I asked for a synthetic brush with nigh-impossible dimensions on an internet discussion forum. One of Andrew’s colleagues said a G5 series would be needed to produce what I wanted to try.
I wanted a brush in the medium-to-hyooj category that wouldn’t have too tall of a loft. Other than the height of its loft, my AP ShaveCo 30mm Cashmere brush is perfecto. Actually, it’s perfecto even with its loft height, but I didn’t know that, so I was on a quest.
This quest continued with me emailing Andrew about setting a relatively low loft on a 24mm G5A knot in a clear and blue handle and him saying he could make and sell one to me. So that happened. And I waited and fidgeted and it arrived in a timely manner and it looked stunning. My first “high end” synthetic knot in my third, custom-made AP ShaveCo brush.
Then learning occurred. But it was great!
The brush looked barely; nit-pickingly; narrower than the Omega Evo V1 in the household (at 24mm versus 28mm, that’s supposed to look/be that way) and with a slightly shorter loft (for which I begged as I surmised it would be the answer to all my brush-related desires). What I asked for to a tee! When both are completely dry, the tips of the competitor’s brush felt barely softer, but something happened when the AP ShaveCo brush was loaded with soap and water:
This medium/large brush made non-stop slick, creamy lather! It was like a machine at a barber shop that fit in the palm of my lather-filled hand. It held enough lather to shave my neighborhood, but I’m introverted. But insanely easy lather making was only the start.
I face lather; as opposed to using a bowl; and paint with a little bit of pressure here and there as opposed to splaying and scrubbing. This brush felt not only as soft or softer as that Omega Evo V1 I mentioned, but it is so much more plush, dense, and luxurious. This brush feels so incredibly like a badger brush, only it also feels like it’s not at the same time. Very soft, but very scrubby, with none of the downsides.
My only regret is that I wonder what the G5C feels like in action as the G5A gives me the comfort, luxury, and enjoyment one expects of a premium, deity-tier brush, but it also makes incredible lather beyond my skill level, so I shouldn’t wonder.
How did so much luxury come from a 24mm synthetic brush? I don’t know, but AP ShaveCo sold one to me without a prescription.
