Boar and Badger Brushes overview in terms of loft/knot ratio

by Buckbrick

To date I have tried a number of popular boar and badger brushes. I thought I compile a summary of what I feel about each of them, that might be useful if you want some benchmarking. Some like the Simpsons Duke 3 I bought after tons of research and analysing with couple of Simpsons afficionados here. The one single Omega – the 31020 – boar from Mr. M started my boar craze.

So here goes, with a dash of YMMV.

Firstly, 3 important things on brushes and my rating: 

Density: 3-dense; 2-average density; 1-below avg density
Stiffness/Backbone: 3-Stiff; 2-average stiff; 1-floppy
Softness of tips: 3-Soft; 2-slightly scritchy; 1-scritchy
Loft/knot ratio: 
>2.2-floppy. Suitable for creams 
2~2.1-average scrubbiness. Suitable for creams and soft soaps; bowl and face lathering
1.7~2-scrubby. Suitable for hard soaps; face lathering

BADGERS

Simpsons Duke 3
Hair: best badger
Loft/knot: 49/24mm
Ratio: 2.04
Density: 3
Stiffness: 1.5
Softness: 2.5

Thoughts: A great all round brush with the famous 50/24 loft. Great especially on creams and soft soaps. Density lends some stiffness to the knot. But Duke’s grade of best badger are the softest in the business.

Simpsons Special S1B
Hair: best badger
Loft/knot: 40/19mm
Ratio: 2.1
Density: 2.5
Stiffness: 2
Softness: 2

Thoughts: Very short loft with loads of scrubbiness for a badger. Too small for my liking, but will make the ultimate travel brush.

BOARS

Omega 31020
Hair: Banded boar (Omega’s better grade, below premium)
Loft/knot: 57/25mm
Ratio: 2.28
Density: 2
Stiffness: 2.5
Softness: 2.5

Thoughts: My fav boar. This one strangely comes in a shorter loft than the siblings in the trinity I got. But this gives the brush the magical properties that all shavers want: backbone and soft tips. This guy has it. Wonderful brush to use with it’s solid and hefty acrylic handle.

Omega 31025 and 31064
Hair: Banded boar
Loft/knot: 60/25mm
Ratio: 2.4
Density: 2
Stiffness: 1.5
Softness: 2.5

Thoughts: Floppy’s the word. For boars, never ever go above 55mm if you want backbone.

Omega 10275
Hair: Banded boar
Loft/knot: 48/21mm
Ratio: 2.28
Density: 2
Stiffness: 3
Softness: 2.5

Thoughts: A mighty small brush and the price is a real steal. Die die must buy a few . Soft tips and wonderful backbone. For new shavers, just buy this and save some cash.

Omega 10029 Baby Pro
Hair: Boar
Loft/knot: 50/23mm
Ratio: 2.17
Density: 2
Stiffness: 3+
Softness: 1

Thoughts: Very stiff and scrubby. The ultimate in backbone. I bought this coz the 31020 once broken in, tend to be soft and a tad floppy. This grade of hair, once broken in, will be quite shiok.

Semogue Owners Club
Hair: Premium boar
Loft/knot: 55/24mm
Ratio: 2.29
Density: 2.5
Stiffness: 3
Softness: 1

Thoughts: Strictly for face latherers. The bloom is outrageous and too big for me. Hair is really scratchy and takes forever to breakin.

Vulfix Grosvenor 404
Hair: Boar/badger
Loft/knot: 53/21mm
Ratio: 2.52
Density: 2 maybe less
Stiffness: 2.3-3
Softness: 1-1.5

Thoughts: Mixing boar for backbone and badger for softness is innovative – would make a great brush, only if they use quality boar and badger. Mine is prickly and the boar don’t seem to split.  Otherwise it comes with a killer solid resin handle. The best in it’s price range.

Double edged blades under the microscope

by Buckbrick

Here we go! Fresh blades taken under 6.3x. 

1. Astra Super Platinum

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2. Gillette 7 o’clock yellow

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3. Gillette 7 o’clock green

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4. Permasharp: grind not as smooth looking as the 7 oclocks. 

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5. Dorco ST301: looks much nicer than the used blade. Goes to show how fast they degrade. 

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6. Zorrick: dam, I won’t want this on my face. 

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7. Feather Hi-Stainless

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8. Super Iridiums

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Haniffa Textiles @ Dunlop Street

by oohman

Found another shop in Little India.. Sells a host of shaving creams..

Old spice cream $2.40

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Yardley shaving creams $2.50 and $5++ Tabac shaving creams

some blades..nvr heard before..concord and Lasco..

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Edited for Location

Here’s the exact location.. Located at the corner of Dunlop street…

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And another pt to mention, there is 2 outlets of Haniffa textiles. One at Serangoon and another at Dunlop… Go to the one at Dunlop street..

Confession of a newbie

By prelude

I’m like you and initially also bought and used the $2.60 Shogun razor. Seriously, you are better off with an Edwin Jagger or Merkur. The differences in performance is really amazing…worlds apart.
I bought an Edwin lined chromed and have been using it ever since and don’t think will be looking back to cartridge and electric shaver. The BBS on DE razor is simply better than cartridge and electric shaver. The experience is simply wonderful. You may take a slightly longer time, but the shave process & experience is more enjoyable and the shave is longer lasting. Done properly, my shave can now lasts 1.5 to 2 days and I sometimes I shave once every two days. Have to bear with slight grow though but it’s definitely shorter than using electric or cartridge. Using electric or cartridge, I have to shave everyday.

I’ve generally gone through the forums and there are some who tried and gave up saying it does not save costs on expandables and doesn’t give a close shave. My personal experience says otherwise. Blades are really cheap, my blade can last me 4-7 shave depending on the type of blades use. As for why it seems to be more expensive, that’s because a lot of seasoned folks here doesn’t treat this as shaving….to them, it’s like a hobby. They collect more razors, brushes, have fun with many more types of shaving cream, aftershave, bowls, stands and many more blades…..to them, it’s like many of us playing with gadgets….I buy a laptop for work, but buy accessories, sleeves, case, other gadgets like smartphones, iPads, appleTV, and many more cases, etc…if you solely use it as its intended purpose, it is very costs effective….if you have fun with it, then it’s beyond costs benefits…

All in all, it has been a great journey so far, and I’ve not been poisoned enough to spend like many seasoned bros here. I hope you have the same great experience as I have….most importantly, give it a try, work on your technique and give it some time, give a shout if you encounter issues, there are many helpful folks here who are most willing to help…..finally, enjoy the process and share with us your story.