• "Poor Man's" Brushes: A Guide to 5 Good Cheap Brushes

    So far, I've been content with my small den of brushes. However, I've been getting tickled by SBAD and have my eyes on some Simpsons, Shavemacs, and Rooney's. Before I jump the boat on some fancy brushes I want to make a few recommendations on some good brushes that are under $20.
    Here's the lineup:


    Omega 11047 Mixed Boar/Badger. A/K/A "Mighty Midget"
    This is my favorite of the batch. A bit bigger than the Wee Scot but still small. Great scrubby and light scritchy feel. Good backbone and versatile with creams.
    Pros: Versatile
    Cons: Getting the boar/badger funk out isn't pretty, small
    http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Omeg...ush_p_797.html

    Omega Boar 10777
    A little smaller than it's brothers (48,49). It's what you expect from an Omega boar. Breaks-in nicely and gives way to a nice scrubby comfortable brush.
    Pros: Great backbone, steady break-in, great with soaps
    Cons: This particular model has a very light plastic handle
    http://connaughtshaving.com/10777.html

    Turkish #6 Horse
    The famous (or infamous?) brush is great in any stable. Quality has gotten a little better over the years and it's the best brush for under $5.
    Pros: Good backbone, big bulb shape for spreading the meanest of lathers. Great for shave sticks.
    Cons: Construction can be shoddy, not consistent enough. If you want to sample horse, this feels more like boar.
    http://shop.bestshave.net/wooden-han...-no6-p-67.html

    Van Der Hagen Badger
    These are popping up in a lot of Targets. Good size, not too scritchy, whips up a big lather with whatever cream you throw at it.
    Pros: If you have to choose between a Tweezerman or this, choose the VDH. Nice handle.
    Cons: Can be too floppy and suffers from "hair loss" from time to time. Badger funk took a while to remove.

    Vie-Long Cachurro (04312)
    Nice, big soft brush. When I'm in the mood for huge messy lather, this is my choice. If you're curious about a quality horse brush, this is a good way to sample one.
    Pros: Soft. Creates tons of lather, great for soft creams and soap sticks.
    Cons: A bit floppy for some's taste. The metal on the handle can break mugs/scuttles if not cautious.
    http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/vica0prhohab.html
    This article was originally published in forum thread: "Poor Man's" Brushes: A Guide to 5 Good Cheap Brushes started by Krona Kruiser View original post