Since I started shaving with a regular double edge razor again and purchased that nice razor, I've redeveloped an interest in wet shaving. Wet shaving refers to using shaving creams or soaps that require a brush and water in order to use them, and normally a straight or double edge razor.
I have an old, rather pathetic cheap-o boar hair shaving brush that is as close to useless as a shaving brush can get while still having bristles. Boar hair brushes are the lowest rung on the ladder as far as shaving brushes go. They don't hold water very well, are too stiff, and are generally an all around poor brush for shaving.
I have been wanting to purchase a nice badger hair brush, which is the best type of shaving brush one can use. Sadly, a good one runs over $100 and I just haven't been able to bring myself to spend that kind of money on one.
There is a forum dedicated to wet shaving and I have been reading and posting there for a little while in an attempt to gain knowledge on technique as well as products. Recently they were having a contest in honor of their anniversary and of course I entered it. The prizes were all products donated to the contest by the many fine wet shaving products companies who are associated with and/or sponser the forum. All of the listed prizes were quite nice and many of them quite expensive.
Well, the drawing was finally held and the winners announced. I scanned down through the list of winner's names and sure enough there was mine. I had won a very nice Simpson's badger hair shaving brush! The exact brush I had been considering buying ($115).
Needless to say I'm quite happy about it and can hardly wait for it to arrive so that I can try it out.