Synthetic knots

I'm sure I'm in the minority but I actually like some of the synthetic knots (specifically the uber soft 2) more than most silver tipped brushes. Is this crazy?

Knot even a little crazy. (See what I did there?) Synthetics have been amazing for a few years now. I have a modest collection that includes some very nice high-end brushes, but I also readily admit that I could easily and comfortably go the rest of my life using synthetics, and I would be fine. I still think there are qualities unique to badger and boar brushes, but I have synthetics in my regular rotation right alongside of brushes that cost 20 times more, and they can absolutely hang.

I own more synthetics than any other type but I also like to use a boar now and then. Right now I seem to be favoring synthetics for face lathering and boars for bowl lathering. I had a very good badger but I did not care for it. Synthetics certainly give you the most bang for your buck.

Nay all of us ( see, I  can avoid a pun) can afford, or wish to the price of a badger. Synthetics, horse, boar and now I understand squirrel all have their
advocates. The ultimate goal is of course to walk  clean shaven past women  asking in husky voices deepened by rapid breathing ' are you single, come here often, what's your sign'?

A lot of people like to say "who NEEDS a $200 CNC machined safety razor?" - this argument has subjective merit, as I would say such a razor is likely superior to a $10 Gillette Tech, but not 20 times better.

For brushes, the argument is completely bunk. $10 synthetics are superior to $200 badgers in several meaningful areas.

• Unmatched softness
• Faster loading and lathering
• Faster drying
• Great for travel
• More miserly with soap (possibly a con for some of us!)
• Almost never sheds
• Cruelty-free (some people care)
• Inexpensive
  

If I had not tried some of the truly remarkable badger brushes out there, that deliver cloud-soft tips, a dense "wall of badger" feel, and sturdy but compliant backbone, I would be happy to shave with synthetics every day. As it stands, I have been using synthetics nearly exclusively for the last month, and I don't see any reason to stop.

In lieu of a measured rebuttal you can buy the drinks and claim the day.

Good to hear I'm not crazy hahahha. As someone who has a wholesale account with some exceptional brush knot suppliers I can tell you the synthetics aren't cheap!  In fact aside from the highest end badgers the synthetics (at least the ones I like) are often more expensive than 80% of the badgers

I enjoy my assortment of 2-Band badgers.  However, in 2014 and 2015 I experimeted with synthetics extensively and settled on the Chubby 2  and the Muhle XL synthetics as the best for me.  I ultimately settled on the Chubby 2 synthetic, and it gets as much use as my badgers.

I am a huge fan of my Simpson synthetics (chubby and classic). I love my badgers, but I will reach for the Chubby 2 Synthetic 90% of the time.

(07-10-2016, 06:02 PM)crazindndude Wrote: A lot of people like to say "who NEEDS a $200 CNC machined safety razor?" - this argument has subjective merit, as I would say such a razor is likely superior to a $10 Gillette Tech, but not 20 times better.

For brushes, the argument is completely bunk. $10 synthetics are superior to $200 badgers in several meaningful areas.

• Unmatched softness
• Faster loading and lathering
• Faster drying
• Great for travel
• More miserly with soap (possibly a con for some of us!)
• Almost never sheds
• Cruelty-free (some people care)
  
• Inexpensive
  

If I had not tried some of the truly remarkable badger brushes out there, that deliver cloud-soft tips, a dense "wall of badger" feel, and sturdy but compliant backbone, I would be happy to shave with synthetics every day. As it stands, I have been using synthetics nearly exclusively for the last month, and I don't see any reason to stop.

True but they decompose slower in a landfill and probably are not great for the oceans. Just sayin'

I find any philosophy of reduced number or variety the realm of penitantes who would wear a hair shirt in self mortification of the flesh. I am made of star stuff in common with all scientifically known matter. I love material artfully arrayed; Paul Klee painting, Dvorjak Symphony, single malt whisky, pretty lady in haute couture, shaving brushes, a clean cat litter tray raked like Japanese rock garden, my keys where I remember leaving them.

I've never understood the logic behind proclaiming one kind of brush as "superior". If you can't enjoy each style of brush on its own merits, you've missed the point entirely.

Synthetics have come a long way.

I now own 15 synthetic brushes, and I favour them over my boars.

I dislike the springy synthetics, like most of the Mühle and Edwin Jagger (I have owned 20+ from these two brands)

My favourite synthetics and the ones I own are the Chubby2, Plisson (Floppy but works nice for some situations), 2 CorwnKings, 5 Razorock and 6 Stirlings.

Must admit, that I could easily live with these synthetics in my den now and sell all my high end badgers - BUT I still love my badgers and enjoy them highly.

Price do match quality in most fo the badgers I have owned.
The more you pay, the better brush you get.

I have only found 2 badgers under $100 I really liked. They still did not feel as good as my top badgers.
I would go so far and say, that unless you have owned a couple or 3 high end badgers, you can't really say whether you prefer synthetics over badgers in general.

I can't afford a Bughatti Veyron, so I can't say if I would prefer a BMW M5 over the Bughatti, but chances are I wouldn't 
The BMW M5 is still a great car, but I hardly think it compares to the Bughatti.

I love my Simpsons Chubby 2 Synthetic Badger v2.0 Fiber 27/52mm

(07-10-2016, 04:46 PM)ImperiumRazors Wrote: I'm sure I'm in the minority but I actually like some of the synthetic knots (specifically the uber soft 2) more than most silver tipped brushes. Is this crazy?

It's not crazy, it's common sense. Modern synthetics are better than badgers by quantifiable qualities. Easier to load up, they create lather faster, they dry up much faster, they don't shed, they don't stink, they are cheap. 
Badger brushes, right now, are like vintage cars. They might make you happier, but a brand new Prius is much more comfortable, cheaper, easier to maintain and it gives you much better gas per mileage. If you want a car to do your daily activities with, choosing a 1968 Camaro is not your best pick. If you want a car for your awesome car collection, on the other hand, a Prius is stupid.

Out of the 5 brushes I currently own, I prefer both my synthetics (Chubby 2 & Muhle).

However, this might change with the impending arrival of a PantaRei Manchurian and Geoff Anderson Shavemac.

(07-10-2016, 07:53 PM)mike_the_kraken Wrote: I've never understood the logic behind proclaiming one kind of brush as "superior". If you can't enjoy each style of brush on its own merits, you've missed the point entirely.

I agree with you 100%. I think it's just human nature to wonder what is the "best" but it is like comparing apples to oranges. I'm always trying to decide which razor I like the best and I end up just driving myself half crazy sometimes. All the ones I have work for me and I should just enjoy them. Brushes are the same. Enjoy them for what they are.
If I had to pick just one brush it would be my Chubby 2 synthetic or some other synthetic.

(07-11-2016, 05:30 AM)shave/brush Wrote: I think it's just human nature to wonder what is the "best" but it is like comparing apples to oranges. 

I think that the qualities of brushes can be compared. How fast can you load up enough product, how fast can you create lather, how fast can you dry it, does it shed, does it stink. All these can be compared. 
I also think that badger brushes are cool. But, I just hate when people are asking around about what brush they should buy as their first brush, and someone recommends an $100 badger, as it's worthing every penny. As shaving equipment, it does not worth the money, as you can do the same job with an $15 Plissoft, and you will have some advantages too. But badger brushes are still considered superior to boar and synthetic, but without any logical explanation.

(07-11-2016, 06:01 AM)Smurfk Wrote: But badger brushes are still considered superior to boar and synthetic, but without any logical explanation.

The subjective qualities i.e.. scritch (or lack of it) - feel on the face (soft or more of a massage quality) - lather flow (or lack of it) - floppiness (usually floppy means less backbone) - splay (or lack of it) and others are qualities that literally define "YMMV". The qualities you mentioned are mostly objective and can be measured, therefore are indisputable.

I returned to wet shaving after a long hiatus and found synthetic fibers enormously improved. Consequently, I too, am very content with my synthetic brushes, but know enough about myself to keep spot checking badgers and realize that one day a handsome badger or boar might steal my heart and away I go on another assessment program! 

The great thing about this hobby is you buy what you enjoy.  I have one badger, 1 boar, 1 horse hair, and 2 synthetics.  I enjoy each of them and personally find each works better with certain soaps.

One synthetic was a PIF and the other the first round of brushes offered by Stirling - love them both.  Nothing like the huge Stirling brush on a lazy weekend morning.