First "real" brush

As posted in an entirely different forum with an entirely different user name, my existing shaving brush was one of a handful I purchased - to clean SLR 7.62mm assault rifles with - a few years ago now.

Strangely enough, I only ever needed one shaving brush for that job, I kept one to actually shave with in the great outdoors (it's handle got cut up a fair bit and it lost a bit of hair getting knocked around in my pack), but I still have brush #3 which has only some barely remaining chinese labelling left on it.

So I am after good suggestions for a "first "real" shaving brush" - that is one that I actually know what it is (I think the one I have is some sort of chinese pig hair).

Synthetic, boar, badger, some other manner of animal? Wood, synthetic, mineral, metal handle? Cheap & strictly practical, or pure shaving cabinet porn?

Either a Sydney, Australia Bricks & Mortar or an online address of where I can buy your suggestion would be a great thing to add.

FWIW, right now I'm shaving with a Wahl disposable blade straight razor but I'm looking to move to a real straight "sometime soon" (fathers day soon, or maybe Christmas).

West Coast Shaving will ship internationally. While badgers are wonderful, I think everything should also try a nice boar brush. The 310XX series is one of the most popular.

I like the 31025's handle, more than the 31064.

Shavemac brushes are also highly recommended. Finest seems to be really recommended, and that would net you 2 well regarded brushes for $100 before shipping.

Pick your budget. A quality boar can do everything an expensive badger can, for a quarter the cost.

I looked into buying high end brushes OS. But with postage, and the potential for shedding requiring warranty, it just wasn't worth it. As it turns out, I needed to use the warranty. No, we can't get as good prices as the US, but I'm not one for sending brushes back to the US for replacement.

You can buy T&H Rooney's and Shavemac's from Mensbiz in Vic, or Muhles from Kinetic blue. With Mensbiz BB discount and free postage, the TH cost me just $14 more than getting from the US sites. I haven't tried the Men U bristle from those two suppliers, but if I were to spend that, I'd go a Semogue from Portugal, as they are inexpensive top quality boars. Postage is only 3 or 4 bucks.

Drubbing said:

A quality boar can do everything an expensive badger can.

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Show me a good looking boar bloom.....I rest my case.

I would recommend having a look at the Australian Shaving Supplies: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Australia_shaving_supplies

Scott0079 said:

Show me a good looking boar bloom.....I rest my case.

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Those damn badgers and their perfect beauty-queen looks.

Show me a $125 badger than can do something a $25 boar can't, apart from bathroom po*n. Mine's nicely rested too.

Drubbing said:

Those damn badgers and their perfect beauty-queen looks.

Show me a $125 badger than can do something a $25 boar can't, apart from bathroom po*n. Mine's nicely rested too.

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Nothing wrong with a bit of eye-candy, in moderation, and consideration of your budget. As mentioned, I've got some sort of adequate brush right now...
Although, spending more on a brush than the blade would be a bit of a travesty!

I'm using a Windsor boar brush that you can pick up in many Aussie pharmacies. Its the all white one labelled extra stiff, set you back about $20.
One day I think I'll get an Omega or Symogue, mainly out of curiosity, but the Windsor is doing a great job and is maturing nicely. Plus I'm a bit of a buy Aussie buff

This is a Semogue 830 & it is a great brush for both creams & soaps, bowl or face lathering. Not a bad looking bloom either

http://a.imageshack.us/img717/9408/csc0120d.jpg