Thread: Boar Hair vs Badger Hair

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

historically badger has always been the premium shave brush with horse the common man's alternative. After the anthrax scares they replaced it with boar.

can you pls tell me what happened about the horse hair related to anthrax, that's interesting, I did not know that. I was kinda planning to get a horse hair brush, but not too many vendor provide them.

Here you go!
http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/1...t-more-common/

I tried some boar brushes, but they're too long for me, as I prefer a rather wet lather. I might use one just before Christmas though, saves time on decoration and money on the cans of fake snow...

Ah, assumptions. For the longest time mine was that badger brushes are the only way to go. After all, they cost more, so... Then I read a review Obie did of a Semogue boar brush, bought one and was pleasantly surprised that it performs wonderfully. Now I rotate between badger and boar, the badger for creams and the boar for soap (thanks Obie!). Anyone who hasn't tried a good boar brush and uses soaps is definitely missing out on great lather.

I've got a Vie-Long that's coming in the mail. 100% mane hair. We'll see how it goes.

The Vie-Long is a nice brush and does a great job. My only complaint is I have an issue with how many hairs mine is losing per shave (I don't think its an overall problem for them I just think mine has a bad knot) Did contact Vie-Long but haven't heard anything back. Also the Turkish horse brush I have is very good also more backbone the Vie-Long and a little more scratchy but still softer than most boars I have. Thats from here Wooden Handled Shaving Brushes no:6 - $2.45 : Bestshave.net, International supplier of shaving equipment. I also notice that ShoeBox ShaveShop Gourmet Luxury Shave Kit has a mixed boar /horse brush that likes nice

I also bought horse brushes, both bestshave and vie long.

Vie long bristles are of great quality, but I rarely use this brush as I find it very small according to my needs. I am used to big brushes such as Omega 48 and 30mm knot silvertips and I can’t conform with the vie long dwarfs.
What a pity that I can’t find really big horse knots in the market

I'm a boar brush kind of guy. I like to use hard soaps and face lather so they are just simply perfect for my routine. The only non-boar brush I've used that I liked were the Thater brushes but they are around 140-200$, they have extra back bone though.

I had written earlier in this thread that I rotate now between badger and boar brushes, but after seeing Disburden's post about boar, I revise my earlier comment. I probably use boar 2/3s of the time, if not more. And I like boar brushes more and more, particularly with a hard soap--they create a rich lather that seems to beat the badger brushes. I can see myself in time going 100% boar.

My point is that it's important to try both types of brush, as you may be surprised--as I was--at how what you think is your preference is so changeable. Sort of like swearing you love your hometown and see no need to ever travel, then ending up in a very cool city 1,000 miles away and realizing there's a pretty big world out there. :-)

So I got the Vie-Long in the mail and wow. Made a nice lather on my face with the Williams Mug Soap. Not super thick, but I'm chalking that one up to my lack of experience.