Hello from the Land of the Pies.

Get some really good artisan soaps. Don't be tempted by Arko, Tabac, Cella, Proraso and the mass market soaps. Good value suggestions on eBay and elsewhere -
- Mitchells Wool Fat, famous UK soap
- Via Barberia Herbae, excellent Italian herbal scent
- Gentleman's Face Care Club. I have the Caribbean Lime, nice and fresh, and just ordered the Bergamot and Neroli

You may also need some 250ml tins for refills:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-250m...974288?hash=item362968e550:g:N78AAOSwhiZaUmje
 
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With regards to soap, I ordered a ToBS Sandalwood in a bowl from Amazon. It arrived yesterday, but it was just the refill, minus the bowl. I rang up the seller and fair play to them, they said, "Yes, sorry we sent the wrong item, we'll send you the correct one, and keep the refill as a gesture of goodwill." Which was nice!

So I'm going to be ok for soap for a while, but I'm always happy to try new stuff, so thanks for the suggestions.

Actually, I need some advice re brushes. I'm confused about knot sizes and lofts.

I appreciate a bigger knot diameter will result in a bigger fan but what are the advantages of this, if any? Is there a sweet spot?

I'm probably going to bowl lather, so do I go for a higher loft to whip up the lather, and if I want to face lather do I get a stubbier brush? Or again, is there a sweet spot that will do both?
 
I'm a big fan of Yaqi synthetics, like just about everyone else. I've abandoned animal hairs completely since synthetics lather better. Sold a very posh Maseto Silvertip Badger with no regrets.

The standard size is 24mm, and as you say you can go for stubby or more loft. I have a Yaqi 24mm/52mm Moka Express Mew Brown which is excellent and a solid recommendation. I slightly prefer my Yaqi 26mm/58mm Tuxedo knot. It's not too dense or bulky and the extra size is very pleasant. I wouldn't go past 26mm. Both the Tuxedo and the Mew Brown are the right mixture of soft+backbone. The Mew Brown is softer so good in more chubby. The Tuxedo can take a bit more loft. I also have a Yaqi Ghost knot which is softer still, but lacks backbone so yes, there's a happy medium.

I too started with bowl lathering but gave up quite quickly for face lathering, which is a known trend. Advantages are that you have much more of the pleasant sensation of brush-on-skin and especially you get a much better scent sensation when lathering. I breathe in deeply through my nose to get the maximum scent experience. With artisan soaps and complex fragrances this is one of the big, big enjoyments of wet shaving.
 
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Thanks, that's very helpful. Not averse to synthetic brushes, in fact my brother has offered to turn me a brush handle on his lathe, so was looking at the MÜHLE synthetic silvertip knots for that.
 
Rob998 said:
There is a hallowed Pie emporium in Wigan, Gents, where the pies are so great, that to mask their magnificence with mash and parsley gravy would be a crime worthy of banishment to the Phantom Zone! The only permissible adulteration is a soupçon of HP on top of one of their hotpot pies, which elevates it from merely world class to god-like! :p
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There's only one way to be sure, and that is to sample said Wiganese pie. I shall make it my mission.
 
Hi Paul, and thanks to everyone for the welcome!

I am enjoying it here, picking up plenty of tips and also being tempted by trinkets, but I need to be careful, eyebrows are already being raised at the amount of stuff accruing on the bathroom windowsill...
 
Rob998 said:
Hi Paul, and thanks to everyone for the welcome!

I am enjoying it here, picking up plenty of tips and also being tempted by trinkets, but I need to be careful, eyebrows are already being raised at the amount of stuff accruing on the bathroom windowsill...
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That's normal, as are the threats of divorce. Just placate said raised browage with an occasional pair of Christian Louboutin and you'll be fine :D
 
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