Is Brush Essential?

[Tartan89]

I've been wanting to get started with DE shaving recently and finally decided to register on these forums. My first question is as the title says:

Is a brush essential to DE shaving?
What benefits does it give over a gel?

[Drubbing]

Yes.

Gel is terrible stuff - I should know, I used it for years.

A brush works up excellent lather from decent creams and soaps, it massages you beard, exfoliates, and softens up the hair. The products are also kinder to your skin.

Gel just gets pushed around your face with a brush, and wasn't designed to be used with one anyway. I don't buy the beard hydration marketing, gel always seems to just sit on top of your face and provide a poor cushion between you and the blades.

[Timmy Dee]

Roger is spot on. A good cream/soap will provide a fantastic shave and be great to your skin.

Moisturising properties are non-existent in the (commonly called) "canned goo" whereas they are in abundance in soaps and creams.

Don't use that canned garbage - be good to yourself. Plus it makes you feel more fancy :D

[jjjackso]

It really is. Much of the improvement i saw when first switching to a DE was based on the wayyyyyyy better beard preparation achieved with a brush and a proper cream. There are inexpensive and good performing brushes to he had.

[Go West Young Man]

Brush and soap/cream is much more important to your shave than whether you use a DE or a cartridge.

[Uncle Erik]

A brush helps prepare your face for shaving and it lets you use very high quality soaps instead of the canned junk.

Also important to consider is just how much fun it is to use a brush. Once you get used to using one, you will look forward to it every day.

If you're unsure about the cost, pick up an inexpensive boar brush. They work and will give you a better shave than anything in a can.

[Drubbing]

A brush helps prepare your face for shaving and it lets you use very high quality soaps instead of the canned junk.

Also important to consider is just how much fun it is to use a brush. Once you get used to using one, you will look forward to it every day.

How true. When I was smearing gel all over my face I couldn't see the point of a brush. I got a cheap boar maybe 15 years ago, but with foam/gel, all it did was add time, for 0 benefit.

Now, I really enjoy using my brush, because it does something useful, really well.

[mdunn]

I would not shave without a brush.

[Plott]

Brush and soap/cream is much more important to your shave than whether you use a DE or a cartridge.

+1.

I'd rate it like this: Brush > Soap/Cream >> DE vs cartridge.

[kooshman7]

I'm just waiting for DrP to come in and post one of his numerous pictures of his vast brush collection.

[dpmtherrien]

+1 on everything above.

Using a brush is one of the best things about wet shaving.

[cvac]

+1 get a brush.

[rvmx]

maybe I could leave DE shaving....but NEVER could let the brush lathering go..

[drburt]

Do not use that canned stuff. It is too hard on the skin.

The brush is a harder question. If I am really pressed for time I have been known to just hand rub a good cream (like Bigelow) into my face by hand. You can get an OK shave that way but it is no fun. You get a better shave and it is more fun with a brush

Burt

[Ignatius]

While I agree you should invest in a good brush or eight, I would much rather shave with a DE or straight razor and just oil and water than I would with a brush and soap and a cartridge razor. Cartridges are the worst of the developments in mass shaving for me; worse than gel or Gillettes commercials with the moronically grinning (clean shaven) scyth-stroking models.

[Whiskery]

To me it's OK to use a cartridge as long as you use a good Cream/soap and a brush.

The truly bad experience with shaving is using an alcohol based gel or cream. The Glycerin based creams with a brush make the face more "Slick" and enhances the entire shaving experience.

[gollum83]

Brush and soap/cream is much more important to your shave than whether you use a DE or a cartridge.

+1.

I'd rate it like this: Brush > Soap/Cream >> DE vs cartridge.

These gentlemen are spot-on. Yes, a brush is essential, but more so than that in conjunction with shaving soap or cream are going to improve your shave more-so than just switching to a DE razor.

[djmike523]

I'm going to play devil's advocate. . .


Today I shaved sans brush and cream/soap.

I used gel instead. x2

BUT...the stuff used is AMAZING; I recently picked up a travel size Feather shaving gel / after shave in the BST. My shave was just as smooth and my skin is perhaps more nourished and moisturized than with a good number of creams/ soaps / aftershaves I've used.

Additionally, I've used other brushless creams in the past, e.g., C&E's -now discontinued- Naturals for Men cream. It too was pretty darn good stuff.


CONCLUSION: I use a brush with soap or cream for ~95% of my shaves. But, YMMV on everything used in the shaving process. Perhaps most gels and brush-less creams are crap, but the ones mentioned above are not. Similarly, as most of us know, there are soaps and creams that aren't worth their weight in manure. Ultimately, use what you feel most comfortable with!

[michiganlover]

Wet Shaving as most of us define it requires the use of a shaving brush, and a shaving cream/ shaving soap.

All of the best quality products are designed to be used with a brush, and performance is greatly reduced if you attempt to use them without a brush: you might get an adequate shave, but it will be nothing like the superb shave you could otherwise receive.

There is really no reason to deprive yourself of the joy of using a brush: the great quality Omega #49 boar brush is available for a mere $10.

[gollum83]

Today I shaved sans brush and cream/soap.

I used gel instead. x2

How dare you!

This is Badger & Blade, emphasis on Badger, as in brush!



No, you do make a good point. There are some good brushless products out there. Can you get a good shave from them? Sure. Do most of us prefer using a brush a majority of the time? Most definitely. Ergo a brush is essential.