Vote for my next brush - which two band should I get?

**cvac** · 02-12-2012, 03:29 PM

Having tried my first two band today (a New Forest) and being suitably impressed with it, I'm thinking of adding another two-band brush to small collection from on of the big names.

Background:

I currently own the following brushes:

Semogue 2015
T&H/Rooney 1/1 Super
Thater 4125/1
New Forest 24mm 2-band faux horn

I like brushes with soft tips. I'm really not into scritchy scub brushes and have used Silvertip exclusively for the past few years. I can't use boar brushes, pure, or midgrade/best badger brushes. The NF is a teensy bit scritchy but still quite soft. Anything scritchier than that is probably going to be a deal-breaker for me.

I primarily face lather using creams, soft soaps, and hard soaps. Smaller brushes work fine for me. I don't need a big monster knot. 20-22mm works fine...anything much over 24mm would probably be too big for me.

The brushes I'm thinking about are in the poll. While I might consider something else, it's probably going to come down to one of these. As of right now, I'm leaning toward the Simpson, simply because I've never tried one and want to see what the fuss is all about. The only things that really have me leaning toward something else is my curiosity about some of the brushes and some small concerns about Simpson quality control. I'd rather not deal with getting a "shedder" or an "off" brush if I can help.

I was thinking about a Thater two-band but I'm probably ruling that out due to their customer service policies. I do enjoy my Thater very much but I don't feel very confident about buying another.

Please vote in the poll and help me pick my next brush purchase.

**Mindflux** · 02-12-2012, 03:31 PM

Soft tips? Thater. No question. :) I also have a Rooney 1/2 in Super (not 2 band) and I'd dare say the Thater is softer.

**redtide** · 02-12-2012, 03:53 PM

I would go custom. Bob Farvour makes outstanding brushes for under $70.

**Mindflux** · 02-12-2012, 03:59 PM

FWIW if you want soft I don't think the Shavemac D01 2-band is going to be a contender. I just got one in and it's got a good bit of scratch to it.

**OtherMoe** · 02-12-2012, 04:37 PM

If you currently have a Thater 2-band and like it. You will also like the Tulip 2. I have thater 2-bands in size 0 and 1, love them, but also love my Tulip 2, and 3. The tulip handles along with the Thater are definitely the most comfortable for me.

**bkfist** · 02-12-2012, 05:07 PM

Shavemac D01 is really nice, but in a 20mm I'd recommend not setting the loft too low... It has serious backbone... I'd say set it at LEAST 45-47mm in height, maybe even 50. I've got a RV custom with a D01 20mm set to about 42mm... I like a bit of scritch, but I wouldn't want it ANY shorter loft... The D01 is seriously, seriously dense. Even at the high density, it hasn't lost a hair.

Seriously, the softest tips on a 2 band I've ever felt in my life (but lots of backbone) is a 22 mm TGN 2-band in fan shape. Very dense, good backbone and ohhhhh such soft tips you wouldn't believe it... Have that set into a custom Rudy Vey handle at 45 mm... You will NOT be sorry.

**Vlad** · 02-12-2012, 05:55 PM

I voted Rooney XL. I've found D01 two-band and Simpson 2-band far too prickly for me.

**beginish** · 02-12-2012, 06:29 PM

Personally, I find the Simpson Emperor 2 in 3 band Super to be the softest brush I own.

**Intrigued** · 02-12-2012, 06:42 PM

I would vote for either of the Rooney 1XL or Rooney Hertiage Emillion size 2 Two-Band. I own a Rooney 1XL and a 2XL and love them both. They have wonderfully soft tips with great density and backbone. I also own a Simpson Emperor 3 in Two-Banded that I find a little too scrubby for my taste though my husband loves it. It is definitely a case of YMMV, but from what you have described about your preferences, I think you will be happier with a Rooney.

**Greg1911** · 02-12-2012, 07:10 PM

Emillion - It has the soft tips you're after and it is one of the best looking brushes ever made.

**cvac** · 02-12-2012, 08:00 PM

How does the Heritage XL series compare to a regular Heritage like an Emillion? Are the knots about the same density or does the XL have more hair packed in the knot?

**DC_MPA** · 02-12-2012, 08:49 PM

I'm surprised a M&F wasn't on there. Either way, a Heritage XL will blow your mind!

**insomniac** · 02-12-2012, 08:51 PM

I voted 1XL but I would seriously think about the 2XL (which I do own and love.)

**DC_MPA** · 02-12-2012, 09:03 PM

Agreed. The heritage knots are like M&F in the sense that they don't bloom much at all. A 26mm is not going to look like a typical 26mm in terms of bloom.

**TedK** · 02-13-2012, 08:37 AM

Maybe I should have voted after reading the comments.

I Used the Rooney best badger for three years now, (I love it) and I just scored a Shavemac silvertip (ooh, softer than my Rooney, cloudlike). So, I voted for a Simpsons; after reading the comments maybe I'd stick with a Rooney 2-band.

**thIs6Nly** · 02-13-2012, 08:44 AM

Click image for larger version.

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Gotta love this brush.

**Mike H** · 02-13-2012, 08:45 AM

1XL is a great brush very soft tips, the DO1 is also very soft, but a little firmer. I like the shavemac better, but reading your preferences, I think you would like the Heritage better.

**ctkelly** · 02-13-2012, 08:52 AM

Soft tips, Rooney 1XL all the way. If Lee Sabini has any of the older blonde badger hair I would look into one of those. The new blonde badger is more like the rooney finest with scritch, according to recent buyers...still waiting on my new blonde from lee.

The rooney 1XL has a fan shaped knot, so the backbone of the brush will be a touch softer than some of the premium bulb 2 band brushes. Its no slouch by any means however. As I recommended in my 2 band comparison I did last year, if you are after soft tips the Rooney 1XL is the brush to go to.

Shavemac D01 2 band will not be super soft at the tips, there will be scritch.

If money is any concern, I would check with Lee. A M&F 24x48mm blonde badger (ask for last years hair) will be cheaper than the 1XL stubby and you can probably request whatever color and style of handle you prefer. The M&F will have better backbone, will be close in softness at the tips and offer you some options with regards to handle shape/color.

**cvac** · 02-13-2012, 10:08 AM

The conflicting reports I'm hearing on M&F's hair and different batches have made me pretty much rule them out right now. I don't want to drop a bunch of $ on a brush only to find I got the wrong "batch" of hair that didn't have the softness I was after. That doesn't mean I won't get an M&F at a later date.

BTW, how are the stock M&F's sold by Vintage Blades? Are those scratchy/scritchy?

I've pretty much eliminated Shavemac D01 two-band from consideration at this point. I may look into D01 3-band at a later date.

**djh** · 02-13-2012, 01:19 PM

I didn't vote in your poll, but I would like to make a suggestion. Bob (beginish) mentioned that his Emperor is very soft and I would think that you may be better off considering the Simpson and Shavemac brushes in 3-Band hair rather than 2-Band. I own an Emperor, a Tuiip and a Shavemac D01 (all in 2-Band) and whilst they are great brushes, I think that the 3-Band hair would be softer and perhaps more to your liking.