I continue to seek the “lifting” action some attribute to the shaving brush: that is, for some it seems that brushing the lather on the face lifts the stubble from its original position. I think my own stubble may not require any lifting, and in any event so far have not figured out how the brushes I use could apply enough force. Certainly the softer brushes (which do a dandy job in shaving) could not, and even the more resilient brushes—a boar brush, for example—don’t show any lifting action in the way that I use them: brushing the lather back and forth across my face.
Today, with a two-day stubble, I used the Ecotools brush, which I think most would agree is too soft and gentle to provide any lifting action. It loaded readily from my (older) Floris No. 89 shaving soap, and on my beard I brushed briskly to work up the unique Ecotools lather: stiffish and thick. But no lifting.
Despite the stubbe’s being unlifted, I got a BBS shave with no effort, thanks to the iKon Slant and the Personna Lab Blue blade it holds. This is faceturbation smooth, not unusual in shaving off a multi-day stubble.
A good splash of Floris No. 89 aftershave, and the week stands before me.
My tentative conclusion: most shave brushes do not lift stubble. They create lather and apply it, and the process is enjoyable and essential, but lifting does not occur. And shaving removes stubble, with any unlifted stubble doubtless removed in the ATG pass. My general conclusion at this time is that stubble-lifting is an urban legend.
This is not to say that everyone will like the Ecotools brush: it is quite soft and gentle and while some like such a sensation on their face, others want more vigor. But this is a matter of personal preference regarding brush feel, not a comment on brush performance. I would imagine that any brush you pick will be liked by some and not by others. Indeed, some do not even like the look of the Ecotools brush, and the appearance is clearly irrelevant to performance.
So I am not suggesting that everyone will like the Ecotools. But I think it is clear that the Ecotools can perform well and do the lathering job just fine. If your primary focus is performance and price, it’s a good brush; if you want a brush that feels good to you and fits your own aesthetic preferences, the Ecotools may or may not be a brush for you. It depends on those personal preferences.
Filed under: Shaving
