OK, nothing scientific here, don't know how a scientific test could be conducted. These are my impressions only. It may read like a hatchet job, but I assure you that was not my intent. My intent was to get some "feel" for what folks on this forum refer to when discussing Badger quality and grading and to compare those to a decent Boar brush. After the test concluded I realized that this was actually more about bristle quality and comparison in the brushes than anything else.
VDH Deluxe was used for all the lathers, and I face lather so the test face was my own. I didn't test these brushes for bowl lathering- I don't do it and I wasn't interested in that. It takes me a few minutes to build face lather, and that's exactly what I want, I didn't scrimp on the time required to face lather for these tests, each brush got a fair shake.
These are the brushes.
From right to left, Simpson Special Best badger, Special Pure, and Semogue 1438 boar, forget the VDH to the left for now (we'll come back to it).
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So tonight I built lather with all 3 brushes side by side, one after the other. I've used both the 1438 and Pure badger previously, the 1438 once and the Pure a number of times. For the Best badger, this was the first time on the face. Previously I built a test hand lather to clean it (and do a sniff test- this too was another badger that showered regularly it seems) earlier in the day.
First up was the Simpson Special Best badger - the new today brush and the most expensive of the lot. It held water great, but as is my method I got rid of most of it, just what the bristles could hold after a heavy shake. Loaded the brush, then began building the lather. Dipped brush tips as I always do to hydrate the lather as required. Very soft brush, great lather. I could have developed the lather and gotten more, but I had enough for my normal shaving routine as it was, so I stopped. Very comfortable brush, soft to my skin, great quality lather, and plenty of it, could have gotten more, but I didn't since I saw what the brush could do. This brush is easily a keeper. I like it a lot. I'd easily buy another.
Next was the Special Pure. Same routine with a wiped off face. The brush was noticeably scratchy. Built lather great though, no noticeable difference in lather quantity or quality to the Best badger. But my face definitely felt the scatchyness, and it's like leather. My lower face was definitely exfoliated after using this brush. At the end of all the tests I used this brush to exfoliate and wash my forehead, nose, etc. . It was great for that and plenty of lather remained in the brush for it. OK, now a bowl latherer might find this brush great since the brush is in the bowl for most of the time and the brush is used to spread the lather. Much less face time for a bowl latherer with this brush. I'm a face latherer, and I will never need another Pure badger.
Next up was the 1438 boar. Same procedure for building the lather. This brush was noticeably easier on the skin than the Pure Badger. Just as easy to build lather as either of the badgers, and the lather quality was there as well. I saw no difference in quality or quantity of lather. This brush is new, I can't imagine what it'll be like in a month. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
I don't plan on getting rid of any of these brushes, maybe I'll revisit this post in a month or 2 and update it after the boar breaks in, if it does break in (frankly I don't know if it needs it). It's a pretty nice brush right now, as is.
With my method of building lather all of the brushes work the same... relatively dry brush and dip tips to hydrate the lather as it's built on the skin, so for that it really makes no difference if the lather comes from Boar bristles or Badger. But I'll still be keeping and using the 2 brushes I rate top for me, and I'll use them both, frequently.
BTW, time to get back to the VDH Boar. It's softer than the Special Pure brush. I kid you not. I'm 3 full months into using that brush so maybe that makes a difference, but I don't remember any scratchy quality to the brush ever. The Pure Badger is just plain scratchy and my face is like leather. There are times when I'm going to want that, but not every day. BTW, right now, an hour later, my cheeks are still feeling the effects of the Pure brush.
Of the four brushes, the lowest quality as felt by my skin, is the Simpson Special Pure. I know this is heresy, but it's just plain scratchy and I'm not terribly sensitive to that. Can the Pure be used? Of course. It does make a great lather, but it won't be my everyday brush. Would I buy another? No, I face lather. The 1438 is a better brush for much less $ and does the same job while being easier on the skin. Would Pure Badger work for a bowl latherer? Absolutely.
I'll probably retire the VDH and keep the 3 new brushes out, using the Simpson Special Best Badger and the Semogue 1438 most often, maybe using the Best badger once a week or so to invigorate the skin.
VDH Deluxe was used for all the lathers, and I face lather so the test face was my own. I didn't test these brushes for bowl lathering- I don't do it and I wasn't interested in that. It takes me a few minutes to build face lather, and that's exactly what I want, I didn't scrimp on the time required to face lather for these tests, each brush got a fair shake.
These are the brushes.
From right to left, Simpson Special Best badger, Special Pure, and Semogue 1438 boar, forget the VDH to the left for now (we'll come back to it).
So tonight I built lather with all 3 brushes side by side, one after the other. I've used both the 1438 and Pure badger previously, the 1438 once and the Pure a number of times. For the Best badger, this was the first time on the face. Previously I built a test hand lather to clean it (and do a sniff test- this too was another badger that showered regularly it seems) earlier in the day.
First up was the Simpson Special Best badger - the new today brush and the most expensive of the lot. It held water great, but as is my method I got rid of most of it, just what the bristles could hold after a heavy shake. Loaded the brush, then began building the lather. Dipped brush tips as I always do to hydrate the lather as required. Very soft brush, great lather. I could have developed the lather and gotten more, but I had enough for my normal shaving routine as it was, so I stopped. Very comfortable brush, soft to my skin, great quality lather, and plenty of it, could have gotten more, but I didn't since I saw what the brush could do. This brush is easily a keeper. I like it a lot. I'd easily buy another.
Next was the Special Pure. Same routine with a wiped off face. The brush was noticeably scratchy. Built lather great though, no noticeable difference in lather quantity or quality to the Best badger. But my face definitely felt the scatchyness, and it's like leather. My lower face was definitely exfoliated after using this brush. At the end of all the tests I used this brush to exfoliate and wash my forehead, nose, etc. . It was great for that and plenty of lather remained in the brush for it. OK, now a bowl latherer might find this brush great since the brush is in the bowl for most of the time and the brush is used to spread the lather. Much less face time for a bowl latherer with this brush. I'm a face latherer, and I will never need another Pure badger.
Next up was the 1438 boar. Same procedure for building the lather. This brush was noticeably easier on the skin than the Pure Badger. Just as easy to build lather as either of the badgers, and the lather quality was there as well. I saw no difference in quality or quantity of lather. This brush is new, I can't imagine what it'll be like in a month. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
I don't plan on getting rid of any of these brushes, maybe I'll revisit this post in a month or 2 and update it after the boar breaks in, if it does break in (frankly I don't know if it needs it). It's a pretty nice brush right now, as is.
With my method of building lather all of the brushes work the same... relatively dry brush and dip tips to hydrate the lather as it's built on the skin, so for that it really makes no difference if the lather comes from Boar bristles or Badger. But I'll still be keeping and using the 2 brushes I rate top for me, and I'll use them both, frequently.
BTW, time to get back to the VDH Boar. It's softer than the Special Pure brush. I kid you not. I'm 3 full months into using that brush so maybe that makes a difference, but I don't remember any scratchy quality to the brush ever. The Pure Badger is just plain scratchy and my face is like leather. There are times when I'm going to want that, but not every day. BTW, right now, an hour later, my cheeks are still feeling the effects of the Pure brush.
Of the four brushes, the lowest quality as felt by my skin, is the Simpson Special Pure. I know this is heresy, but it's just plain scratchy and I'm not terribly sensitive to that. Can the Pure be used? Of course. It does make a great lather, but it won't be my everyday brush. Would I buy another? No, I face lather. The 1438 is a better brush for much less $ and does the same job while being easier on the skin. Would Pure Badger work for a bowl latherer? Absolutely.
I'll probably retire the VDH and keep the 3 new brushes out, using the Simpson Special Best Badger and the Semogue 1438 most often, maybe using the Best badger once a week or so to invigorate the skin.
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Your tread convinced me to restrain my curiosity. 
