Thread: A question for those who use a boar brush

Boar bristle brushes are in a league of their own. The do require more water to work up lather. I know, I own an Omega model 20106 this big boy has a 27mm knot. When using it, I add water a little at a time to the mix until I get a merengue-like consistency in my lather. IMHO, boar will exfoliate the beard better than badger hair.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I haven't tried a boar yet. I had thought they would be prickly or scratchy and that is a quality that I like in a brush. Any boar users out there find a brand of boar brush that is prickly or are they all typically as described above, stiff but not scratchy ?

No way my skin could take it, but if scratchy is what you're after, carefully trimming the tips of any boar brush should do it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I haven't tried a boar yet. I had thought they would be prickly or scratchy ...?

I haven't tried a badger hair brush yet. But, my cheap Walmart boar's hair brush is not prickly and scratchy by any measure. I have felt badger hair brushes, and it definitely isn't as silky smooth. But, the boar hair brush is nonetheless reasonably soft and smooth.

Also, there was never any problem with the brush soaking up lather. Don't know what to say there.

I use a Golden Nib 24 mm boar which was a lather sponge at first but now lathers up very well. Bowl lathering definitely helps.

Originally Posted by Fozz7769

How long do you soak your brush for? Remember this is a new brush. You cannot compare it to your other brush(s) until you have masterred this brush. They are all a little different.

I wet it in the shower and then only soak it in the basin while I get all my stuff ready. Sounds like I might have to take a shaving mug with me when I go shave at the gym so I can soak the brush while I have a shower.

Boars like it wet and sloppy!
In my experience it benefits from soaking more than badger, and takes a few runs before the ends split, the smell goes away, and you learn what ratios it likes. Once I figured that out my boar is pretty hard to beat. It keeps evolving too, gets slightly better each time.
I would also advise against boiling the brush or using boiling hot water. Use water your hands or face can handle, no hotter. In my experience this helps keep the boar bristles more youthful, more spring in their backbone.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I haven't tried a boar yet. I had thought they would be prickly or scratchy and that is a quality that I like in a brush. Any boar users out there find a brand of boar brush that is prickly or are they all typically as described above, stiff but not scratchy ?

I just tried an Omega boar brush, just to mix it up after using badger for 38 years (!!!). I think by any objective standard of comfort, water holding ability, etc., the badger is better, but the boar is OK. It isn't prickly or scratchy, but there's more sensation than with badger. I also tried an Omega synthetic in the same order (they are both relatively cheap, i.e., <$20.00) and can't say that the synthetic is all that. The boar is different than badger, but not really subjectively a worse experience for me; the synthetic is worse. They are good choices only if you have moral qualms about using animal products, I guess.