I presume from your preliminary brush choices that you face lather. (If not, I'll gladly stand corrected
) The reason I ask is to determine the handle length/style that best fits with what you use now. Said differently, it's sometimes best to keep the number of variables/changes to a minimum.
The next question is: what kind of face feel are you after? (Some factors to consider: what's your beard type, do you have sensitive skin, etc.) Badger brushes, as others will tell you, come in a staggering variety of "feels"--everything from floppy soft to dense and scritchy.
With those questions considered, you might consider a quality, shorter-handled 24-26mm brush like an Elite Razor or a Simpson Best. These are solid brushes that can generally be had for under $100 and easily sold if you decide you don't like it. (These aren't your only choices, but I'm suggesting you stay with a "name" brush so you're not stuck with it.) My point is to go with an established brand, but avoid spending a ton of money until you have a frame of reference. Once you have that frame of reference, you can talk to Mark at Simpson, Bernd at Shavemac, Ken at Paladin, or (even) me. Any of us will gladly offer our thoughts and guidance.
I hope some of this helps--and know that we wish you well on your wet shaving journey!
Marko and
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