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I've had a couple badger brushes, and while I like them, I've been curious to try boar. Since I have a bunch of (fellow) gear nerds to ask, I figured I'd see what you recommend instead of shooting blind.
If it matters I tend to face lather a bit, not sure if that's a great thing to do with a boar brush but it's sort of become a habit. I can always adapt of course.
I'd suggest an inexpensive, around $10.00, Omega 10066 boar brush for a first boar brush for face lathering. Most all boar brushes need breaking in so the bristles tips will split/flag. That takes about 2 weeks of every day use to happen. Once broken in boar brushes make excellent face lathering brushes.
Bob
I have an omega boar brush had it for years still going strong good quality give it ago be good for face lathering too
I use a boar brush with 99% of my shaves, the rest 1% is horse brushes. I have tried badger brushes but they don’t seem to work at all for me. Every time I gave them a try, I found myself hating them more. So, about 10 years ago I gave all my badger brushes to my girlfriend to use with her make-up or clean her shoes or whatever she likes to do. I told her that they are beautiful, but useless to me. I know that all wetshavers think the other way around this matter and I am alone in this. I am just telling why I use almost exclusively boar brushes. I saw some synthetic brushes in a shop, but they seem too soft and much closer to a badger rather than a boar brush. So, I never bought one.
I have tried many boar brushes but the one that seems to be with the perfect combination of size plus ergonomy for me is the Omega 48. I love it so much that I made a custom-made brush with the knot of an Omega 48 and an exact replica of the handle in walnut wood.
Attachment 336566
Here is an alternative handle from Omega. It has the same knot, and the same-exact shape of handle, but with the Italian flag. I like it because it is a heavier handle. The other one is my custom-made walnut Omega 48. I have a couple more but these are my favorite.
If you face lather, it might be too large for you since it has a 28mm knot and high bristles. The size of the knot and the ergonomics of the handle are up to you. They depend on your face and your hand. Try what fits you best. Semogue brushes seem to by fine, but I do not use them because they are too small for me.
The most important is, whatever boar brush you buy, don’t judge it from the first 10-20 shaves. They need to break-in in order to perform their best. The break-in period will last for months! Whatever break-in method you use, they need months of use in order to get the bristles softened. The more I use them, especially the Omegas, the better they become with time.
Do not be discouraged from the smell. When you first get them wet, they will stink. After a month they will smell like flowers, depending on the cream/soaps you use.
No you're not alone. I never had any use for badger either. Omega is a good brand and affordable. I have one I love.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slur
I thought I was alone, I have two badger brushes, one came as part of the starter set I bought when decided to try straight shaving and the other (Edwin Jagger) was a Crimbo pressie.Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
All my other brushes are Omega boar brushes of various types, 2 are very large and the rest are just the standard sized. I got them from Amazon for just over $10 and they are excellent.
I do truly love boar but I also like that boar survive being shaved.
Boar is marvelous, especially good for hard soap. I face lather too, it does take a while to break them in although the process can be accelerated if time is an issue and the smell, OMG - when you first get a new one wet it is truly offensive for the first week or two. I have a dedicated brush for each soap so that they each smell of just one soap and it doesn't take long for the brushes to start smelling nice, especially if you have strong smelling soap.
Well, I guess its unanimous: get an Omega. Thanks everyone.
Yep. Omega makes lots of handle shapes and knot sizes. After it's broken in, they are wonderful. And you can get them at a very low cost too if you look through the list of them all. I've bought them just to scavenge the knot out to put in a handle I made.
IMO the break in is a big part of the fun. Feeling the brush evolve into its final character adds to the experience. I'm an Omega guy too, but I do hear and believe that there is a bit of luck involved with the characteristics of their bristles. I've always been very happy, but maybe I'm just lucky. Anyway, if I ever need a new boar, I'm going Omega and if I don't get lucky again I'll keep buying Omegas till I do. They're cheap!
I've never had a bad Omega Boar but I only have about 10 so maybe I will one day.
I don't really see how it could be bad though, a bit longer to break in, more smelly?
Still as you say, there cheap as chips and with amazon prime they come the next day.
I, too, am deep in this "rabbit hole". The last brush I bought -- a Rooney 1/1 in Finest Badger -- was in 2007, so I'm due for another (or so I tell myself); after all, I've only got four brushes. Anyway, yes, I want a boar brush... with an Eye-Talian flag handle.
The photo on the left is Slur's; on the right is a similar one, from Zenith (Click-R on the Zenith for the website)
So, what's my problem? As Slur explained above, it's the high loft -- Maggard's describes it as: "Knot: 27mm Handle: 63mm Loft: 64mm Total Height: 127mm"Quote:
Originally Posted by Slur
OTOH, the Zenith is described as: "Green, white, and red handle with a 27mm boar knot. The loft is set at a short 47mm. The effective loft is 37-40mm from glue bump. Total weight is around 85 grams for the brush. The handle is 70mm tall with an overall height of about 115mm."
So, I'm facing a 50% greater loft with the Omega, but a 10% larger handle on the Zenith (not to mention a hefty difference in price).
Unless someone knows of one with both a short (flag) handle and short loft, it would seem that my only solution is to buy the Omega and find/acquire a short-loft boar knot (with the same characteristics as the Zenith).
Alternatively, what about buying the Omega and finding a brushmeister who can remove the knot, shorten it, and resocket it.
I'm open to suggestions.
I went with the 11126 because of the larger handle. I find the little nubby handles annoying. Looking forward to giving it a go.
