KENTBK8S Shaving Brush with Ultra-Soft Silvertext Synthetic Bristles and Faux Ivory Resin Handle to use with Shave Cream or Soap for a Perfect Lather. Luxury Shaving Since 1777, Made in England

I have used a double edged razor for decades. Initially I used a badger silver tip brush. The bristles wore out, although in all fairness the brush was my grandfather’s and lasted for years. I’m not one to use animal products if given a reasonable alternative. Ergo, I have this synthetic brush a go.This Kent shaving brush is every bit as good and in many ways better than the badger. It holds water well. Lathers well. Applies well. And, not animal. I am sure this will last my lifetime and I am happy that it will.

Simply: you get what you pay for. Kent is a long time name in brushes. They even have the royal warrant. I have had their hairbrushes and combs. You can tell the quality. From the moment I opened this brush and have been using it for two weeks, not a single hair has been shed. — which is surprising because even good brushes usually have a period of a little shed. This is significant since low quality brushes are constantly shedding hairs and a general nuisance. The badger looks and feels authentic and it whips up a nice lather. (A helpful hint is to never store your brush on its handle bc soap and buildup can dry in there and loosen the hairs. Instead get a brush holder that will allow the excess to drip out and or run down. It will make your brush last longer in the end..)I don’t foresee having to replace this brush for years to come. And that’s where the brush is worth the money.

Doesn’t shed. Holds shaving cream well. Very gentle. Not as pliable as real badger but takes form on your chin and pretty well holds form. I’ve had lots of shaving brushes and am most satisfied with the Kent. Spares sacrificing an animal!

Plain and simple: this is not the shave brush you need. There are plenty - PLENTY - of great shave brushes out there that perform at a much lower price. With that in mind, this brush is one of those great instances where you pay the luxury price for an item, and it winds up delivering on the luxury experience.My BK8 took no time at all to break in, barely had any trace of a "badger funk" smell, hasn't lost a single hair, and consistently performs wonderfully. When loaded sufficiently, you don't even feel the bristles on your face; they're that soft. I'm embarrassed to admit that the "IT FEELS LIKE I'M BRUSHING MY FACE WITH A CLOUD ROTFL LAWLZ" comments that I used to roll my eyes at are kind of warranted. Though a large brush, it is very manageable, and I don't have any problem getting the lather to only go where I want it to. Also, though the bristles are relatively long, I don't find the brush top be at all overly "floppy." I was worried that after spending so much on the brush that I'd wind up disappointed, but thankfully my worries appear to have been unwarranted.If you're okay spending over $150 on a shave brush, then go for it. If you're at all on the fence about doing so, then don't. Again, there are plenty of other great options out there. This is a true "treat-yo-self" kind of item that performs solidly enough to make defending its high price a possibility.

WOW! From the very first use, I knew this brush was well worth every cent. It reminded me of something my Mom taught me about shopping. If you spend a little bit more you usually get the quality that comes with the price tag. The Kent Medium Badger exceeds that theory and more. It's comfortable. I am a three passer with a brush when I wet shave. It gets a good lather with the soap I am using right now on each and every pass. That is important. Every time I lather up it feels good. Some brushes are coarse, especially on subsequent passes. A lot of brushes I have used in the past lose hair or just plain fall apart. Not the Kent, it is a pleasure to shave with. I shave everyday and the Kent makes it a pleasent expeience. Another less important feature is the look. It looks good on the shelf after cleaning. It is built sturdy. I love it. When I save up my extra pennies I am going to invest in a Kent upgrade. The case is awesome as well. The craftsmanship and quality of the brush and case is the best I have seen so far. You can tell the difference everytime you lather up, whether it is one time or three, etc.

Like the other reviewer, I was looking for a replacement for my old brush, which was also my first. Needless to say I did not take very good care of my old one, so it only lasted a few years for me. Since I love straight razor shaving, I decided to dish out the extra $ for this one.It does come in a very nice case, which I plan on using as a traveling case for the brush since it holds the brush very well. It is definitely a quality brush, I only used it once and got fantastic lather, and enough lather to shave twice. I did not lose a single bristle on the first shave, compared to my first brush which lost at least 2 every time I made a lather.If you want a good quality brush, this is definitely worth it. Provided you want to spend the money for it.

I had high hopes and expectations upon receiving the brush. It worked great for about a week. Very luxurious lathers and extremely comfortable on the skin. However, that's when the brush completely separated itself from the handle! Somehow it came unglued. Not what I expected from this pricey of a brush! However amazon's return process couldn't have been any easier and they immediately shipped me a replacement brush which was received in two days. I will update this review after using the new brush for awhile.8/31/15 UPDATE:Ok, I have been using the replacement brush for about a month. I assume the first brush which fell apart was just a mfg defect. So far so good with this one. I love the way it feels on the face. I find that I spend more time lathering than ever before because it feels so good on the skin. The result is that I am getting a better lather. As others have said, you don't "need" a brush this expensive but you certainly do "want" it.7/14/16 UPDATE:I have been using the replacement brush everyday for a year and it has worked great! It sheds very little and the brushes have remained extremely soft. Overall I have been happy with my purchase.