No, no, no!

A material I will NOT be using:

Here's why:

For a handle, too unpredictable. But interesting!

This unique brush stays with Fido.

High Mountain Badger

Why do New Forest brushes have a brush named High Mountain Badger? Because the hair used in the making of the brush comes from the hair of a rare species of badger found only in some remote mountainous areas in China. Like Gansu Province shown here. Look closely and you will see the badgers in the shadows.

Shaving brush handle shapes

There have been comments on Badger and Blade about the similarity between the shapes of shaving brush handles Take a look at a few:

Thiers - Issard

 Rooney

Edwin Jagger

Simpson

Savile Row

shavemac

Plisson

Simpson

Rooney

New Forest

Anyone designing a brush handle likely to be popular will always end up with some shapes that are already familiar. That's the way it is. There seem to be a lot of Plisson lookalikes!

Wee Scot

And I thought my Wee Scot was too small for comfort!

This thread tells the story:

Wee Scot - Shave my Face Forum

Martin de Candre

May be of interest to M de C fans.

Martin de Candre videos

Todays' shave - another new soap!

Nanny's come a long way. As an early tester and reviewer, I described a scent as reminding me of shoe polish and had to rush to shave before the lather dried out. Undeterred, and what a pain it must have been, Sharon persevered and now produces some very fine soaps. This is one described as a soap with a softer recipe, more like a cream. Well, I reckon it is a cream. It's certainly softer than Castle Forbes creams. An absolute delight to use, pleasing scent, creamy, stable lather and a real pleasure to shave off leaving the skin nice and soft. I'm looking forward to a lavender scent for this one. Then I won't need to spend £20 plus on more Castle Forbes. It's that good. On second thoughts, I'll get both.

The Body Shop sample was White Musk A/S Balm. Razor, Jagger Chatsworth with red personna.

YUSHU NEW SOFTER SOAP

Logo protection

(From a forum - not my brushes!)

Many shaving brush logos rub off. Some quicker than others.

I think it's a good idea to avoid touching the logo while using the brush. And after rinsing the brush, to just dab dry the logo. This all helps to prolong the life of the logo.

Crabtree & Evelyn Sienna

This doesn't often get a mention on the shaving forums. It has an intoxicating scent that I find impossible to describe. Next time you are in a C&T store have a sniff. It's often on special offer, so it can be a really great value hard soap. It lathers well and delivers all you can wish for a great shave.

New Forest brushes with logo!

After much searching, I have found a small business that can print logos on my New Forest brushes made locally for me near my home in England.


I had a few New Forest Super Badger Two Band Tubby 1 and  New Forest Finest Silvertip 2213 Chunky brushes ready for printing this week. I took the opportunity to create a slightly larger and bolder logo. This is the result:

More information about these brushes is available here:

New Forest Super Badger Two Band Tubby 1

New Forest Finest Silvertip 2213 Chunky

In the pipeline

I have been testing some more sample brushes but have yet to decide on final specifications and the timing of production. These are all brushes with a 22mm knot set to a loft of 47mm.

On the left, a bulb shape High Mountain Badger, centre, a fan shape Super Badger Two Band and on the right another High Mountain Badger with a more rounded fan shape compared with the flatter top New Forest 2221. All these brushes have a firm backbone that will be popular with face latherers. If I do produce them, I think a 48mm loft will be the likely choice. I use these brushes regularly with a smile on my face. They are quite simply, superb. It's great fun, deciding on brushes you like , then getting them made and tested! I have several other ideas for brushes, one of them I might try soon. A New Forest "Tiny" A brush that will fit neatly into a vintage travel brush case. Dimensions of 19mm knot, 43mm loft and handle height of 31mm should be just fine. A more chunky handle than a Wee Scott. Watch this space!