High End Synthetic Brushes (2025)

A high-end synthetic brush, is there actually such a thing?

Technology has moved on, shave gurus on here are making the switch totally from badgers to synths and most die-hard badger brush folks have a synth in their collection.
Sure there are higher price synthetics but are the knots worth the extra outlay?
A fancy handle can push the price up with only looks being the benefit but with no extra performance over other synthetic knots.

For example the Simpson Chubby 3 synth has the same Sovereign fibres as the Trafalgar range which are much cheaper. The Chubby 2 synth has the higher grade Platinum fibres but is it worth its £89 price tag?

What would you consider a high-end synthetic brush? Maybe you have a custom / favourite handle and you have put another brand synthetic knot in there or you might have bought an off the shelf model that you consider a high-end synthetic brush. The consideration could be that it does simulate an actual badger brush of some form or it may make a great lather bomb every time over others that don't.

I like the old tradition of wet shaving but I like modern hardware to do it. A few ideas from folks in the know could save me (& others) some cash when deciding what synthetic to go for.
Thanks for reading!

Maggard "black and white" knot beats anything I've seen, firm backbone and soft tips, makes all the lather you can handle, and somehow it isn't flicky.

On the other hand, I have a Parker synthetic that is firm, not that soft, refuses to splay, and flicks like crazy.

TobyC said:

Maggard "black and white" knot beats anything I've seen, firm backbone and soft tips, makes all the lather you can handle, and somehow it isn't flicky.

On the other hand, I have a Parker synthetic that is firm, not that soft, refuses to splay, and flicks like crazy.

See Also

6 Best Shaving Brushes That Will Up Your Shave Quality 2022

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Many thanks Toby, I was hoping you were going to reply to this.
You being into your retro hardware & saying something about a synthetic then that means a lot

Missoni said:

I think if you consider looking at those synthetic brushes that approximate to your own preferences (knot size, loft, backbone, face feel) instead of cost, you may get something you enjoy using. As far as I am aware only Muhle, Omega and Simpson have had synthetic fibres developed specifically to their own requirements (happy to be corrected, if their are other manufacturers who have done so), and it shows to me; each of them is well worth trying; I also think the Simpson Trafalgar is an excellent brush for not very much money. Getting, the brush right for you, in terms of loft, knot size, face feel and handle can be time consuming and expensive and I am not sure if their is a short-cut.

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I have a Trafalgar T3 and can't fault it. I also have a Shavemac (386 handle) with a 24mm x 50mm loft & I chose it down to the custom handle really. Still its a great brush. I will checkout the brands you have mentioned, come to think of it the Omega Evo always caught my eye. Thanks for the info Missoni

Rufusdog said:

I’ve a Simpson Classic 1 with an early Simpson synthetic knot. The knot was terrible so I replaced it with a Muhle V2 silvertip fibre knot. Although the Muhle knot is far superior to the knot the brush came with it still is no match for a Simpson best or super badger knot. As well, I like the AP Shave Co SynBad synthetic more than the Muhle. I’ve tried half a dozen synthetics, but not the Simpson Platinum or Sovereign fibres, and I like the SynBad the best.

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Thanks Rufus, I am hankering over the AP Shave Co Synbad. This keeps cropping up in various threads.

Charcoal said:

I stopped looking after I purchased AP Shave Co brushes. Every single one has been a hit for me.

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This has to be top of the shortlist so far. I will go and have look now, thanks Charcoal!

N0ggie said:

I have a Trafalgar T3 and can't fault it. I also have a Shavemac (386 handle) with a 24mm x 50mm loft & I chose it down to the custom handle really. Still its a great brush. I will checkout the brands you have mentioned, come to think of it the Omega Evo always caught my eye. Thanks for the info Missoni

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The Evo and CH2S remain my favourite synthetics (some have had problems with glue bumps on the Evo, and the CH2S bulb shape and loft seems to vary greatly with their off the shelf offerings.

N0ggie said:

This has to be top of the shortlist so far. I will go and have look now, thanks Charcoal!

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I wondered over there myself... it’s a sickness I tell you. lol

I still have a 24mm Silk Smoke I need to find a base for.
I agree with everyone saying the SynBad is great. My personal favorites are the Cashmere and the faux Horsehair. Happy hunting

Charcoal said:

I wondered over there myself... it’s a sickness I tell you. lol

I still have a 24mm Silk Smoke I need to find a base for.
I agree with everyone saying the SynBad is great. My personal favorites are the Cashmere and the faux Horsehair. Happy hunting

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I'm impressed, I have heard the name so many times just never looked at the site, haha!
All looks great, prices are really good too.

N0ggie said:

Many thanks Toby, I was hoping you were going to reply to this.
You being into your retro hardware & saying something about a synthetic then that means a lot

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You're welcome my friend. I have given synthetics a fair shot, and I still use mine, but most are just too soft for me.

If by "high end" you mean expensive then you have to consider that they are predominately made in the Western World as opposed to China. It just costs more to make things in the West. The same generally applies to badger knot brushes. More expensive may not indicate higher quality either but can.

I don't care much what the "shave gurus" are saying or doing to a point. I have a few synthetics but still reach for my boar and badgers brushes more often. Like finding a shave brush in boar or badger, you will just have to try different synthetics till you find what you like best. There is no easy way.

Bob

TobyC said:

Maggard "black and white" knot beats anything I've seen, firm backbone and soft tips, makes all the lather you can handle, and somehow it isn't flicky.

On the other hand, I have a Parker synthetic that is firm, not that soft, refuses to splay, and flicks like crazy.

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I'm fairly sure that particular knot is the same one as the Yaqi Tuxedo, which if you get a good one (there are a lot with really high glue bumps) they are a really good performing synth.

IMO the Yaqi Sagrada Tuxedo is the Omega 10066 of the synth, good well priced reliable performer.