetic Brush Poll

[Mendel]

For those of you that have embraced synthetic shaving brushes, what's your favorite?

[haiku44]

Had to vote for parker. Their synthetic brush is soft and fantastic in the tips but has almost as much backbone as my semogue 830. I tried the omega 346235 synthetic and it was way to floppy for me.

But I have always preferred boar brushes to badgers, so I shouldn't be taken to seriously. haha.

[LeGaulois]

Men-u or TOBS

[Brandon P K]

Muhle Silvertip Fibre

[Perished]

No one voting 'Jack Black'? That's the next brush on my shopping list...

[Codfish]

MÜHLE Silvertip Fibres and Black Fibres.

[David in Boston]

Muhle Silvertip Fibre

+1

Sometimes I think it is a badger brush.

It's that good.

[itsmedave]

I want to try one of the Parker Brushes. That's one of the only ones I haven't tried. Thus far, my Muhle 21mm brush is one of the best brushes I've ever owned and the 23mm I own isn't far behind.

[kiwimike]

Muhle silvertip fibre

[mftoms59]

I've tried two, a TGN/Vulfix White Nylon and a Muhle Black Fibre, The White Nylon was very soft, splayed too easily and was a bit floppy but Loaded hard soaps easily and built lather quickly. The Black Fibre is less Floppy with more spring and holds its shape better, it loads any soap including Triple-Milled easily and builds rich lathers quickly. The Black Fibre has quickly become one of my favorite Brushes, I would like to see this offered in a loft in the neighborhood of 40-44mm since it is a bit too long for efficient Face Lathering Duty.

[syngent]

the only one i have ever used is the body shop one the coating on the wood wears and discolours but the tips are soft and works great for a travel brush as i would think all synth's do as they dry very quickly but the bristles are so strong and stiff (which works great on hard soap pucks) but it doesnt allow for holding a lot of lather but it has given me lots of great shaves only one i have used as far as synthetic brushes go so i cant compair to others

[Egmont]

I didn't vote since I have only tried a small Omega of the newer vintage. I intend to spring for a new Muehle silvertip fibre next year--after purchase sabatical. I do like the Omega though, works well on soaps and creams and good for travel.

[Touchy]

No one voting 'Jack Black'? That's the next brush on my shopping list...

Haven't used one but did 'sample' one in a Sephora store. Very soft - a reqm'nt for my skin. Their return policy is very generous - don't like it, send it back! It's on my SBAD list! Anyone compare it to other newer syns?

[Sonofaboyd]

I don't think I can vote lol, I only have one and it's a Parker, it's pretty decent and really soft. I am getting a bit of shedding tho... Is that normal?

[nEver-Ready]

Have a Body Shop, and Omega, a Vulfix, and a Frank Shaving. The FS is the winner by a wide margin.

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[Rufust445]

Synthetic 23mm knot from TGN in my father's Surrey (VDH) handle. The knot looks VERY much like the FS one in nEver-Ready's photos. It also feels and performs like the synthetic badgers mentioned in various threads on this forum.

I use it mostly for travel, and it has handled most creams and soaps quite well. One exception yesterday was face lathering with a Wilkinson Sword stick. The brush held more water than I thought and didn't give it enough of a shake, plus the backbone is marginal for face lathering. It was a struggle with runny lather running down my face, but in using a bowl for some of the lathering I managed to come up with a workable lather a bit on the thin side. Glide was excellent, however, and the shave DFS to near-BBS.

That said, I've been on a learning curve with face lathering (not my favorite method) this Wilkinson stick for several shaves now.

Only other synthetic brush I've tried is an Omega Syntex, which is on emergency reserve status.

[haiku44]

I don't think I can vote lol, I only have one and it's a Parker, it's pretty decent and really soft. I am getting a bit of shedding tho... Is that normal?

My parker only lost one hair the first time I used it. Hasn't lost one since.

[Smoothy]

Have tried a few synthetic brushes but Mühle’s Silver Tip Fibre is by far my favourite. Am not using any other brushes, in fact.

[vpayne]

All I know about synthetics is that I bought a Men-U Premier and would not recommend it. I used it once. I will eventually sell or trade it.
Vic

[duotone]

I have had my Men-U brush for around 3 or 4 years and still use it at least once a week for face lathering. it's shed a good few hairs over the years but still is pretty dense and works fine. Not bad for £9.

[praiano]

I'm looking for advice on the Muehle Silvertip Fibre. What determines whether I buy a 12/21/or 23mm? Does the shorter length mean more density/stiffness in the fibers?

[mblakele]

Knot diameter is the diameter at the base of the knot, either before fitting or sometimes measured where it emerges from the handle. The loft is the height of the hair (or in this case fibres) above the handle.

http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/mu33k257sbr.html shows 23-mm knot diameter, 56-mm loft.

http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/muhle31k257.html shows 21-mm knot diameter, 52-mm loft.

I have only tried the 23-mm knot, but I found it could hold 3-4 passes worth of lather. The 21-mm should feel smaller on the face and has a smaller volume of fibres. It might not be as suitable for a face-latherer who does 4 passes, but for 3 passes I think it would still be fine. The 21-mm also has a slightly higher loft to base ratio, so it might feel a bit stiffer than the 23-mm. But the only way to know for certain is to try them both.

[praiano]

Thanks for the clarity. I have a 21mm on order.

[Touchy]

Have a Body Shop, and Omega, a Vulfix, and a Frank Shaving. The FS is the winner by a wide margin.

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Where do you find the FS brushes? Haven't seen this brand in my short time with the DE and the ADs that go with it (them)! I'm still interested in the JB but am open to suggestions of anything really soft. My face can't handle a Vulfix 2235Super if that tells you anything.

[itsmedave]

You can find the FS brushes at starshaving.com. The FS brushes are much softer than the Muhles.

[HornHiYo]

How floppy is the Muhle? Would the backbone be comparable to the TGN 24 Finest/Best shortfloft? (I think 54mm)

So tempted...

[Beezerpuppy]

The Muhle Silver Tip Fibre is the best I've tried, followed by the Muhle Black Fibre. They're my go-to brushes.