Essential Brush initial use. . .

[GarageBoy]

Is the hair coming out of the knot, or breaking at the shaft?

[ECOSSE]

WTF?!?!?!? No Pics?!?!?!??!

[burnwood]

It's like deja vu all over again. I think you are trying to pass me on post count by the end of the day or something...

ohh, Tony, I am coming for you lad. (scottish accent for that sentence)

[STINGYBRIMSandBOURBON]

where can i get details about this brush... I have looked everywhere and can't find the specs, details, etc.... Hope im not too late to order....

[buzo71]

Any chance there will be more?????

where can i get details about this brush... I have looked everywhere and can't find the specs, details, etc.... Hope im not too late to order....

[Darjeeling Express]

Any chance there will be more?????

Just a quick note, suggestion, lets try to keep this thread for feedback on the initial use of the new Essential. Inquiries about when the next shipment will be forthcoming can be made on the current thread about ordering. A number of us are keenly interested in user's immediate feedback on the essential and don't want to be distracted. Not trying to be snarky, really, but this is serious business.

[RichmondR]

Second shave ... used TOBS Mr. Taylors applied directly on the brush, which whipped up real nice. Still getting used to the amount of water left in the brush and how much a good shake releases. Tons of lather ... did three passes and the brush still looked almost as full as the first pass.

Lost another 8-10 hairs ... again, no biggie. Compared to the C&E Best Badger, it is definitely denser and feels a bit like a soft, furry, fuzzy ball when you press harder again your face, whereas the C&E would just tend to open up.

[Sabledog]

I initially lost about 25 hairs, but that is sounding pretty normal for the initial use. I've only used it once with MWF and it was great--lathering machine combo!

[prewt]

I broke it in on Thursday. I let it soak for about 5 minutes in hot tap water. shook it out and sniffed. My plans at the time were if the brush smelled terrible, like my C&E and custom did, I was going to use pet shampoo on it. The B&B E did not have a terrible odor or my nose was messed up, either way, I jumped right in and used a soap. ( if you must know, it was TGQ Oak moss ). I wish I chose a stronger scented one as the new brush almost absorbed all that great smell trying to become more neutral. Anyway, it only shed about ten hairs, maybe 15 tops. I rinsed it in warm water, shook it out and let it dry in my E.J. brush stand. I let it rest for a day then used it today with some E-shave cream. I lost about 30-40 this time, most were when I brushed it against the back of my hand, ( after the rinse, flick & shake routine ). I hope it doesn't shed much more but I am not worried about it. these guys tried a lot of brushes out and have tons of experience. this is my first time breaking in a brush that has this much hair in it. I own a B&B 2006 brush but it was purchased slightly used.

[RichmondR]

Mine really didn't have an odor either, which obviously helps the break-in. Third shave today and only lost I think 2-3 hairs, so settling down nicely.

[joel]

Just as an FYI - most brushes lose 175-200 hairs in the combing process.... most of the samples I tried/tested (which was quite a few) lost on the low end 25-30, and on the high end about 150 hairs - but ALL of them settled down within about a week to a week and a half.

While the hair loss isn't ideal, and is a bit of a pain in the rear - due to the amount of labor required to hand comb each knot, it saves the end user about $27, so frankly - i'd rather have the $27 in my pocket and a brush that sheds for a week or so, rather than pay $27 to have a brush that sheds for 1-3 days.

If anyone has a brush that doesn't stop shedding, please let us know!

[murchmb]

J
While the hair loss isn't ideal, and is a bit of a pain in the rear - due to the amount of labor required to hand comb each knot, it saves the end user about $27, so frankly - i'd rather have the $27 in my pocket and a brush that sheds for a week or so, rather than pay $27 to have a brush that sheds for 1-3 days.

Amen to that. On the same note, it would be nice if smaller, more custom operations like Shavemac offered an option like that. It would kind of be like buying unfinished furniture.

My essential has lost at least 75 hairs over 2 lathers and one real shave (plus some smoothing/shaking/combing on my own.) I can still see it dropping a hair or two a shave over the next week. A small price to pay for the savings incurred. It's truly a fine brush that competes with brushes costing much more. I hope to see these become and stay available on a regular basis.

[soapbox]

While the hair loss isn't ideal, and is a bit of a pain in the rear - due to the amount of labor required to hand comb each knot, it saves the end user about $27, so frankly - i'd rather have the $27 in my pocket and a brush that sheds for a week or so, rather than pay $27 to have a brush that sheds for 1-3 days.

Wow! I had no idea that the terms could be expressed so elegantly. Thanks joel!

[Ltltony]

Mine has only lost about 5-7 hairs in three uses.

[Not A Nice Person]

WTF?!?!?!? No Pics?!?!?!??!

I agree . . .

So, with that said, here we go:

Just got here and already in "place of honor" nearest sink:

Beautifully made little brush. Soft and dense as the dickens, and the handle is not only cool to look at, it's wonderfully easy to keep a grip on.

SOTD, 7/28/08. My "Triple" got here today, too!


Soaking . . . I always warm up my soap a bit at the same time. Not really sure it helps, but it surely can't hurt, and the sink's already full anyway.


Loaded and ready to go. Note the shed hairs in the soap already . . . never had a brand new brush, but I understand this is fairly normal if they haven't been combed out by young female Chinese virgins prior to shipping . . .


After face lathering for first pass, WTG:


After second pass, XTG:

. . . really loading itself up now. Haven't dipped it back into the soap jar at all.

After the third pass, ATG:


Rinsed and in bloom:


Compared to my old brush, a vintage Caswell-Massey:


As you can see, it's taller, fuller, and denser than a brush I consider quite superbly serviceable. Definitely destined for daily use.

NANP™

[cnahil]

Mine came in today's mail and I immediately took it out, gave it a good warm rinsing and soaking and started playing with lather. No badger funk to speak of.

Whipped up a few bowls of cream (TOBS, Proraso, Musgo) and one of Tabac soap. Mother McRee! what a diff from the little T&H Compact I'd been using -- literally night and day. The amount of water retention on the Essential is, as others have noted, something that I'll need to get used to -- botched my first two bowls -- but what a benefit to the whole lathering process.

After fiddling around for a bit, I decided I couldn't wait until the morning to shave, so I hit it up with TOBS Eton College and went to town. The face application process was a revelation for me ("so this is what serious lathering is all about!"). Improving this one link in the shaving chain has made an immediate difference in the entire shave. And it would have been even better if I'd slowed down a bit...but, damn, I was so psyched!

Thank you very much, B&Bers, for putting this offer together. For those of you waiting until round two, hang in there, it is worth the wait.

Cheers,
Chris

Oh, shedding...yes, mine lost a fair number of hairs right off the bat, but it seems to be slowing already. I'd say a good 30-50 so far. And that $27 will look good when I tear out to by some new aftershaves this week.

[vsp]

Mine arrived in the mail yesterday.

To break it in, I lathered it up 3 times and also shampooed it to get rid of the badger smell (yes mine had a weird smell).

Today morning, I used it on a HoneBee Spa soap and voila! enormous amounts of lather. I can only compare it with my old low-end Vulfix and I must say that the Essential is a monster.

I had nearly given up on soaps since my Vulfix generated runny not very satisfying lather.

The Essential on the other hand - almost made me regret springing for the 2008 LE . No not really. I have no idea how the LE will do - but believe me, as a starter (mid-level-priced) brush, the Essential will handily outdo any brush you can convince to go up against it.

The B&B team has outdone itself in setting up this brush which will hopefully continue to be available on an ongoing basis, especially to new converts to DE shaving who will be mightily impressed with the lather this brush can generate and favourably compare it to the canned goop they might already be used to.

Kudos B&B

[vsp]

Forgot to mention -

Mine lost about 15 hairs so far.

Let's see how it goes

[chab]

Got mine in the mail yesterday. Yahoo!!! I had a hard time waiting til morning to shave! It is SOOO soft compared to my inexpensive Omega brush. Swirled it in the MWF and it picked up much much more soap than the Omega. I loved using it this morning!! I lost a few hairs, but heck, I'm not complaining. I think I lost more hair overnight than this brush lost this morning!

Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this wonderful brush and for handling all the ordering @#$# !!! Great job!

[redbike]

First use this am. Used it to lather Mr. Taylor's on my face. NO SHEDDING, and no badger smell! Good scritchy feeling while lathering. Plenty of lather for 4 passes - this with just dipping it in the tub. IMO this will be a very good brush for creams, which is why I purchased it.

I think this is an excellent deal on a high quality brush and appreciate all the effort to make this product available to members.

jim