| Package dimensions | 14 x 5.2 x 4.4 centimetres |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.04 Kilograms |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 24.1 x 10.2 x 10.2 centimetres |
| Volume | 1 |
| Item model number | 00159 |
| Product Dimensions | 24.13 x 10.16 x 10.16 cm; 40 g |
| ASIN | B008MMGAMU |
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Famous Last Words
Stiff, Scratchy Knot ; Huge Glue Bump ; Shoddy Build Quality
Reviewed in Canada on 30 August 2018
Famous Last Words
Reviewed in Canada on 30 August 2018
Out of the box, the lack of quality was evident. The brush appears to be quite cheaply-made and has no heft or substance to it. The finish on the wood handle is rough; there is only a thin coating of sealant, so I suspect that it won't withstand moisture for very long if you usually soak your brushes before shaving or don't meticulously dry it off after use. Also, the plating on the metal ring around the knot is uneven and flaking. Pitting or machine marks are clearly evident (see photo).
The knot is extremely stiff and coarse, despite the plug being only 18 mm in diameter and having a relatively high loft (55 mm). It is composed of boar bristle (the box flap states "pelo de cerdo" which is Spanish for "hair of pig"), unlike most other Vie-Long brushes that use horse hair. It has a standard bulb profile, but it's not consistently-shaped; there are high spots, low spots, and a general scruffiness to it. Many of the hairs are bent or crimped; some are broken halfway. I suppose that such a cheap brush doesn't merit the most meticulous trimming, but this is pretty bad. Running my fingers through the knot produced a shower of loose hairs.
The knot has banding to imitate the look of badger, but the banding is uneven in both colouration and positioning. Frankly, this is only an issue of aesthetics.
The real issue is the large glue bump that feels like it extends halfway up the knot. Pressing down on the knot with my fingers clearly reveals the extent of this bump (see photo).
Using the depth rod of a dial caliper, I measured the distance from the top of the glue bump to the top of the knot. Some brush manufacturers refer to this distance as "free loft". My measurements yielded a free loft of 27.42 mm. That is almost exactly half of the advertised loft (55 mm) which probably explains why the knot feels so stiff. If the glue bump didn't extend so far up the knot, then the brush would definitely be more compliant. (see photos)
After my initial inspection, I decided to begin the break-in process. I washed the entire brush with dish soap and let it soak for an hour in a mug to remove oil, debris, and chemicals from the factory. Then, I washed the knot with a strong-smelling shampoo (I used Head & Shoulders) to remove any animal odours and let it sit for a few hours. Finally, I built a lather in my hand with a strong-smelling shaving soap (I used Omega with menthol), then let it sit in the mug overnight. Throughout this process, I always wiped the handle dry and placed the brush knot-side down in the mug to prevent the cheap wood from soaking up excess water and cracking.
After the first wash with dish soap, six more hairs were shed. After the second wash with shampoo, four more hairs were shed. After the final lather with shaving soap, another five hairs were shed. This amount of shedding before my first use did not fill me with confidence.
The following morning, I rinsed the brush in warm water and began my daily ablutions. Since the knot was already thoroughly soaked, I began to build a lather. This time, I used LEA Classic (in the metal tin; a lightly-mentholated cream that whips up a great lather and feels very soothing on the skin... Try it!). First, I swirled the brush in the cream for about a minute to really load up the diminutive knot with product. Then, I whipped up some lather in my hand, just to see how much water would be needed. Water retention is fairly good and it did a fairly good job of making a thick, meringue-like lather. But, even in my hand, I was taken aback by how prickly it felt. As mentioned, that huge glue bump makes this brush extremely stiff and the knot hairs are exceptionally wiry and scratchy.
Then, I tried a bit of face-lathering. Predictably, this thing scratches and claws like a frightened cat. The glue bump is very noticeable as you swirl the brush against your face. Another issue is that this brush left about a dozen hairs stuck to my face. Along with the shedding that I noticed during the breaking-in process, this amount of hair loss is worrisome. At this rate, the brush would just be a bare handle after a month of shaves!
The handle has a shape that is easy to grasp, but it's just a bit too narrow to comfortably hold for anyone with larger hands. The poor finishing of the handle is quite noticeable in use; the one good thing is that the roughness provides a decent grip when the handle is wet.
As noted above, the brush is extremely light, so it feels unsubstantial in your hand. The dry weight of this brush is only 33 grams. I own more than a dozen other brushes (yes, Shaving Brush Acquisition Disorder (SBAD) has taken hold) and they range from 62 grams (an Omega 10005) to 140 grams (a Vulfix #40). I like a brush with a bit of heft, so something this light just feels completely foreign.
Well, in conclusion... I actually had an idea of what I was getting into when I bought this brush. I figured that a small, light, slim brush with a narrow (18 mm) knot from a well-known manufacturer would make a good travel brush. I actually own another Vie-Long (a Model 14830 with horse hair knot) that is superbly-made and produces loads of lather.
But, this brush falls far below my expectations. As noted, it has substandard knot with a huge glue bump that sheds hair like crazy, a cheap wooden handle that will probably split if you look at it funny, no heft to speak of, and an overall build quality that is shameful. It isn't even that cheap ($13.00 as of right now) when you consider that there are high-quality boar brushes available on Amazon for the same (or even lower) price. You can even get a serviceable pure badger brush for $10 if you're so inclined.
So, take my advice... Avoid this brush. As I said at the start of this review, spend a bit more for one of the other Vie-Long brushes on this page: the 4312 ("Wood/Meta"l) or the 12705 ("Red"). I guarantee that you will be much happier.
p.s. Thanks for reading this to the end. Sorry for the length of this review. I just had to get all this disappointment and displeasure off of my chest! :)
Images in this review
