At 12 years old I started shining shoes on Saturdays , at a Barber Shop in an affluent suburb , discerning customers , with expensive mens shoes . 3 years of working Saturday shining shoes , I know what Im doing maintaining leather shoes . I have always used Star Brushes , they have twice the volume of horsehair bristles as these Ralyn Amatuer  brushes . Star brand brushes made in Brazil are a professional grade brush . Amazon only offered the Star brand brush in the 6 1/2  version , I bought the 8 Ralyn brush which what Amazon had in stock .