What type of brush handle or knot do you prefer?

I have a dirt cheap Yaqi synthetic brush. It is super soft and works very well. Spending a lot of money on a brush in my opinion is insane. Better to put your money into hardware. Sharpologist says that the PAA Amber Aerolite brush is the best bang for the buck. Perhaps when my current (and only) brush wears out, I may gravitate to the PAA brushes.

I’m a brush junkie, currently have 41 brushes. The majority of my brushes have badger knots, the Fanchurian knot has the highest count. Chisel and Hound is my highest count on brushes with Sawdust Creations I the number 2 spot. I currently by my brushes with out knots when I can. I have 3 knots that I really like. At $60 the Fanchurian is a little to expensive. I have found just as good knots at a more affordable pricepoint. My top knots are Maggard’s Silver tip badger knot and SHD badger. I recently found a synthetic knot that I really like, AP Shave Co G5C. The G5C is a killer knot.

I really like the smooth jazz camera shots and that nice B-roll! Nice brushes too! Good stuff, man! 😁👍🏻

Another well put together video Greg!

Great overview of things to consider when choosing a shave brush!

I am digging the 26 mm G5C knot from AP Shave Co. with a cheap-ass handle. Excellent brush at an unbeatable price. Has the look, feel, and performance of a Badger brush.

Hey. Been using synthetics almost exclusively for like the past year. Great knots at a great price. No break in period. Just love 'em. Have a good rest of your weekend

i have a badger and a boar. they both feel very different in hand and performance. i constantly go back and forth. love them both so much i've never felt the need to buy another brush. great video :)

You are always horsing around Greg. Great video buddy. I'm all about the artisan brushes and badger hair. I don't mind spending the premium price. It's worth it to me for the enjoyment they bring.

It's so tricky... like you mentioned there are so many grips, lengths, widths, types of ridges for holding. Also the feel of the brush and how easily it splays. So far I havn't found my unicorn brush yet I may have to suck it up and make one on my lathe one of these days and pair it with an ideal knot.

I agree with you about "backbone" with bore hair. I like bore for hard soaps, but badger is great for creams because of it's softness. Horse hair is my favorite, in between bore and badger and works well with all but hardest soaps

Great videos Greg! For me the knot is the most important part as a face latherer, I use badgers about 50% of the shaves; and synthetics for the other 50%. I really like a loft around 51-53 mm… seems to be the perfect amount of splay for a face lather, and not have and scritch or scratch. Have a great weekend!

Nice collection! Don't know why but lately I prefer a synthetic knot. The price is good and they feel better for my face lathering. Thanks for sharing.

Like everything else in the hobby, everyone has a personal set of preferences. I like longer, chunkier handles and knots that splay easily (ie less backbone - ah, what the hell, let’s call them spineless, yellow bellied knots). Why? Well, I have large hands, with some trauma induced arthritic weakness in my (dominant) right wrist, and I bowl lather because excessive face lathering irritates my skin. I just do a couple of swirls on my cheeks and upper neck while splaying the brush, and then paint the lather. As for aesthetics, I’m afraid I couldn’t care less what the handle looks like. Form and function are what matter. Cheers. 👍🪒

Great video Greg. I prefer a Chunkier handle at least 50mm height but really like around 60mmI. Knot size 26mm seems to be the sweet spot. I am mainly a bowl latherer. I thought I wanted higher backbone but now I just like variety. I have synthetic, badger and boar. I like all but I favor natural hair for more face feel. They all have their place. Take care.

I've been favoring my Yaqi badger brushes lately. They make some fantastic brushes, at very good prices. I prefer them over any of my more expensive artisan brushes. Granted, I've never used any of the high dollar knots like the Fanchurian, etc., but Yaqi badger knots work quite well for me.

Hey, another Top Knot video! Dad jokes are fun. My preference is a short fatty with a bulb knot, hair type has gotta be badger or synthetic. That means the Simpsons T3 28mm synthetic is in the top spot on my shelf and I just love it. Second place is a Stirling 24mm badger bulb knot with the butterscotch handle. Wish that one was a 26 or bigger but it’s still really smoov and sexy. My least favorite is a Vielong horse/badger hybrid. Tiny knot, no backbone, and damn was it a stinky girl

This is the channel that every wet shaver should be watchin’ after the Mantic59 Legacy👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I just picked up the Atomic Rocket you featured. I haven’t used it yet and have little to compare it to. My only other brush is a Yaqi Sagrada Familia which many seem to like. I’ve only ever used synthetic and have never been missing backbone, but again nothing to compare it to. I got the Rocket mainly because it’s taller and will more easily reach the soap at the bottom of my Old Spice mug.

Greg, I always enjoy your videos. You are quickly becoming a favorite in the shave genre. This was one of the most informative brush Vids I have seen. I like a basic Boar Hair Ever Ready 100 T. From the 60's. I remember seeing my dads on the sink from my childhood. This is one of the mind pictures that got me going down This shaving rabbit hole. I probably do have about 50-60 brushes I've collected over the last 20 some years. I like a softer brush for creams. I have an Ever Ready 1000 Soft as silk. I use the boar for soaps (better lather for me). I don't like to really "scrub my face" with the brush because I have sensitive skin and find it too abrasive. I like to just make a warm lather ang put it on my face dabbing with the brush and using my hand. I feel the act of shaving itself exfoliates my skin. Okay, I am rambling...Thanks for the informative, full of levity shows. Keep them coming, you always make me laugh🤣🤣🤣

My first brush was a cheap boar one, which I do not remember having much of a smell, and then I got a synthetic one that looked very nice (fake silver-tip look) but is terrible to make foam. My latest brush that I got together with my first DE razor is a "pure badger" (machine made badger) the cheapest badger brush they had. And I really like it's foaming ability and it's comfortable enough but a little prickly. But it smelled so much for the first few months! It had an intense horse-y/game-y smell (which I assume is the smell of badgers) that isn't too nasty but it starts to get unpleasant when you're stuck with that smell on your face for an hour. After several weeks the smell is now mostly washed out, fortunately. But it makes me a little hesitant to ever buy another badger based one if I want to buy a really fancy silver-tip one day, if I have to foam it up dozens of times before it's tolerable. Is all badger brushes smelly at first, or do they pre-wash the more expensive ones so they're less smelly initially?

I’m fairly new to the wet shaving community. I’ve 3 brushes 2 synthetic and 1 badger. The badger was my 1st brush, when I was doing my research into wet shaving it said badger was the best. Though I think the one I got was the ass hair off a road kill badger. I then got the StarCraft and the StarWisp from Phoenix shaving both seem great to me but slightly favouring the StarWisp. So at moment I’m preferring a synthetic knot. Not to bothered about the handle as long it’s comfortable in the hand.

I prefer Badger knots, but, like synthetic. I like long handle brushes for deep narrow tubs of soap or, for bowl lathering, if I bowl lather. I’m primarily a face latherer. Short to medium handles are what a prefer, and use most of the time. Good topic! Have a great day and weekend Greg! -Josh

Great video! Very jealous of the brush collection, you've got some cool ones there. I personally prefer a synthetic brush, I find them to be softer and the price is better as well. Yaqi do some really cool handles, I have a few of them that I really like. Cheers for the video, very informative.

Hi Greg, There is another hybrid knot out there…. It’s a badger / synthetic combo. Really nice. Comes in two iterations, F2 Innovator and S2 Innovator. Included with the handle from Rich Man Shaving. He’s on a hiatus now.

"When we talk about the handles of shave brushes, we talk about the handle of the shave brush." I see. Please continue. Have I mentioned that I enjoy your videos?

I was recently asked to recommend a brush for someone's birthday who wanted to get into wet shaving. I picked a $20 Semogue boar brush. The hair is softer than most boar, and even though the loft is a little high, it still has good backbone. I use mine for face lathering, but it's still good for painting on lather if you're a bowl guy. It's a great compromise between stiffness and softness, and backbone and flex. I thought it was pretty much ideal until I got a Chisel and Hound. Holy Schnikes! It's like using a firm cloud that has a 1 gallon internal reservoir. I have a hard time switching between a big badger knot, small, boar, and a big vs small synthetic in terms of how much water and soap. Do you have that same issue? It was much simpler when I only used one brush, but I enjoy the variety, and it's nice to use a synth on days when I don't have much time to soak and dry.

My favorite is my Semogue 1305 boar brush. It’s great for hard soaps and really whips up nicely and has a nice big handle. I also really like my Simpson Trafalgar synthetic. It’s a short and fat brush and really works great with soft creams in my mixing bowl. I have a Vie-Long professional horse hair. Eh🫤. Not enough backbone to work on hard soaps, works ok on creams, but it mushes out on your face.

Handles, I prefer the traditional barber style handles. And, horsehair is a must try. Love my horsehair brush. Soft feel without the break in period, decent backbone, and whips up a lather easily.

Hi Greg ! Great video ! It may sound strange, but I have paired my soaps to a specific brush and lathering style. Like : hard soap + boar = face lathering etc. Only one way to go 4me

Great review Greg👍🏼 I prefer big n heavy handles.

try a richman shaving or langley city brush if you’re looking for big, chunky & ergonomically comfortable in the hand 👍🏼

The best Shave Brush on the market today is my Simpson Trafalgar's T-3 better then boar cheaper in the long run it is 29mm. i mic it' it's like buying a $275 badger hair brush, no cleaning the brush, no need for a brush stand, fast drying time, well not fall apart like a badger hair or boar can, cheap to buy, I have owned it for 5 years with no hair loss with no problems wheelchair Larry Merry Christmas

My favorite Ebony T3

I was wondering if the shape makes a difference. I am using can shaving cream, so I'm wondering if a flat top brush is more suitable compared to bulb or fan shapes.

I prefer synthetic over all the natural types, with a longer handle based on the original Simpson M7 style, and a 20 to 22 mm knot with medium backbone. A.P. Shave Co. is a good place to get the handle and knot to roll your own, and I've done a couple of them. A favorite of mine is a black and ivory Arriana & Evans handle with a tuxedo knot from A.P. Shave Co. I remember seeing Chris Bailey use his and I just had to have one.

Some of the yaqi Sythentic brushes are fantastic cheap and most are good performers imo smaller knots I prefer

Have you tried the Hulk from RazorRock?

Yes sir, “Chonky” and long brush handles are in my wheelhouse.

I like the horse hair one, reminds me of my childhood

I like having a smooth face so I shave daily. Should I switch my razors blade every day? I have extremely sensitive skin I was wondering if it’d be great for me to.

Ok so - what is your recommendation for a general approachable brush please? It felt like the entire video you were just describing what works best for you.

I picked up a Semogue 2040HD recently. It is not my fanciest brush, but I keep reaching for it. It paints on the lather like nothing else I have tried.

my first brush was an amazon pickup, badger “perfecto” brush- still in rotation. my bro got me a boar brush- i liked the stiffer backbone but it has been shedding- bad- can the knot be replaced at some point? just got a 10 euro synthetic off amazon france- only one use so far but i too like its chunkier handle and seems to have a good balance of backbone and splaying.

I have big hands so I like the atomic rocket. But I have a little barrel handle boar that has great backbone, it all depends on my mood. Lol

Where can I find the orange glass shaped brush ?

What position did you play that broke your hands?

The best Shave Brush on the market today is my Simpson Trafalgar's T-3, better then boar cheaper in the long run, it is 29mm. i mic-ed it' it's like buying a $443.99 Simpson 30mm Chubby 3 Super CH3S Badger Shaving Brush, no cleaning the brush, no need for a brush stand, NO SOAKING time ready to go, fast drying time, . will not fall apart like a Badger or boar hair can and it will fall apart at some point in time, no brake in time, affordable to buy, I have owned it for 5 Years with no hair loss with no problems. I own only One Shave Brush wheelchair Larry Happy New Years

Zenith Boar brushes are very different from Omega. Some are very soft and have little back bone and others are soft and have slightly more backbone then say a Best Badger brush or Pure Badger.

if your not holding the brush from the bottom of the knot like barbers do then you are missing out on a pro shave

I could imagine you playing defense hah. Yeah chunky handle 100%. Synthetic for me, majority of my collection are that type. 26mm I think is the perfect size.

Love this man. What a guy. 🌭

Great video Greg! I love the handle of your hybrid. Where is that from?

Good review. I do think you should discuss the intrinsic cruelty of badger hair. Boar hair is “by product” of meat production. Horse hair is trim from tails and manes of living horses. I’m not a huge fan of horse hair brushes but they’re ok. I prefer somewhat boar-like synthetic or short loft synthetic because I like you don’t like overly splay and I usually face lather. I have had badger brushes from remote past (20+ years) and there too I prefer intermediate backbone. I don’t want to feel guilty as I shave so I never buy badger brushes these days. Just sayin’. . .

G69 knot, ha ha.

Here are the Two Best Shave Brushes on the market today? are Simpson King Charles III Coronation Chubby 3 Fiber brush with special handle it has Softer Hair a real bargain is a Brush Monster at 40mm reasonable Price for its size. The Trafalgar's T-3 has a little Harder hair, more affordable in the long run, it's a 29mm? buy one and measure it for yourself?? ' It's a clone of a 30mm Chubby 3 Super Badger Shaving Brush without paying for the Super Badger Price. 1, No need to clean your Brush, 2, No need for Brush Stand, 3, NO SOAKING time ready to Go, 4, Fast drying time, 5, Badger or Boar Brushes can and will fall apart Sooner than Later. Your mileage may vary? ?, 6, No Break in time, 7, No need for a Brush Stand 8, Modest Price for its size. Rinse Brush in Cold Water and let dry. I have used it for 5 Years with No Hair Loss. Derby black it's better same price as the green Blades. wheelchair larry

my Simpson T3 Trafalgar is the best brush on the market today it's like buying a $200 badger hair brush, no cleaning the brush, no need for a brush stand, fast drying time, well not fall apart like a badger hair can, cheap to buy, i have owned it for 5 years with know problems wheelchair Larry

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Yes sir, “Chonky” and long brush handles are in my wheelhouse.

Yes sir, “Chonky” and long brush handles are in my wheelhouse.