PottyDoctor
02-10-2007, 08:54 PM
The Crabtree & Evelyn Best Badger Shaving Brush. Here she is in all her simplistic glory.
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7914/cebestbadgerbrushek8.jpg
I know, I know, she doesn't look like anything special. Just an ordinary shaving brush...faux ivory handle with a rather boring looking badger knot. But let me tell you, this is no ordinary shaving brush!
Crabtree & Evelyn's own description says: "Hand-made exclusively by Edwin Jagger of Sheffield England, our best badger shaving brush is of the highest quality. Bristles are hand selected for softness and flexibility to soften the beard and create a rich, creamy lather."
This brush has a knot size of approximately 22mm, a brush loft of approximately 50mm and a handle length of approximately 45mm, giving it an overall length of approximately 95mm. It is made by Edwin Jagger using "Best Badger" hair in a faux ivory handle. The handle is imprinted with the Crabtree & Evelyn logo on one side of the handle and the words "Best Badger -- Made in England" on the other side.
What I like about this brush......
[1] The Price. $35 makes this brush one of wetshaving's "Best Values" IMHO. Most of us consistently recommend this brush as a great starter brush and that recommendation is right on. Definitely an affordable way to start wetshaving. You can buy brushes a few bucks cheaper but no one else that I know of offers this level of quality at this price. I also recommend it to anyone wanting an affordable brush, no matter how long they've been wetshaving.
[2] The Handle. It just feels right when I hold it between my fingers. The shape affords a nice, tight grasp when whipping up lather and when painting lather on the face. And the faux ivory gives it a timeless classic look.
[3] The Badger Hair. It's Best Badger, at least that's what it is billed as on the C&E site. I'm not about to debate (split) Badger hair grades here. I'm here to tell you that this little brush is quite possibly the 'sweet spot' between soft and scrubby. I prefer brushes to the 'soft' side, but this brush is soft enough that I still enjoy it and 'scrubby' enough for those times I want a little extra 'scrubbing' effect when I'm lathering. And I love the semi-small knot size for its 'surgical precision' in placing the lather right where you want it. In addition, I can't remember mine losing a single hair.
[4] Lathering Efficiency. This is definitely "The Little Brush That Could." Some consider this a soap brush, and I must admit it makes short work out of producing mounds of lather from any soap I've put it to work on. However, IMHO, this brush excels at producing lather from creams as well. It is a great little all around brush. And for those who don't like to waste soap and cream, this brush is great for being able to cut back on or economize the amount of product used.
What I Don't Like About This Brush......
[1] No cons on this brush, in the year that I've had it.
Every wetshaver should have one of these in his brush arsenal.
Why should every wetshaver own a C&E Best Badger Brush you ask? First because it is such a great value. Secondly, for the sheer enjoyment of shaving with such a classic little piece. Thirdly, you will enjoy its efficiency. Fourthly, for being able to have a standard by which most every wetshaver is familiar with, and thereby being able to use it as a point of comparison when trying to describe the attributes of other brushes.
Matter of fact, I think it could benefit everyone if soap and cream manufacturers used this brush as one of the 'Standard' brushes for testing and describing their products. That way, 'everybody is on the same page'. It would just make a great point of reference in 'lather building descriptions'. Just a little thinking out loud here.
The C&E BBB is one of the three brushes in my regular rotation. My other two are a SR 3122 Silvertip and a ShaveMac 22579 Silvertip. I started out 18 months ago with a Vulfix 2235 Super Badger, but had I known about the C&E BBB, I would probably have bought it and can now tell you I would have been just as happy...and spent less money. Now, I am not one to advocate buying 'just one' brush! Heresy of heresies! But starting with this one gives one a little time and the criteria by which to judge other brushes they might possibly be considering.
Give me my C&E BBB, my Merkur 1904 and a bowl of Tabac and I'm all set for a classic shave that won't break the bank.
Don't allow it's small size to fool you. After all, it is "The Little Brush That Could!" :cool:
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7914/cebestbadgerbrushek8.jpg
I know, I know, she doesn't look like anything special. Just an ordinary shaving brush...faux ivory handle with a rather boring looking badger knot. But let me tell you, this is no ordinary shaving brush!
Crabtree & Evelyn's own description says: "Hand-made exclusively by Edwin Jagger of Sheffield England, our best badger shaving brush is of the highest quality. Bristles are hand selected for softness and flexibility to soften the beard and create a rich, creamy lather."
This brush has a knot size of approximately 22mm, a brush loft of approximately 50mm and a handle length of approximately 45mm, giving it an overall length of approximately 95mm. It is made by Edwin Jagger using "Best Badger" hair in a faux ivory handle. The handle is imprinted with the Crabtree & Evelyn logo on one side of the handle and the words "Best Badger -- Made in England" on the other side.
What I like about this brush......
[1] The Price. $35 makes this brush one of wetshaving's "Best Values" IMHO. Most of us consistently recommend this brush as a great starter brush and that recommendation is right on. Definitely an affordable way to start wetshaving. You can buy brushes a few bucks cheaper but no one else that I know of offers this level of quality at this price. I also recommend it to anyone wanting an affordable brush, no matter how long they've been wetshaving.
[2] The Handle. It just feels right when I hold it between my fingers. The shape affords a nice, tight grasp when whipping up lather and when painting lather on the face. And the faux ivory gives it a timeless classic look.
[3] The Badger Hair. It's Best Badger, at least that's what it is billed as on the C&E site. I'm not about to debate (split) Badger hair grades here. I'm here to tell you that this little brush is quite possibly the 'sweet spot' between soft and scrubby. I prefer brushes to the 'soft' side, but this brush is soft enough that I still enjoy it and 'scrubby' enough for those times I want a little extra 'scrubbing' effect when I'm lathering. And I love the semi-small knot size for its 'surgical precision' in placing the lather right where you want it. In addition, I can't remember mine losing a single hair.
[4] Lathering Efficiency. This is definitely "The Little Brush That Could." Some consider this a soap brush, and I must admit it makes short work out of producing mounds of lather from any soap I've put it to work on. However, IMHO, this brush excels at producing lather from creams as well. It is a great little all around brush. And for those who don't like to waste soap and cream, this brush is great for being able to cut back on or economize the amount of product used.
What I Don't Like About This Brush......
[1] No cons on this brush, in the year that I've had it.
Every wetshaver should have one of these in his brush arsenal.
Why should every wetshaver own a C&E Best Badger Brush you ask? First because it is such a great value. Secondly, for the sheer enjoyment of shaving with such a classic little piece. Thirdly, you will enjoy its efficiency. Fourthly, for being able to have a standard by which most every wetshaver is familiar with, and thereby being able to use it as a point of comparison when trying to describe the attributes of other brushes.
Matter of fact, I think it could benefit everyone if soap and cream manufacturers used this brush as one of the 'Standard' brushes for testing and describing their products. That way, 'everybody is on the same page'. It would just make a great point of reference in 'lather building descriptions'. Just a little thinking out loud here.
The C&E BBB is one of the three brushes in my regular rotation. My other two are a SR 3122 Silvertip and a ShaveMac 22579 Silvertip. I started out 18 months ago with a Vulfix 2235 Super Badger, but had I known about the C&E BBB, I would probably have bought it and can now tell you I would have been just as happy...and spent less money. Now, I am not one to advocate buying 'just one' brush! Heresy of heresies! But starting with this one gives one a little time and the criteria by which to judge other brushes they might possibly be considering.
Give me my C&E BBB, my Merkur 1904 and a bowl of Tabac and I'm all set for a classic shave that won't break the bank.
Don't allow it's small size to fool you. After all, it is "The Little Brush That Could!" :cool: