Post by SharpSpine on Dec 8, 2012 0:54:39 GMT -6
WSP Black Badger
Here we have the base model brush from Wet Shaving Products, the Black Badger. It is presented in the same high quality way as both the Monarch and Prince range which is quite nice for this entry level brush.
This brush is much lighter in comparison to both the Monarch and Prince handles. Obviously this should be expected given the wood vs resin difference.
This brush is also different from the other WSP offerings by having a noticeable glue bump above the handle. I'm not quite sure how high it is but it will certainly lower the effective loft from the measured loft.
The advertised dimensions are:
- 22mm knot
- 57mm loft
- 49mm handle height
- 106mm total height
This makes it a smaller medium sized brush that should please both face & bowl latherers. If face lathering you should be prepared for a good bit of prickle from these Black Badger hairs. The tips, however, are not trimmed so there is less prickle here than from trimmed brushes. The longer loft (though shortened somewhat by the glue bump) along with the lower density knot gives some easy splay which nicely counteracts the prickly tips.
The brush can easily load a harder soap thanks to the tips, but can also whip up a cream nicely due to the longer loft. This would be good for someone who likes to do both or a newer convert to Traditional Shaving that is still experimenting and learning what they like.
Circular motions provide the most amount of prickle so if you have sensitive skin then I would suggest using back & forth motions and making your lather in a bowl. The sensation was quite pleasurable to me on multiple days of growth. On a single day of growth and after a couple passes of the razor the prickle is noticed more, but I never received any brush burn. I cannot say the same for a horsehair brush I once had. :angry:
I give the WSP Black Badger a "Scritch Factor" of 5.0 which is the average of its Prickle (6) & Scrub (4).
Here's a look at the density. While lower than many other brushes I find this a good balance to keep the scritch factor in a good level for most people while still allowing it to hold plenty of lather for 3+ passes.
I recommend this brush for both new and experience Traditional Shavers. For the new brush wielder you are getting an efficient workhorse brush that can lather anything with ease. Those who enjoy some exfoliation from their brush will scratch their itch here too. At only $22.99 from WSP it is hard to lose (especially since it's only $15.99 on Amazon currently). For those who try to avoid prickle & scritch, you'll want to steer clear of this offering.
To compare this brush with the rest of the Wet Shaving Products range just look here.