Thread: Undecided! Need your expert advice!

Okay Gents,

I'm pretty sure this has been asked a million times before...but look at it as yet another chance to discuss something we all love and show off your experience and prowess!

I need your experience and expert advice on a boar brush purchase!

My wife graciously allowed me to buy another shaving brush and I want to try out a boar hair brush. I currently own a good badger hair brush that I use for soft soaps.

I am considering boar because I want to try face lathering (I have been bowl lathering with my soft soap) and the soap I plan to use is a hard puck glycerin soap.

The two brushes I am considering (I know...I've already narrowed the field!) are both from Omega:

1. The Omega 20106 (loft:66mm, knot:27mm)
2. The Omega 31064 (loft:59mm, knot:25mm)

At first glance they look pretty similar, however I think they are going to behave different.

Can you guys PLEASE help me decide?! Do you have experience with these? I sincerely apologize for repeating any drudgery and history on this topic! Thanks!

Here's some images:
This is the 30164:


This is the 20106:

A great boar brush in my opinion is the Semogue 1305 - have one, inexpensive, and a nice way to change things up from badger.

That looks like a nice brush. Loft of 55mm and a knot of 22mm. How well does it handle hard (glycerin) soaps?

Another great boar brush is a Semogue 2000. It's my favorite brush. I use with a hard, glyercine-based Mama Bear soap to good effect. This Semogue has good stiffness/backbone and is able to work a lather nicely on hard soap.

However, with my boar, I don't really face lather with the glycerine soap. My preferred use of my Semogue is to make a sort of pseudo-"Uberlather". I start off swirling the boar in the hard gylcerine soap until the brush is loaded with lather and cannot hold anymore. Next, I add an almond-sized amount of a soft soap (like TOBs or even Arko) to a mug, and then I added the boar brush soaked with the gylcerine soap and mix the glyercine and soft soap to make a pretty ideal lather. The mixed lather gives me the nice glide and moisture of the glycerine and the thicker lathering property of the soft soap. This mixture holds up well in an arid climate like Phoenix. I can lather my face and do a full WTG or ATG pass without the lather drying out.

Well I cant tell you as to which of the two omegas you have picked to buy. What I can tell you is I own the omega Big Pro. It is exactly that! Unless you are planning on shaving a football team it seems to be overkill IMO. Works good just takes way to much soap for my 3 pass shave. If I had to do it over again I would go with the first pic you posted. I looked at that one before I purchased mine. Wanted something completely different than my other brushes. Turns out I should've at least stayed in the same arena.

I agree with getting the 30164. That knot size will do very well with all soaps as well as both face and bowl lathering. I have used an Omega 10066 in my rotation for some time now and it is excellent, especially for a $12 brush.

Best of luck!

10066 24mmx54mm

Aggyhotep,

First, to clarify something, you can use a badger brush just as well as a boar bristle with soap, hard or soft.

If you would like the boar, however, you have a big choice. I have used the Omega 30164, and even though it has a high loft, the hairs and backbone are stiff enough for loading and then face lathering.

You might also consider the Semogue boar bristle brushes: 1305, 830, 620, 1800, 2000, among others, all fine brushes that should serve you well.

Agree with Phrank...I have one and love it.

Originally Posted by Phrank

A great boar brush in my opinion is the Semogue 1305 - have one, inexpensive, and a nice way to change things up from badger.

Unfortunately, I did not try the models you are choosing between. However, Omega is a fine brand. I owned the Omega 81052 and loved it. I also have the Semogue 1305 and the Owner's Club model, all fine brushes. I am sure you will be happy with either of the ones you mentioned, or any of the models mentioned here.