cartridge with badger brush?

**bp944** · 10-30-2010, 05:45 PM

A friend was wondering if he could get a better shave with a normal cartridge razer but use a badger brush and soaps? I told him yes but I wasn't sure. Any opinions?

**Loric** · 10-30-2010, 05:48 PM

This works just fine. I did it for quite a while before making the switch to full time DE use. A good cream or soap will beat caned goo any day. Honestly I enjoy the feel of a nice big luxurious brush as much as I do the DE part of the equation. It alone is 90% of why I face lather.

**TMH478** · 10-30-2010, 05:53 PM

I still do it too. I use both my DE and cartridge. My cartridge is hanging out for the days that I am incredibly short on time. I get a MUCH closer shave with my DE, that's for sure. The brush makes it pleasant regardless of which way you choose!

**beginish** · 10-30-2010, 06:04 PM

No question. A brush and good cream or soap will significantly improve shave quality.

**SP120K** · 10-30-2010, 06:09 PM

After I bought my badger brush and first shaving soap I was still using my Gillette Fusion and cartridges. It was another week or two before I got my Merkur razor. The brush and soap combo gave me better shaves and it helped me make up my mind about transitioning to a DE as well as the whole culture of traditional wet shaving.

I say go for it!

**john parker** · 10-30-2010, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by beginish

No question. A brush and good cream or soap will significantly improve shave quality.

The best first step!!

**Clovis Man** · 10-30-2010, 08:45 PM

Yes sir, cartridge with brush will work GREAT! I've been doing this for maybe 30 years, and just now moving back towards a DE.

**BlackBard** · 10-30-2010, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by bp944

A friend was wondering if he could get a better shave with a normal cartridge razer but use a badger brush and soaps? I told him yes but I wasn't sure. Any opinions?

As I have said many times here, proper preparation and good products and good technique are 90% of what it takes to get a good shave.

I have been shaving with soap and a badger for over 40 years, using something other than a DE. Although I started shaving with a DE, I gave it up when the Gillette Techmatic came out, then moved on to various cartridge razors until I ended up with a Mach 3 - which I still use. I get close and comfortable shaves with this set up.

I recently acquired a slim and am giving it a try to see if I want to return to DE shaving. If I find I do not get a more satisfying shave from the DE, then I will have no problems going back to the M3.

Your friend will get significant improvement by learning how to prepare and lather with good products.

**ronhackney** · 10-30-2010, 10:55 PM

I've been using a Fusion blade and badger brush the last 2 weeks. This combo works very well for my skin. I was using a Mach3 before and am delighted I made the switch to the new Fusion blade.

DE blade I like to use too, but I haven't found any DE razors that I find visually attractive. They all look a little clunky to the eye.

**Kcaps** · 10-30-2010, 11:13 PM

A brush and quality cream/soap is going to be heads above any goo out there for sure! Make sure your buddy knows that carts get dull too, so they need to be changed as soon as they are dull. When I was using carts I used each one way too long and they pulled and irritated like no other.

**brg** · 10-31-2010, 04:35 AM

A boar brush and a tube of shaving cream were what made me switch to TWS in the first place. DE razors came at least 6 months later, after finding B&B.

I was getting so much better shaves with brush+cream+carts that I threw away the last can of shaving gel

.

**Speedwell68** · 10-31-2010, 05:37 AM

Even when I used Gillette Sensors and Wilkinson Sword Quattros I used a brush and soap. TBH I have never used a canned goo in my life.

**Azza** · 10-31-2010, 05:48 AM

Brush with a cartridge razor will be miles more enjoyable than canned stuff.
Next get him into DE's at least for the first pass or two.

- Aaron

**FL shaver** · 10-31-2010, 06:19 AM

I used Trumper's, Surrey, and VDH with a Surrey and VDH boar before moving from Atra Plus carts to DE razors. I didn't know what I was doing other than saving money and saving the environment. I guess my skin was better off for it. Get him some good quality, cheap soap stick like Arko or Speick to try.

**_JP_** · 10-31-2010, 07:40 AM

I think that the best way for many to get started with more traditional wet shaving is to start with the brush first, along with a soap or cream. Learn how to lather well and then add the DE or straight razor later.

**DougK** · 10-31-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by BlackBard

As I have said many times here, proper preparation and good products and good technique are 90% of what it takes to get a good shave.

+1

Even on mornings where I use a cartridge razor instead of a DE or SE, I find that using a brush and soap significantly improves the quality and comfort of my shaves.

**proxymoron** · 10-31-2010, 08:57 AM

I think it gets overlooked a lot, but traditional wet-shaving has always been more about the brush and cream than the steel.

**mmack66** · 10-31-2010, 09:17 AM

Introducing a brush and cream/soap into the shaving process will do little for the quality of a shave if the usual "press hard" technique is still employed with the cartridge razor. Using a low to no pressure, multiple pass beard reduction technique is critical to a decent shave.

**michiganlover** · 10-31-2010, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by proxymoron

I think it gets overlooked a lot, but traditional wet-shaving has always been more about the brush and cream than the steel.

+1

Prep, technique, and using quality products is far more important than the actual instrument used to remove the whiskers.

I use a wide variety of tools (DE, Gem, Injectors, Feather Straight), but still use a Trac II/ Atra/ Sensor at least a couple of times a week.

**xjrob85** · 10-31-2010, 09:56 AM

I agree with everyone else who has said that a quality brush and soap/cream will improve the shave. This is how I got started as well.
Just make sure that when you get a brush you learn how to make a proper lather. Looking back I now realize that when I first started using a brush and soap, my lather wasn't very good at all. At that time I hadn't discovered B&B or the online tutorial videos; I was just guessing. In fact, I was several weeks into DE shaving before I really took the time to learn to make a proper lather.