At what point does this become a collection?

[Randy]

Badger is for softies!


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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYzXSp3JTU

Why are you showing Randy's private photos again?

 

[TobyC]

Why are you showing Randy's private photos again?

Why do you keep sending them to me?!!!

 

[PLANofMAN]

... I just wish I’d found the article written by @PLANofMAN before buying, I’d perhaps have been able to have made a slightly more informed choice.

I'm just glad I ported that article over here before The Shave Den closed. Wished I'd done that with more of them.

"Informed choice" is no substitute for personal experience with different types of brushes. And as far as a collection goes, once you have four or five brushes, you can really start dialing in your preferences to get back down to that "one" perfect brush... Plus a backup or two. Or you get bit by the brush bug and the darn things start reproducing like tribbles.

 

[Sideburns]

I'm just glad I ported that article over here before The Shave Den closed. Wished I'd done that with more of them.

"Informed choice" is no substitute for personal experience with different types of brushes. And as far as a collection goes, once you have four or five brushes, you can really start dialing in your preferences to get back down to that "one" perfect brush... Plus a backup or two. Or you get bit by the brush bug and the darn things start reproducing like tribbles.

I’m glad you did too—it’s a really useful article, especially for those of us still trying to work out what works.
I suspect you’re right though, there’s only so much reading can do. At some point you have to put a brush to your face and see if the theory matches reality.
As for the collection… I like the idea that four or five brushes are just part of the journey to finding the one. I’m just hoping mine don’t discover how to reproduce when the cupboard door’s closed.
I can’t remember how Kirk and Spock solved their tribble problem, but if there’s a similar solution for shaving brushes, I’m all ears... see what I did there.

 

[Twelvefret]

There is another way besides purchasing experience. We have knowledgeable members like @chazt who can tell you what they have learned. There are others as well who make brushes.

The question for me is, what feels good against my facial skin because I can make lather with most any brush. What brush does well if you are mixing your lather in a bowl rather than face lathering?

Personally, I would not want to spend a lot of money gathering several brushes to work my way down to one or two brushes.

 

[Sideburns]

Personally, I would not want to spend a lot of money gathering several brushes to work my way down to one or two brushes.

You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I don’t want to spend, spend, spend—whether it’s on brushes, razors or anything else. I suppose it’s about taking on board the experiences of those who’ve been at this a lot longer and trying to make an informed choice.
I’ll admit I haven’t spent much on brushes so far, although I have pushed the boat out on a used Rubberset aluminium handle. Not because I expect it to transform my shave, but simply because I have a real appreciation for good design and the aesthetics appealed to me.
Whether it earns a permanent place is another matter. Until it passes both the face test and the grip test (my dodgy thumb can be quite fussy), it’ll be on probation. If it doesn’t make the cut, I’m sure someone else will enjoy it.

 

[TobyC]

I’m glad you did too—it’s a really useful article, especially for those of us still trying to work out what works.
I suspect you’re right though, there’s only so much reading can do. At some point you have to put a brush to your face and see if the theory matches reality.
As for the collection… I like the idea that four or five brushes are just part of the journey to finding the one. I’m just hoping mine don’t discover how to reproduce when the cupboard door’s closed.
I can’t remember how Kirk and Spock solved their tribble problem, but if there’s a similar solution for shaving brushes, I’m all ears... see what I did there.

Scotty beamed them to the Klingon ship.

 

[Twelvefret]

You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I don’t want to spend, spend, spend—whether it’s on brushes, razors or anything else. I suppose it’s about taking on board the experiences of those who’ve been at this a lot longer and trying to make an informed choice.

Then stop! I am not trying to be rude. Just use what you have for 6 months.

This is more than just shaving stuff. It is like saying I don't want to get drunk anymore and continuing to buy another six pack. As an old manager used to say, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results".

 

[Sideburns]

Scotty beamed them to the Klingon ship.

Ahh Montgomery “Scotty” Scott…of “ Ye cannae change the laws of physics! “ fame.

 

[Sideburns]

Then stop! I am not trying to be rude. Just use what you have for 6 months..

No offence taken. I think we’re probably closer in our thinking than it might appear.
I’m not looking to build a collection for the sake of it or chase the next shiny thing. My aim is simply to find a setup that works well for me and stick with it. The Rubberset was very much a considered purchase because the handle appealed to me, and I hope I’ll be able to grip it better with an increasingly dodgy thumb—not because I thought a fifth brush would magically improve my shave.
Six months with what I’ve got is sound advice. I’m trying hard not to make too much of the age-related thing going on with my thumb; hopefully it will go away as fast as it came—trying to be glass half full here.
Time and technique are likely to make more difference than another purchase.

 

[Randy]

Then stop! I am not trying to be rude. Just use what you have for 6 months.

This is more than just shaving stuff. It is like saying I don't want to get drunk anymore and continuing to buy another six pack. As an old manager used to say, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results".

I stopped. After having 3 tons of artisans and 20 brushes (though not expensive) and 18 razors (though not expensive too)

 

[Twelvefret]

No offence taken. I think we’re probably closer in our thinking than it might appear.
I’m not looking to build a collection for the sake of it or chase the next shiny thing. My aim is simply to find a setup that works well for me and stick with it. The Rubberset was very much a considered purchase because the handle appealed to me, and I hope I’ll be able to grip it better with an increasingly dodgy thumb—not because I thought a fifth brush would magically improve my shave.
Six months with what I’ve got is sound advice. I’m trying hard not to make too much of the age-related thing going on with my thumb; hopefully it will go away as fast as it came—trying to be glass half full here.
Time and technique are likely to make more difference than another purchase.

It takes time to build muscle memory, but it’s possible to use our non dominant hand. When I use a straight razor, I use both hands.

 

[Sideburns]

It takes time to build muscle memory, but it’s possible to use our non dominant hand. When I use a straight razor, I use both hands.

i take my hat off to anyone who has the skill to use both hands. Currently persevering with tooth brushing with left hand only as my dominant is right, like any learned skill, it takes time and perseverance. I definitely have plenty of the latter, the former, well

 

[Twelvefret]

i take my hat off to anyone who has the skill to use both hands. Currently persevering with tooth brushing with left hand only as my dominant is right, like any learned skill, it takes time and perseverance. I definitely have plenty of the latter, the former, well

I think it’s more possible than we think to be ambidextrous.

 

[PLANofMAN]

You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I don’t want to spend, spend, spend—whether it’s on brushes, razors or anything else...

A cheap semogue or omega, a badger from Yaqi, and a couple synthetics of various sizes are all that is needed, imo.

At that point you should have all the info you need to determine what size, shape, and type of brush you want to order from Shavemac.