Thread: How to tell the difference between a synthetic and a boar brush

Howdy. I got myself a cheap brush which for the price I assumed was synthetic.

But now I'm wondering if I lucked out and got a boar brush?

The packaging had pretty much nothing on it except "shaving brush." So no hints there. It's a blonde color with a couple of random darker bristles.

What makes me wonder if it's boar is the ends. They are starting to soften, and I think there is even a few "split ends," like you'd get while breaking in a boar brush. But maybe there are synthetics that do this too?

Whatever it is, seems to be working well enough. Only takes a few seconds to start getting lather so I'm happy. Just kinda curious to know.

Sounds like a boar. Boar is cheaper than synthetics and seems to be much more common. Take a loose bristle and see if it burns up or melts. Or take a picture and post.

I am working on a nylon. It feels a bit odd, but a nice odd. Makes lather faster than my VDH brush which is definitely boar.

The burning a bristle suggestion is a good one. The smell should also tell you what material it is. Burned hair=natural.