Thread: Boar vs Badger brushes

Hello gents,

I am a proud straight razor shaver for a year or so and i would like to hear your opinion about differences between boar and badger brushes, pro's/ con's.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dan

Welcome to the forum Dan! i have both a silver tip and a Ever ready boar. the boar brush has to be soaked before use because it takes time to absorb water while the silver tip can be just ran under the faucet. there are different qualities of both and having said that i wouldn't recommend the ever-ready. some people really like boar brushes so i guess i haven't found the right one. JMHO and YMMV.

Hi tintin,
Thanks for your reply. I just ordered a boar brush and I will see what it feels like.

Finally a forum for shaving enthusiasts. In my country I cannot ask anyone about these topics (everybody is gillette here) )

Yes, this is a great forum, lots of information and great people always willing to help and talk razors!

Welcome to the forum. Keep in mind that with your new boar brush it will take sometime to break in. By breaking in I mean for the tips of the bristles to split/flag. Once that happens it will feel a lot better on your face. I'd give it about 2 weeks of every day use for the break in to happen. Some take less and some take more.

Bob

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the reply and useful info. My father advised me to get a badger brush (the hair is not so tough as in boar) but after a lot invested in my razor a boar brush works fine I hope for now )

Originally Posted by MDM

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the reply and useful info. My father advised me to get a badger brush (the hair is not so tough as in boar) but after a lot invested in my razor a boar brush works fine I hope for now )

You are welcome. It has always been the case that a badger brush was considered better than a boar brush. In order to get a good badger brush with soft tips and good backbone/stiffness you have to spend a good deal more than for a boar brush. Personally, I use boar, badger and synthetic brushes and each has their own personality. In the end they all make a good lather if you have the right technique for each. One of my favourite bushes is an Omega boar brush that costs less than $10. I am pretty sure once you get your new boar brush broken in and get used to using it you will be pleased with it.

If the time comes when you decide you want to try a badger brush you will then know better what characteristics you will want from a badger brush. No sense to rushing into buying an expensive badger brush right away till you know better what you may want. Either type will do the job just fine but in a different way.

Bob

I think the biggest difference between the two is that the boar is alot more stiffer while the badger is on the softer side. I like the boar brushes with soaps and badger with creams Y.M.M.V.

Originally Posted by BobH

You are welcome. It has always been the case that a badger brush was considered better than a boar brush. In order to get a good badger brush with soft tips and good backbone/stiffness you have to spend a good deal more than for a boar brush. Personally, I use boar, badger and synthetic brushes and each has their own personality. In the end they all make a good lather if you have the right technique for each. One of my favourite bushes is an Omega boar brush that costs less than $10. I am pretty sure once you get your new boar brush broken in and get used to using it you will be pleased with it.

If the time comes when you decide you want to try a badger brush you will then know better what characteristics you will want from a badger brush. No sense to rushing into buying an expensive badger brush right away till you know better what you may want. Either type will do the job just fine but in a different way.

Bob

I'm sure that the quality or type of the brush is as important as the other tools but as you say Bob it's best for now to start with a cheaper one for training

Originally Posted by Tarkus

I think the biggest difference between the two is that the boar is alot more stiffer while the badger is on the softer side. I like the boar brushes with soaps and badger with creams Y.M.M.V.

Hi Tarkus and thanks for the reply.

By coincidence I got a soap ordered together with the boar so it should fit well as you say