Thread: Boar vs Badger Shaving Brushes Which is Best ?

I am looking to buy a new shaving brush have been using a boar brush that was belonged to my late father. I have heard getting the right shaving brush will depend on what type of shaving cream/soap I use. Is there a difference between Boar vs Badger brushes if I use a Proraso soap or Proraso cream for shaving? Or is it just a lot of hype from the brush sellers looking to sell their products.

Personally I don't think it matters all that much, but a stiffer brush might make it easier to load on hard soaps unless you soak the soap in hot water to soften it up. I have boar and badger brushes and am actually looking to get another boar. If it is a quality boar brush it will get nice soft tips with good backbone once it is broke in. It all comes down to what you like. Badgers seem to bloom more when used so might be easier to lather soft creams, but I find that both will get the job done regardless. I would say try a badger brush and see what you think. Never hurts to have another brush to use.

I suppose if you had 100 brushes and wanted to differentiate them, that'd be one way.

but i'm thinkin' "hype". I love anything rated above pure badger. And I've been told that pure badger is a big leap from boar. But others like boar just fine. It's a really personal thing, about your face. Not your soap.

Any badger worth lathering will lather any soap in my experience.

Originally Posted by Giorgio

I am looking to buy a new shaving brush have been using a boar brush that was belonged to my late father. I have heard getting the right shaving brush will depend on what type of shaving cream/soap I use. Is there a difference between Boar vs Badger brushes if I use a Proraso soap or Proraso cream for shaving? Or is it just a lot of hype from the brush sellers looking to sell their products.

It becomes a preference. I think Boar hair can eat soap and creams pretty quickly and it doesn't hold water as well as Badger, but it doesn't mean they're bad. I find when I use a boar brush I constantly have to go back to the soap to load it.
If you're using a boar hair brush now, you may find it hard to switch to say a SilverTip Badger ( very soft) so I would recommend Finest Badger/two band it's stiff but soft, holds water better than boar, but isn't quite as ruff.
This is what I like to use

Well brushes are a matter of choice and there are a gazillion choices. The things to think about are Softness. Boar is the scritchy side of the scale. Silver tip Badger the other. On a puck of soap you may want a brush with back bone. A Boar has lots of it. Picks up soap easier. With creams it's mostly about whipping. I have a long horse hair brush that makes cream lather easy but feels like a mop on the face. I have a 2mm Silver tip that picks soap off a puck just fine. Your going to have to flip a quater maybe but there are difference to think about. Read up :<0)

I think a black badger would be the next step up from boar.

I have got boar, various variety of badger hair brushes and a few synthetics. They will all lather up any cream, croap (soft Italian soaps like Proraso) or hard soap I want to use. They all do the job but need slightly different techniques to get the best out of them and they all have a different feel on the face. From the ability to make a good lather POV I'd have to say there is no best. There is a best but that would depend on what you like in a brush and the only way to find that out is to try a variety of them.

Bob

Originally Posted by Giorgio

I am looking to buy a new shaving brush have been using a boar brush that was belonged to my late father. I have heard getting the right shaving brush will depend on what type of shaving cream/soap I use. Is there a difference between Boar vs Badger brushes if I use a Proraso soap or Proraso cream for shaving? Or is it just a lot of hype from the brush sellers looking to sell their products.

Hope this helps..........
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...d-brushes.html

OP

If you are considering getting a new brush maybe you could describe what you like in a brush for back bone (stiffness), the feel of the tips, size of the knot, tall or short handle and so on plus a price range you are considering. Possibly people on here could make suggestions for you to look at based on their own experiences.

Bob

I think it is kinda like asking which is better...Chevy or Ford.
Each will do the job...it comes down to personal preference.

Originally Posted by Nightblade

Hope this helps..........
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...d-brushes.html

I just ordered a Semogue 1305 boar shaving brush...I've got two badgers, a $20 badger, my first brush, short and stiff, which I quite like. Then purchased a Kent K-2, it's, "meh", at best, too floppy for me.

From what I've read, the boar can be quite stiff, pick up the soap quite well, and give a good scrubbing to your face, which is exactly what I want....so going with Nightblade's choice...looking forward to giving it a try...if this doesn't work, looks like I'll have to give some steel wool a try!