Thread: Omega Boar Bristles Too Long?

I've done a fair amount of experimenting with boars and my favorite knot is an Omega 20248 shortened up to about 52/53 mm.

NOS Dubl Duck.....whipped up a good lather in my scuttle then I felt like I was painting a picket fence when I applied it to my face. I probably won't use it again. Cool looking brush though, box and all.

I have 2 Omega Boar Brushes my first was a 10066 it has served me well so I got another Omega Boar a 10049 I really like this Brush it make lather like none of the other Brushes I own. I have Badger Brushes, Badger & Boar Brushes but I like my Boar Brushes the best. This is just the way it worked for me they may not work so well for others.

I have a Muhle Boar that is also too long to lather correctly and I doubled a rubber band right at the base of the brush. Works pretty well

I have a long haired brush or two (4) like that. I love it. Paint that creme on and dip the tips in water and go to town.
My Omega is new. The other 3 are vintage. Fun brushes!

I'll try the rubber band trick and see if that works any better. I get a great lather with my Kingsley pure badger and have been leaning on it. But I want the Omega boar to be a good brush. We shall see.

Originally Posted by RustySterling

Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I bought an Omega boar brush that looked good but doesn't lather well at all. The lather gets lost in the deep bristles. This thing has bristles 2-1/2" long, it has no bloom, and when mixing lather in a bowl the brush just sucks it up and won't release it when trying to apply it to my face. I also have a pure badger brush that has some decent backbone and lathers up beautifully. Its bristles are about 1-3/4". So I'm wondering if I trim down the Omega if it will perform any better? Any advice?

A 98 will lather totally differently to any badger brush. You will use more soap most likely but your ratio to water has to be spot on if you only want to make small amounts. The 98 is ideal if you want to make a lot of lather eg if shaving your head as well as your face.
I see no benefit to putting a rubber band at the bottom. You may simply need a smaller brush.

Yeah, that's what I felt, I need a smaller brush. Obviously trimming is out. But I will try what a couple others said would help -- an o-ring or rubber band.

I know this will sound odd but the only Omega I own was filthy dirty when I got it. I tried to lather it up with no luck, and although it did not smell bad I noticed the water that I soaked it in had a tint to it. I took it to the sink and used some shampoo on it. t took a second wash with shampoo to get it clean and when I used it next it lathered very well. It still took a while to break in and does not lather as well as my Badger, but still scrubs and lathers very well.

Every boar brush needs a period of at least 3 weeks daily use to break it in. Until it's fully broken in the lather will not reach it's full potential. The larger the knot the longer the break in period. I'd build lather in a bowl 2 or 3 times each day until it starts to perform. As mentioned as it breaks in the bristles will start to split helping both the lather and the feel of the brush on your face.
Boar brushes also hold more water and need a good soaking before building lather. I leave mine soaking in the shaving bowl or sink whilst I have a shower.
Hope this helps.