(This post was last modified: 11-13-2017, 11:35 PM by Scritchnscrub.)
After 5 shaves my early impressions are very favourable. If one were to measure performance strictly in terms of a brush's ability to produce quality lather easily, then this synthetic "Silvertip" Plissoft 24mm x 57mm knot - scores a perfect 10 in my book. It lathers as well or better than literally any knot I've used in any price range - and I don't say that lightly - I've probably spent a few thousand dollars on brushes in the last number of years .
Keeping in mind that this is my first synthetic I have to say the tips are impeccably soft - as soft as the highest quality silvertip or 2-band silvertip hair - Rooney Heritage comes to mind as does Shavemac or Thater. I've read about other knots being even softer than the Plissoft knots but I honestly can't imagine what that would be like. Maybe people are referring to the knot's spring and not the tips - or maybe they haven't tried a Silvertip Plissoft. Or maybe I just need to grab me one of those other synth knots and see for myself. Edit: I should add that I just returned to my Shavemac 2-band Silvertip after a 5-day synthetic binge and I might find the tips of the badger to be ever so slightly softer than the synthetic - but my Shavemacs and Rooney 2-bands are the softest brushes I've ever used - and the difference is really slight.
This knot has a bit of spring. I take it that spring describes the potentially negative aspect of a synthetic knot's backbone that can result in the hairs springing back and flinging lather around the sink if you're not careful when you are compressing the knot while you shave. It seems some of us favour knots that splay more easily to avoid this workplace hazard. But I'm finding that with a sure hand applying appropriate pressure it splays easily enough and very rarely flings - though it has happened. The density feels just right. The knot dries faster than animal hair for sure, though it is far from dry in 30 minutes as I have read of other synthetics - more like 2 or so hours for me so far.
The handle is hefty and very comfortable without being unpleasantly heavy. It's reasonably appealing and very comfortable in my hand. It's ergonomic enough for face lathering and based on the design would be a terrific bowl latherer. I've heard one criticism that it may fall over when resting in the bowl. I could see that - it's bottom heavy - which would make it top heavy in the bowl - and combined with the backbone the knot has, I could see it falling over when resting on its tips.
All in all, this is a remarkably good buy in my humble opinion from Italian Barber - I don't think it's available elsewhere and in fact it seems it just sold out there as well. Without a doubt it is good enough that I will be keeping an eye out on RazoRock brushes from now on - until now I had only ever bought their soaps. I decided to take the chance on this brush because the reviews on Italian Barber's website were so compelling - and now I can say they are accurate as well.
So are synthetics ultimately going to replace natural hair? I don't know - you tell me. My feeling is maybe - particularly in the lower end of the market where I can tell you I would now never recommend a drug store Omega over a $20 or $25 synthetic. But are they going to replace high end badger brushes? Probably not anytime soon. And not because they won't produce every bit as good lather as your most prized badger or boar at a fraction of the cost - and not because they won't offer as luxurious a sensory experience either. But it is a distinct experience in the way boar is distinct from badger, a Simpson is distinct from a Rooney - or perhaps in the way a CD is distinct from vinyl. Only time will tell.
