Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: BEA shavestick
Brush: Omega #10048 Boar Bristl
Razor: Parker 22R Twist To Open Closed Comb with a Wilkinson Sword blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Beard care: Big Red Beard Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
razor-sharp adjective (SHARP)
razor-sharp adjective (CLEVER)
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Mama Bear’s Awakening
Brush: Turkisn No6 ‘horse hair’
Razor: Parker 22R Twist To Open Closed Comb with a fresh Wilkinson Sword blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest 80° Below
Beard care: Big Red Beard Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Arko Shavestick
Brush: Vie-Long #12705B pure natural white horse
Razor: Cadet TTO-13 Twist To Open Closed Comb with a Shark blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Beard care: Big Red Beard Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
The Burma Shave advertisement along roads were a piece of genuine Americana – also known as kitch from the other side of the pond – that seems to be mostly gone these days.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Proraso Eucalyptus & Menthol Soap
Brush: Semogue “The Shave Nook 2012 Limited Edition”
Razor: Cadet TTO-13 Twist To Open Closed Comb with a Shark blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Thayers Original Witch Hazel with aloe vera
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pro: No pieces to loose when you change blades.
Con: Proprietary blade – but a standard DE can be modified.
I might look more into the Segal Safety Razor later.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Mama Bear’s Awakening
Brush: Vie-Long #14033 mixed horse-badger
Razor: Cadet TTO-13 Twist To Open Closed Comb with a fresh Shark blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay 80° Below
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M unbleached pure horse
Razor: Cadet TTO-11 Twist To Open Open Comb with a Green Astra blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum Aftershave
Beard care: Big Red Beard Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
A couple of months ago I picked up a Wilkinson Sword Badger brush as a souvenir while abroad. I’ve been keeping it in my rotation since, and feel I’ve gotten enough of a feel for it to do a quick review.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the Wilkinson Sword Badger is NOT an expensive brush – I paid 6.25€ for mine in a supermarket – I’m sure it can be gotten even cheaper elsewhere. It would therefore be unfair to compare it a high end badger, or a reasonable priced horsehair for that matter.
The handle is conical with an oval base – it’s wider than deep – and sits okay in my hand; not bad, but not great either. The knot is reasonable soft without being overly floppy, has good flow and don’t shed much… a hair every other shave or so. It was slightly scritchy the first couple of lathers, but that has disappeared along with most of the backbone – in other words not the best brush on a hard soap. It works wonders on soft soaps though, loading up fast and efficiently.
Overall I think the Wilkinson Sword Badger is a great brush for the price – keeping in mind that the price is low. Recommended for the shaver on a budget, or for those wanting to try out traditional wetshaving without breaking the bank.