Berkeley 46?

[blindmouse]

I just picked up a Vulfix 1000 Pure Badger ($25 I think?), and am not very happy with it. I did the soap soak, and left it lathered overnight, and it tore my face to pieces this morning, causing a lot of irritation. It's replacing an old drugstore Omega bristle or boar brush, which actually performs better.

I'll continue to use it for a few weeks and see if it breaks in, but would a Simpsons Berkley 46 be a good replacement for a bowl latherer?

[blindmouse]

I should mention I'm looking at the Best Badger Berkeley.

[john parker]

The Berkeley is my favorite brush!

[njpaddy]

Maybe give it a week or two, it may feel a little better after some use. The Berkeley in Best is a great brush with a lot of backbone, but expect it to still have some scritch to it even after being broken in. If you're looking for something soft on the face, try the Simpson Special in Best or a Rooney Silvertip depending on your budget. The Special has a shorter loft than your Vulfix and it feels soft but it will splay more on the face than the Berkeley. If you don't mind splay, the Special is actually a pretty good brush for the price. I still miss the Special I gave to another member although most of the brushes I use now cost more.

[blindmouse]

Thanks for the advice!

So would the Special be softer on the face because it's not as dense? I was also considering something in this territory, how would it compare to the Special? http://www.fendrihan.com/vulfix-660s...cPath=116_3_38

[Manning]

You won't be dissapointed with the special or the Berkeley. I use a Berkeley at least a few times a week and I only bowl lather creams.

[njpaddy]

So would the Special be softer on the face because it's not as dense?

The Special is not as dense. While there was only a 1mm difference in loft in my two brushes, there was a huge difference in feel on the face. Here's a side by side view when I had both.

[blindmouse]

Just curious, in terms of softness, how would the Special compare to something like the Semogue 1305 I've been reading about?

[blindmouse]

Seriously thinking about going with the Special in Best. What other brushes would be comparable, and offer a little less scritch?

[StuMcB]

Duke 1 or 2.

[Krona Kruiser]

If you're not into scritch maybe a pure isn't for you. My first couple of weeks with my Special in pure left more to be desired. It was to stiff causing the scritch to be too uncomfortable. The backbone is solid but yielding. After about a year of having it I have to say that it's still scritchy but in a comfortable exfoliating way. It also retains heat really well and is great with soaps.

[blindmouse]

Would the special best perhaps be a better option than pure when it comes to scritch. That's what I'm looking at.

StuMcB, I don't know much about the Dukes. They pretty soft?

[Krona Kruiser]

Would the special best perhaps be a better option than pure when it comes to scritch. That's what I'm looking at.

StuMcB, I don't know much about the Dukes. They pretty soft?

If you want scritch the Special in pure is the way to go. However, Simpsons best grade feels velvety soft and is great for a scrubby (not in a rough way whatsoever) massage and does not have the pronounced scritch of a pure. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...mic?highlight=

[blindmouse]

Thanks for your input. I'm looking for something with relatively low scritch. It's nearly 3pm here and the redness is just leaving my face from the morning.

[Acmemfg]

Seriously thinking about going with the Special in Best. What other brushes would be comparable, and offer a little less scritch?

Simpson Colonel in Best. A nice brush that should fit your bill. I also had a Vulfix 1000A in Pure Badger. I did not like it at all. Much too prickly and scritchy..even for me and I have leather skin.

A Semogue 1350 is gonna be nothing like the aforementioned Colonel. I have an 1800 which is similar to the 1350. The Simpson is much softer yet firm. I like them both; they are however two completely different experiences

[john parker]

I personally do not think that my Berkeley has any scritch to speak of, if any at all. Perhaps I have a less sensitive face than others.

[Brent]

I personally do not think that my Berkeley has any scritch to speak of, if any at all. Perhaps I have a less sensitive face than others.

I think that it depends on the batch and they're variable. I have two Simpsons in Best and there is a very noticeable difference between the two. The one almost feels like what I imagine their 3 band super feels.

[blindmouse]

How does the Commodore X1 compare to the Berkely and the Special? Or Colonel? I see it's in that ballpark as far as price goes.

[KarlMaldensNose]

How does the Commodore X1 compare to the Berkely and the Special? Or Colonel? I see it's in that ballpark as far as price goes.

I can't speak to a comparison as I've never had a Berkely or Special, but I have had a Commodore X1 for about a year. When I was shopping it was bewteen the Berkely, Special and Commodore. I wish I go back and choose differently. The Commodore is such a great brush in many ways (luxuriously soft tips, great backbone, easy to hold, great face latherer) except that it is an unrepentant lather hog... has been since day one and still is to this day, regardless of how broken in it gets. As well, because of its very short loft it isn't the world's greatest bowl latherer. And I didn't think this would factor in but I don't like the looks of the Commodore handle anymore compared to the Berkely and Special, especially the Berk.... so nice! I don't know, maybe it's just a case of the grass being greener on the other side, but I'm about ready to hop that fence and give the Berkely a ride.

[blindmouse]

Thanks! I think it's coming down to the Special or Berkeley in best.