High End Artisan-made Brushes mainly using Fan Knots?

Hi Everyone,

After my newfound obsession with high-end artisan brushes, I noted that most of them are sticking to Fan knots only (Declaration Grooming, Varlet, Black Eagle) or only going FAN and Hybrid knots (Paladin).   I think the only  High-end artisan brush maker that still has bulb knots is Morris & Forndran.

My question is, does this trend have a rationale? (like is it because the market just wants fan knots now, or is there an objective reason these super high-end brushes tend to be Fan-shaped?

This is a pretty big contrast to 10 years ago, when most brushes were bulb-shaped, and some hybrids, with fan shape knot being limited during that timeframe.

PS:  I do love how the fan knots look, I think it looks more luxurious,  but that can't be the reason I suspect.  It seems bulbs might be coming out of popularity, same as 3 band silvertip badger brushes (so Fan/or hybrid shape knots with 2-band seems to be the current market trend, from my observation)

Any info on this will be greatly appreciated!!!  

The more dense the knot is going to be, regardless of 2 band or 3 band hair, if they shape it in a bulb, it just won't have as much flow through, splay or as I say ability to produce and mix the lather. So put a knot in a fan shape allows them to aid in still having dense face feel, enough loft to bend, and allow for application of lather.

That's why most of the 3 band brushes I have are not very dense but have a more bulb or hybrid shape. I really like a lot of 2 band knots in a fan shape rather than a bulb. The flow through is really nice and I find I really like a less dense 2 band brush as well. I'm not in love with dense knots.

The more dense the knot is going to be, regardless of 2 band or 3 band hair, if they shape it in a bulb, it just won't have as much flow through, splay or as I say ability to produce and mix the lather. So put a knot in a fan shape allows them to aid in still having dense face feel, enough loft to bend, and allow for application of lather.

That's why most of the 3 band brushes I have are not very dense but have a more bulb or hybrid shape. I really like a lot of 2 band knots in a fan shape rather than a bulb. The flow through is really nice and I find I really like a less dense 2 band brush as well. I'm not in love with dense knots.

thanks a lot for your response!  great info.

I agree with what zac said above. I also believe that it is easier for them to make fan knots and make them look good and much more difficult to make bulb knots that look good like say shavemac does.
Happy shaves
SMURF

I agree with what zac said above.  I also believe that it is easier for them to make fan knots and make them look good and much more difficult to make bulb knots that look good like say shavemac does.
Happy shaves
SMURF

So far this seems like the most consistent reason for using fan knots nowadays.  ty!

I don’t know about the making being difficult part but my preference has always been fan knots. I have a few bulbs and they’re nice but I rarely use them.

As Zac has mentioned, if the knot is too large or dense and in a bulb shape, then it will have less flow-through and it will take more time to generate lather, which some or many persons don't enjoy. Personally, I prefer bulb knots as I enjoy the stronger backbone they offer.