Thread: A Brush Primer

Is pure badger softer than boar? And where does finest and mixed fit into the mix in terms of softness?

I have a Vulfix pure badger that is more prickly on the face than my Semogue boar. My boar feels better on my face but I prefer the way the badger lathers.

I love the way my boar hair lathers and feels...it just doesn't hold as much water as my badgers. If I wanted silky soft, then I'd use my super badger or silvertips.

Pure is the lowest grade and depending who made it can be very prickly.I think, once broken in boar would be softer.

When you say mixed you mean boar and badger? That is supposed to combine the best of both but personally I think it combines the worst of both.

There are really no standards for badger grading so folks can call it whatever they want. Rooney used to call their top of the line finest. So you have to go by the seller and examine his grades.

I love the way boars feel on my face, but my Extra Silver Tip by Rodney Neep builds lather 3 times faster and more hydrated. If you're going to get a boar, Omega and Semogue are great.

Classic edge has a "mixed" Badger Brush Mixed - Faux Ebony and a "finest" Finest Badger Hair Fan Shape Brush -EBONY
I'd get the Edwin Jagger Best badger but it's out of stock

My girlfriend got me the VDH starter set about a year ago, and a few months after that, she got me an Art of Shaving traveler set that included a small brush. The VDH brush is a good brush for the price I think, my only complaint is that some of the bristles tend to fall out. Maybe I'm using it wrong, but I dont have that issue with the other brush, but other that it works well. It doesn't lather as well as the Art of Shaving brush, but i believe that using and practicing with the VDH has helped me develop my technique to produce a good lather. It can produce a nice lather, it just takes more time. I've started using the Art of Shaving brush more due to the feel of the bristles. I'm not saying the VHD isn't soft, just not as soft as the other. Overall, I'm pleased with both brushes and am glad to have started using the VDH as my first brush to develop technique. I'm currently looking at getting a new brush, maybe a Vintage Razar LLC brush, but haven't really been sold on anything just yet. I'm in the market for a shorter loft, fairly soft, pure badger or finest badger brush. I don't think I'm experienced enough to go silver tip yet. Any suggestions?

I started with the VDH brush as well. That brush helped me appreciate what a quality brush really is. The VDH never stopped shedding. As for making lather, it is typical if most boar brushes. It can work fine but I feel that badger works best. I don't think you need to go silver tip although they are nice. Just can be pricey. I think best badger is perfect. Soft enough to be comfortable but firm enough for triple milled soaps. Edwin Jagger has an affordable best badger for around $50. Some of the smaller best badgers can be affordable as well. I'd look for something at least 22mm - 26mm knot diameter. Good luck!

Bristles/hairs typically fall out for a few different reasons:

A) It's a defective brush/wasn't made well/is old

B) You're bring too rough with the brush, mashing it down while using it

C) You're using water that is too hot. Using water that is too hot will not only damage the hairs, making them more brittle, it can soften the glue that holds the knot together (although this should not happen with a well made knot/brush)

thanks for the input fellas! i was thinkin about making my own, but had no clue where to start. I'll check out TGN and Larry from Whipped Dog as well as Edwin Jager.