Thread: Boar vs Badger and Cream vs Soap

Wondering if anyone has noticed if boar or badger reacts differently to creams or soaps. I'm finding that my new boar brush sucks up a ton of cream with not a great lather, where as my badger needs minimal cream for a very easy quick lather.
thanks folks!

If you are trying to load your boar brush with shave cream by swirling it directly in the shave cream tub you can easily load more cream than you really need. Boar being stiffer than badger will pick more up. If you have a lot of shave cream in your boar brush and you can't get a good lather you simply not have added enough water. Try scooping an almond sized amount of shave cream from the tub with your finger and place it on the boar brush tips or in a lathering bowl.

Here is a vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvV0W1Wv7C8

that shows how much cream is usually needed regardless of the maker. He is using a boar brush.

Bob

As far as i know badgers are better for creams because they got low amount of backbone where boars are better for hard soaps because they have the hardest backbone! Thats IMHO that i have figured out and yes Board suck up a lot of lather!

Originally Posted by babarog

As far as i know badgers are better for creams because they got low amount of backbone where boars are better for hard soaps because they have the hardest backbone! Thats IMHO that i have figured out and yes Board suck up a lot of lather!

Yes, that is the often accepted normal wisdom. I my experience that is not necessarily so as both will work well with either hard soaps or creams if you adjust your technique. I mean in the vid the boar brush does a bang up job on lathering the Palmolive cream. I have no trouble loading and face lathering MWF with my badger brushes.

Bob

I don't always have a bowl handy so if I run into a situation where a brush is hogging lather I'll add water and palm lather until things are looking better.
It's fast & easy and 95% of the time I have plenty of product in play, just not enough agitation & water.

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, that is the often accepted normal wisdom. I my experience that is not necessarily so as both will work well with either hard soaps or creams if you adjust your technique. I mean in the vid the boar brush does a bang up job on lathering the Palmolive cream. I have no trouble loading and face lathering MWF with my badger brushes.

Bob

Gentlemen,

I agree with Bob that the proper lathering technique with soaps or creams will accommodate both badger hair or boar bristle brushes. Whether bowl lathering or face lathering, proper technique, which includes brush loading and water ratio, will overcome any lathering obstacle.

Thanks folks! I appreciate it!
Right now my badger brush is just a basic AoS brush that comes with the starter pack and has almost no back bone...when I step up to a bigger and better one will the bigger knots come with a bit more back bone?

Originally Posted by noobs

Thanks folks! I appreciate it!
Right now my badger brush is just a basic AoS brush that comes with the starter pack and has almost no back bone...when I step up to a bigger and better one will the bigger knots come with a bit more back bone?

That will depend on the type of badger, the density of the knot and the loft of the knot. Shorter lofts tend to be stiffer.

Bob

I agree with BobH and Obie. I have several Badgers and two quality Boars. While the Boars have backbone by the mile, both Boar and Badger make fine brushes.

I Face/Bowl/Hand lather and if anything I find some of my Badger brushes to be a tad (and I'm talking a slim margin) more lather stingey.

Lather build and releases well with all the brushed I have.

Originally Posted by noobs

Thanks folks! I appreciate it!
Right now my badger brush is just a basic AoS brush that comes with the starter pack and has almost no back bone...when I step up to a bigger and better one will the bigger knots come with a bit more back bone?

Noobs,
The little brush in The Art of Shaving starter kit is a throwaway, meant to be used only until you have finished the products. Now comes the fun part of trying out quality brushes. If I may suggest, stay away from the cheapos, badger hair or boar bristle, and buy a good brush. No, it does not have to be pricey, because there are many affordable quality brushes. Even so, remember there is always some starter expense, and you might as well give yourself a good start with a good brush.