Thread: Badger Vs. Boar Is there a huge difference?

I am completely new to straightshaving and am planning on purchasing my first brush. Should I go with boar or Badger bristles?

Seeing how you are new to the game, I would say Boar..THe cost is low and they are great brushes..Let it soak in hot water while you are in the shower and it will be softer than a badger when using it. What ever you do, don't get sucked into the hype right away. do some expermenting on your own. Watch who you pay heed to on these sites. Folks are well intentioned, but also very opinionated in the belief that their way is the "only" way to get a good shave..... Walmart sells a cheap boar brush..I personally have an Omega...But the Wally world one is the one I used prior to that one....I have Silver Tips, Best Badger and Boar. I like the boar the best...I could have saved money by just staying with that one...... One thing I have noticed is that some soaps seem to work better with certain brushes...I prefer the Boar when I use MWF, and I use the Silver Tip Badger when using Proraso..

+1^^

I agree entirely with what has been said. Badger brushes are definitely a great tool, and there are some excellent ones out there. But they are pricey, and it is not an absolute necessity. I get great shaves, and I am currently using a cheap boar hair brush from CVS, and I even use a synthetic brush for travel because it dries so quickly.
I think that the lather in the first few shaves is often sub-par, because it takes experimentation to create a good lather. I believe that some people just starting out get tied up in the notion that the poor lather is in regard to the brush, when it just takes time to find those perfect measurements and what works for you.
All in all, IMHO nice brushes feel great and work well, but they are not an absolute necessity, especially for a beginner.

Initially reacting to the question with detestable pomposity (its asked frequently and a search will cover the standard issues), I reconsidered & thought - this and other frequent questions are in many ways very good. 'New guys discovering the art and facing the right questions. I face-lather w/ hard soaps, and that screams for backbone - stiffness in the brisltes. Jimmyhad says he's used Badgers that had more backbone than boars, but I have to trust him there, 'cause I just can't make peace with the prices on the Badgers - especially knowing that most use low-cost Asian knots. 'Seems like romancing the canine to me. So I with the hard soap and face-lathering, I seek the most backbone. Of the new production, I've loved the Semogues, and we now have a real US outlet for them in NY (lee's safety razors), which is where I got the Semogue 620. Its the most satisfying new brush so far. I have found some vintage brushes that mock the new stuff. They make the stiffest of the new stuff seem rather flacid & floppy. Badgers hold water better. Period. There's a stage in face-lathering w/ a boar where you're prone to decorate the bathroom w/ flying lather. Its in the stage just after coating the face w/ soap and before the lather has built any loft. You'll know its coming when you see excess soap accummulating around the perimeter of the brush. This means you're about to decorate. Simply wipe that excess off on the face and keep working it until the lather builds loft, and you've got it licked. Again, congrats for choosing quality. You'll likely do well and get cranky when you don't have time for a proper shave w/ a str8. Its a great part of the day.

I'm a newbie too but I really like my boar brush from Rite Aid. They seem to lose a few more hairs than the badger but for me they do just as good a job with lather.

I agree with Wintchase, you can always upgrade if you wish.

You can also go synthetic. I was recently turned onto the Men-U Premium brush. It is a great and cost effective brush.

I have one of the cheapo boar brushes that is exactly like the one at Walgreens, mine just happened to be used and worn in when I acquired it, it works great for me with the Art of Shaving soap in wooden bowl. I also face lather and really don't know what I am doing, but it seems to work great and gets the job done.

I don't think it's rocket science despite what those who think you need a $300 brush would say. Mine was .50 cents at the flea market and I use it every time. Yeah I don't know any better, but what does it matter, it works.

Yep. Agreed. For what it's worth, I have a nice badger brush and I find myself using my cheap Walgreens boar brush much more often. Part of the reason is that because it was so cheap I don't obsess over it. For example, after I use my badger brush I feel the need to gently squeeze liquid water out, delicately dry the tips of the hairs out on a towel, and splay them out in a nice bloom so that capillary action can promote good drying. The boar gets violently whipped free of water into the open shower and left on the counter. Saves me a good minute or two.
If you like a softer feel, I find that the longer I soak the boar bristles in hot water the softer they feel. Try leaving it in hot water for the duration of a shower. Plus, with some age, they tips seem to soften and split considerably. I may not replace my badger brush if it ever poops out.

To sum up, I like my brushes like I like my women. They need to perform, but low maintenance is really really nice.

Originally Posted by FiremanFlounder

I am completely new to straightshaving and am planning on purchasing my first brush. Should I go with boar or Badger bristles?

I don't think it's possible to recommend you one or the other based only on the fact that you are new. It depends on what your priorities and tastes are. I wouldn't presume that low cost is your top priority which seems to be the line of thought in the previous posts.

In my opinion you should buy the highest quality brush you can afford, and depending on your budget it may be boar, badger, or synthetic.